Empowering Women Through Their Education

More than 130 millions girls are out of school due to child labor, child marriage, high costs, war, gender discrimination, natural disasters, health, early preganancies, and low quality, repeated classroom lessons (Malala Fund, 2022). Violent neighborhoods and COVD-19 has also played its part in limiting educational opportunities for girls (The World Bank, 2022). If communities invested in ensuring all girls were educated, it could potentially contribute roughly $12 trillion dollars to the “global growth” (Malala Fund, 2022, para. 12). Girls are more likely to not marry young or contract HIV when they have an education (Malala Fund, 2022). According to the Malala Fund (2022), each additional year of education that girls receive, the lower infant mortality rates and child marriage are.

Many stakeholders involved in girls’ education value inclusivity and quality education that prepares students for their futures (The World Bank, 2022). It is important to note that the consideration of girls’ education may be due to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The fourth goal of this initiative is quality education that ensures lifetime learning (GVI, n.d.). Stakeholders, like The World Bank, are committed to reach these goals. (The World Bank, 2022). Other stakeholders share similar values that lie within educating girls that face gender-based violence that prevents them from attending school (Peace Corps, n.d.). 

Stakeholders, like the Peace Corps or The World Bank,  need to address the factors that prevent girls from receiving an education. For example, unsafe neighborhoods promote gender-based violence that contributes to the girls being 2.5 times more likely to not attend school (The World Bank, 2022). Gender bias also prevents girls from fulfilling their ambitions due to negative perceptions on specific career aspirations, specifically in the STEM department (The World Bank, 2022). Economic status can set girls behind in their education, which is why the 17 Sustainable Development Goals are striving to provide free, equitable education to all (GVI, n.d.). Girls should not have to sacrifice their education due to poverty issues. Child pregnancy increases the likelihood that girls do not return to school to care for their infant or because societal views disapprove of the pregnancy (The World Bank, 2022). COVID-19 is another need that should be considered because it has caused school closures and increased pregnancies (The World Bank, 2022). In some schools that have reopened, ‘visibly’ pregnant girls were banned from attending (The World Bank, 2022).

If you are a student, a parent or an educator, you can help provide an education for girls globally! Even locally, you can raise money that contributes to projects aimed at enhancing girls’ education, volunteer projects or training programs! Through church, family parties, your own birthday, school or work, you can hold simple events to raise funds! Try a car wash or a bake sale where you can involve your friends! Instead of birthday presents, ask your family to donate to fundraisers that support girls’ education! For game night, hold a trivia game night or a talent show. You can even hold a marathon or fun run to increase activity in the community! 

Reference

GVI. (n.d.). Goal 4-Quality Education. GVI.

    https://people.gviusa.com/goal-4-quality-education/?
    utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=us-people-
    projects&utm_term=&utm_content=hybrid&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3IqSBhCoARIsAMBkTb018JDAAr-
    26pJlJlT2ehPZThqvGK05qmbEfNnEbqYIE1h3l1ousioaArn1EALw_wcB.

Malala Fund. (2022). Girls’ Education. Malala Fund. https://malala.org/girls-
    education#:~:text=Educated%20girls%20are%20healthier%20citizens,mortality%20and%20child%20     marriage%20rates..

Peace Corps. (n.d.). The Complete Toolkit. Peace Corps.
    https://files.peacecorps.gov/documents/ToolKit_6.0_09132016.pdf

The World Bank. (2022). Girls’ Education. The World Bank.
    https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/girlseducation#1.

Media Sources

Bonfire. (2022). The 13 Best Fundraising Sites for Individuals & Nonprofits. Bonfire Blog.

    https://blog.bonfire.com/best-fundraising-websites/. 

GVI. (n.d.). Goal 4-Quality Education. GVI. https://people.gviusa.com/goal-4-quality-education/?     

    utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=us-people-  

    projects&utm_term=&utm_content=hybrid&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3IqSBhCoARIsAMBkTb018JDAAr-

    26pJlJlT2ehPZThqvGK05qmbEfNnEbqYIE1h3l1ousioaArn1EALw_wcB. 

The World Bank. (2022). Core Values. The World Bank.

    https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/girlseducation#1. 

UNESCO. (2019). Gender and education. UNICEF.     

    https://data.unicef.org/topic/gender/gender-disparities-in-education/.