Every woman has a different story. We see it in her face, note it in the way she interacts with her community and family, understand that she is the culmination of her collective experiences.
Yet not all women’s stories have happy endings. In developing countries, girls tend to inherit the poverty status of their mothers. Many girls are exposed to abuse or virtually enslaved in their homes and never get the chance to break the cycle of poverty. Also in developing nations, there are limited employment opportunities for women, so many don’t see the need to go to school. By circumstance, the worldviews of girls are often narrowed to the point of mere sustenance living, with no time or regard for their own foreseeable future.
Fortunately, this has been changing in recent decades. Across the globe, girls and women have made enormous strides in advancing their station in life; becoming leaders in their communities, improving the quality of life for themselves and their children, and increasing their lifetime earning potential. What has been a common thread for these women? Education.
Not having access to education can be an enormous barrier for girls in developing countries.Especially in rural areas, the education of girls can be a complex issue. Students sometimes have to walk miles to the closest school, which is a deterrent for their attendance. The majority of housework and chores is performed by women and girls, meaning they have less time for studies.
“Great thought needs to be given to enhancing the teaching curriculum and to bringing in more vocational training. This would benefit young girls and women who do not attend secondary school, giving them a chance for economic independence and weaning some of them away from the problems associated with early marriage.”Often girls in developing countries are forced into early marriage and motherhood, which limits their ability to attend school.
Education clearly changes the lives of girls and young women for the better. It breaks the cycle of poverty, helps creates role models within communities, and provides better employment opportunities and cultivating leaders. In developing countries, education gives girls a reason to think beyond the next day, and in all cases, the chance to help and invest in others. Education levels the playing field between men and women. And universally, education unleashes the power of future generations of women, giving us all the privilege of living in a better world.
Whatever you do to help women get an education this month (or any other point in the year), know that you are empowering them to rewrite their life stories for the better!
Yet not all women’s stories have happy endings. In developing countries, girls tend to inherit the poverty status of their mothers. Many girls are exposed to abuse or virtually enslaved in their homes and never get the chance to break the cycle of poverty. Also in developing nations, there are limited employment opportunities for women, so many don’t see the need to go to school. By circumstance, the worldviews of girls are often narrowed to the point of mere sustenance living, with no time or regard for their own foreseeable future.
Not having access to education can be an enormous barrier for girls in developing countries.Especially in rural areas, the education of girls can be a complex issue. Students sometimes have to walk miles to the closest school, which is a deterrent for their attendance. The majority of housework and chores is performed by women and girls, meaning they have less time for studies.
“Great thought needs to be given to enhancing the teaching curriculum and to bringing in more vocational training. This would benefit young girls and women who do not attend secondary school, giving them a chance for economic independence and weaning some of them away from the problems associated with early marriage.”Often girls in developing countries are forced into early marriage and motherhood, which limits their ability to attend school.
Education clearly changes the lives of girls and young women for the better. It breaks the cycle of poverty, helps creates role models within communities, and provides better employment opportunities and cultivating leaders. In developing countries, education gives girls a reason to think beyond the next day, and in all cases, the chance to help and invest in others. Education levels the playing field between men and women. And universally, education unleashes the power of future generations of women, giving us all the privilege of living in a better world.
Whatever you do to help women get an education this month (or any other point in the year), know that you are empowering them to rewrite their life stories for the better!
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