Because I am a Girl Program

Because I am a Girl Program

The Girl Issue

The girl issue is real, and it’s affecting girls and women around the world – but what is it? Girls in the poorest regions of the world are among the most disadvantaged people on the planet. They are more likely to live in poverty, more likely to be denied access to education, and more likely to be malnourished, simply because they are young and female. And yet, studies show that when you invest in girls, the whole world benefits. If a girl has enough to eat, a safe environment, and an education, she’ll work to raise the standard of living for herself, her family and her community. And in time, she can even strengthen the economy of her entire country.

Girl’s education

Every girl has a right to an education, but close to 62 million girls around the world are not in school, and even more struggle to remain where they belong – in the classroom. Every day, girls are taken out of school, married far too young, and subjected to violence in school. And yet, it’s proven that with an education, girls can lift themselves – and everyone around them – out of poverty. The facts on education for girls

•    For every extra year a girl stays in school, her income can increase by 15 to 25%.
•    There is a 20% increase in child survival when household income is in a mother’s hands.
•    If 10% more girls attend school, a country’s GDP increases by an average of 3%.
•    When a girl receives more education, she is 6X less likely to be married as a child and will have 2.2 fewer, yet healthier children who are more likely to go to school themselves.
•    Each extra year of a mother’s schooling cuts infant mortality by between 5 and 10%.