The Key to Changing the World is Ensuring Girls Education

It is vital to the future growth of our nation that women and girls have equal educational opportunity and share equally in the benefits of education. - US Department of Education

If 10 percent more adolescent girls attend school, a country’s GDP increases by an average of 3%. A child whose mother can read is 50% more likely to live past age five. An extra year of secondary school for girls can increase their future earnings by 10-20%. So why are women still not given equal rights in the education systems? Or can they even make it there?

"When you invest in a girl's education, she feeds herself, her children, her community, and her nation." - Prime Minister Erna Solberg

Worldwide, some of the most common reasons girls are not in school include:

• Violence at school. This is the most common reason why less girls attend school than boys. 18 million girls ages 15-19 are victims of sexual abuse - which typically leads to school drop out.

• Early pregnancy. In most places worldwide, this situation is too popular. Around the world, about 16 million girls between the age of 15-19 give birth. They are often excluded from school while pregnant and rarely return after giving birth.

• Costs and child/domestic labor. About 11% of all children worldwide are working instead of getting their education. Girls often stay at home to take care of younger siblings and maintain housework, while investing in a boys education is more widely accepted as a better option.

We Must Not Settle

Girls are the future. We cannot afford to have their potential ideas and skills and contributions to the world go to waste. Penny Mordaunt, Secretary of State for International Development of the UK said, "Unless every child can reach their full potential, humanity never will." This is what we believe and what we stand for.

"The best judge of whether or not a country is going to develop is how it treats its women." - President Obama

What can you do?

As always, we want to inspire action and empower you to make a difference. Being aware and educated about current issues is an important first step. Here are some places you can donate to help girls everywhere to start/continue their education and take that next step. Your contributions will be felt. "One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world." - Malala Yousafzai

• https://malala.org/donate

• https://www.globalgiving.org/donate/5115/girls-education-international/

• https://camfed.org/donate/

• https://www.stjude.org/