Today, over 130 million girls are out of school around the world, denied the opportunity to transform their future through education. While it is a fundamental right, education still remains inaccessible for millions of girls and women for a number of economic and cultural reasons. Supporting more avenues to education and training provides many benefits, both for women and girls and for society at large.
The Difficult Path to Education
Despite the rapid globalization process, some low-income countries still experience major gender inequalities. Only 20% of these countries achieved gender balance at the primary education level, and 10% at the secondary level. If we consider countries with prevalent child marriage, denying girls the right to secondary education makes them six times more likely to be married young. As a result, levels of poverty rise.
Changing that could bring significant positive results to society. For instance, in Pakistan girls can increase their future earnings by up to 10% with every additional school year that they attend. Even more, the country’s economy could grow by 30% if women are granted rights to education just like men. Unfortunately, the economic potential of women remains untapped due to strong social and economic barriers.
Another reason for denying girls an opportunity to learn is the unsafe environment and commuting in some areas. In countries where there is a high risk of violence or assault, families may prefer to keep their children safe and sound at home instead of risking their lives sending them to school.
Last but not least, societal stereotypes may also prevent girls from pursuing a wide range of disciplines, such as STEM. This further tips the scales of gender imbalance in the workforce.
Transformative Stories of Empowerment
Programs like Dream It, Be It can help girls overcome challenges to education and career success. This initiative is designed to help secondary school girls to succeed in their educational path by providing them with practical tools and mentorship. As a result, participants can gain the necessary confidence and skills and pursue a much brighter future.
This program has already shown its positive impact—88% of participants highlighted that they feel more confident about their educational success and more prepared to pursue their goals. These programs not only change the lives of particular girls, they also transform families and society as a whole.
Make a Difference for Girls
Girls with education are one step closer to becoming leaders and changemakers in their communities. They can also build healthier families and become role models for next generations. The longer a girl stays at school, the less likely she is to have children in her teens.
Supporting programs like Dream It, Be It can help more girls overcome educational and cultural barriers and become changemakers.
Alexandra Belski is a content writer and editor with a Master’s in English and French, a love for storytelling, and a passion for lifelong learning. When she’s not writing, you will find her exploring new cultures and places and making new friendships.