The Story
Worldwide, 132 million girls are out of school (2016). Of that 132 million, 34.3 million girls are of primary school age. Girls are more likely to have to stay at home and tend to younger siblings and other household chores, and 1 in 3 girls in the developing world are married before the age of 18. Ultimately, their earnings are often tied to men--from fathers, to brothers, to husbands to sons.
Even though they are marginalized throughout the world, investing in women and girls makes the difference. It is estimated that if every girl worldwide received 12 years of quality education, lifetime earnings for women could increase by US$15 trillion. One additional school year can increase a woman's earnings by 10% to 20% toward her future annual income, and adults girls are more likely to invest a far larger percentage of her income back into her family.
By investing in girls you are investing in their future, their family's future and their country's future.
More resources on girls' education:
12 Years of Quality Education for All Girls: A Commonwealth Perspective (2019), The University of Cambridge
Missed Opportunities : The High Cost of Not Educating Girls Report (2018), The World Bank, Global Partnership for Education
Gender and EFA 2000-2015 Achievements and Challenges EFA Global Monitoring Report
Gender Education Monitoring Report Gender Review 2018, United Nations Girls' Education Initiative (UNGEI), UNESCO
Evidence Review: Mitigating threats to girls' education in conflict affected contexts - current practice, The United Nations Girls' Education Initiative (UNGEI), Overseas Development Initiative (ODI)