Despite many global initiatives to educate the girl child, millions of girls are still denied access to education due to unfair conclusions about what girls can and cannot do. It has been discovered through extensive research that there is a positive correlation between gender equality and the amount of economic and social development of a country.
When girls receive an education, they empower their families, strengthen communities, and contribute to the progress of entire nations. Every girl deserves the chance to learn, no matter where she comes from or her circumstances.
And that’s why we at the Zamaani Inspire Foundation, through our “Education for All Project” not only provide bursaries and scholastic materials to pupils, but also distribute sanitary pads to at least 300 girls every year, ensuring they don’t miss a single day of school.
As Malala Yousafzai said, “I don’t mind if I sit on the floor. All I want is education and I am afraid of no one”.
If we continue to ignore the school dropout rate among girls, the effects will ripple through families, communities, and countries. We cannot hope to solve global poverty or overpopulation without educated girls.
Prioritizing education for girls is not just a moral responsibility but the cornerstone of building stronger, more equitable societies.
Reasons to Educate the Girl Child.
It is deeply unfortunate that in many cultures and societies today, the girl child is still banned from going to school. This reflects a patriarchal world where girls are often at a disadvantage compared to boys.
It’s hard to imagine how any country can effectively tackle its challenges without the active participation and education of girls and women.
For instance, in Afghanistan, girls and women are barred from taking any part in educational, political, economic, or social activities, leaving them completely marginalized under Taliban rule.
Every girl and woman deserves the right to make her own choices, yet this power is often taken away and placed in the hands of men, creating a dangerous imbalance.
Empowering women is not only morally right but also smart as it benefits businesses, societies, and the world at large. When women thrive, everyone wins. It’s time to start empowering women through all our actions and work.
1 : Breaking the Cycle of Poverty.
Girls who go to school gain essential skills and knowledge, opening doors to better job opportunities and sustainable income.
According to UNESCO, each additional year a girl spends in school increases her earning potential by 10-20%, empowering her to lift herself and her family out of poverty.
Compared to men, educated women are more likely to invest a larger percentage of their income back into their families creating stronger households with improved nutrition, healthcare, and education for the next generation.
Educating the girl child sets in motion a chain reaction to build stronger, more stable communities in future generations.
2 : Improved Health.
Women who receive an education are more likely to understand and prioritize health, leading to lower infant and maternal mortality rates.
Children born to educated mothers are 50% more likely to survive past the age of five, and global increases in women’s education have already prevented over 4 million child deaths.
Educated women are more likely to seek prenatal and postnatal care, understand nutrition and hygiene, and make informed decisions about family planning, resulting in healthier pregnancies and better-nourished children.
By fostering awareness of health practices, educating girls helps build healthier communities and breaks the cycle of poverty.
3 : Gender Equality.
We need to educate the girl child so that she gains the skills and confidence to advocate for her rights and change societal norms.
Education empowers girls and women to take on leadership roles, participate in decision-making processes, and contribute to policies that promote gender equity.
It also helps eliminate harmful practices like early child marriage and ensures women have the tools to earn fair wages and achieve economic independence. Educating girls bridges the gender gap and creates a more just and inclusive world where everyone has the same opportunities to thrive.
4 : Educate the Girl Child to Put an End to Early Child Marriages.
Each additional year a girl spends in school delays marriage by approximately one year, providing her with the time to acquire the knowledge and confidence to resist the societal pressures that often push them into dropping out of school to marry.
Early marriages cut girl child education short and limit their opportunities and resources to grow, learn and better plan for the future.
Doing whatever we can to keep girls in school empowers them to envision a life beyond traditional gender based roles and fosters a generation of young ladies and women who can confidently choose to marry later on their own terms.
How to improve the Girl Child’s accessibility to Education.
Building Infrastructure.
Building more schools in under-served communities closer to homes will significantly increase girls’ attendance.
When schools are nearby, girls don’t have to walk long distances, and if classes are scheduled in the afternoon or evening after they’ve completed household chores, even more parents may allow their daughters to study.
Girls are also more likely to attend school if it feels like a safe space, with clean and accessible sanitary facilities.
Providing infrastructure that includes activities or facilities that capture their interests, such as sports or other co-curriculum, can further motivate them to come take a peak.
Sometimes, just one thing they enjoy can draw them in, creating opportunities to engage and educate them further.
Provide Resources.
The Zamaani Inspire Foundation supports up to 125 girls each school term, identified by their school headteachers as the most vulnerable or those whose parents are least supportive, across 10 schools.
The foundation provides these girls with uniforms, bursaries, textbooks, and other scholastic materials to help reduce the financial burden on parents.
Additionally, we also buy 2,400 sanitary pads annually to support 300 girls.
With limited resources often leading to the prioritization of boys’ education, making education affordable or free can motivate families to enroll their girls in school, creating a more equitable learning environment for all.
Hiring more Qualified Female Teachers.
It is crucial for girls to grow up seeing and hearing from successful women, as these role models leave a lasting impression and inspire girls to achieve similar success.
By observing women who have broken gender norms and excelled in their careers, girls can envision themselves achieving the same milestones.
Having female teachers and seeing women in leadership positions helps reinforce the idea that success is within their reach.
The right education equips them with the skills, confidence, and knowledge to pursue their goals and build successful careers, proving that with great determination and opportunity, they too can accomplish what the women they look up to have achieved.
This exposure enables girls to grow up knowing that they too can do it all.
Challenging Cultural Norms.
Community awareness campaigns are crucial for challenging cultural norms that limit girls to traditional gender roles.
These educational campaigns can play a significant role in breaking stereotypes and changing perceptions about the value of girls beyond domestic responsibilities.
When local leaders advocate for girls’ education and challenge harmful cultural practices, it can lead to significant shifts in community attitudes toward what girls and women are capable of.
Conclusion.
The time to act is not tomorrow or someday, it is now.
To ignore the educational rights of girls and women is to overlook the proven link between gender equality and a nation’s economic and social growth. When we invest in girls’ education, we invest in the future of humanity.
Let us rise to this challenge together, for the sake of our daughters, sisters and mothers.
Join us in supporting girl-child education through donations or participation in mentorship programs.
