Why girls?
Globally, 1 in 5 girls around the world is denied an education by the daily realities of poverty, violence and discrimination. Every day, girls are taken out of school, married far too young, and subjected to violence in school. Not only is this unjust, it’s also a huge waste of potential with serious global consequences.
Millions of girls are being denied an education right at a time when it has the power to transform their lives and the world around them. Making it through both primary and secondary education is critical to girls being able to help break the cycle of poverty.
A girl who makes it through both high quality primary and secondary education is...
- ...less likely to experience violence or marry and have children whilst she is still a child.
- ...more likely to be literate, healthy and survive into adulthood, as are her children.
- ...more likely to reinvest her income back into her family, community and country.
- ...more likely to understand her rights and be a force for change.
Violence in school
When girls reach puberty, many will face an increased threat of violence and abuse. Violence in and around schools, such as the sexual manipulation and coercion for grades, remains a major barrier to seeing girls successfully complete the quality education they deserve.
Forced into marriage
For millions of girls, reaching puberty can be the first step towards a forced marriage. Too often, girls are taken out of school, isolated from their friends and forced into marriage and mother hood when they are still children themselves.
Make a donation
Your donation to Plan’s girls’ fund will directly support our work to benefit girls in the world’s poorest countries.
Sponsor a girl
Sponsoring a girl through Plan will create a direct and positive impact on the life of a girl in one of the 50 developing countries in which we work.
150 million girls, and
73 million boys, under 18 have experienced rape or other forms of sexual violence.
