Branches Book

BRANCHES

education can offer. So why is it that so many girls all over the world are not receiving the education that they deserve? There are several reasons, including cultural restrictions surrounding women’s education, sickness within families, lack of electricity to study at night, lack of transportation to get to school in the first place, and many more. These are all difficult and tragic circumstances keeping girls out of school, but perhaps the most heartbreaking are the girls whose families cannot afford to pay for their school uniform, or a backpack for their books, or a pencil for them to write with. Things this simple can force a girl to drop out of school and lose her chance at an education forever. Is this much suffering, from child marriages to sickness and death of herself or family members, really the consequence for not being able to afford the school uniform? It seems so trivial, and so silly. If it wasn't so infuriating it would almost be laughable! I am not claiming to know how to fix all the problems facing women’s education, but I do know this: giving a girl the gift of an education is very likely the most precious gift she and her family will ever receive. It doesn’t have to be all at once; every year that a girl remains in school after she was expected to stop attending is impacting her life in ways she cannot even imagine. Many people believe in women’s education, they know that it is a right and that it is important. However, I believe that very few people realize the gravity of the situation, and how drastically educating a girl can change her future. So I am asking you, please, if you are looking for a great way to make a difference, sponsor a girl’s education. Buy the uniform that determines whether that girl is in school or at home. Ensure that someone’s life doesn't play out in a way that you would never imagine for yourself. One year is all it takes. Give a girl the gift of an education and change her entire life.

Works Cited

Calvin, Kathy. "The Girl Revolution: Why It Matters to Us All." Kathy Calvin, United Nations Foundation President & CEO." United Nations Foundation . N.p., 20 Mar. 2013. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.

"Children: Reducing Mortality." World Health Organization . World Health Organization, Sept. 2016. Web. 11 Apr. 2017.

Education For All Global Monitoring Report. "Girl's Education – the Facts." (n.d.): n. pag. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization . Oct. 2013. Web.

UN Clinton Global Initiative. "Employment of Young Women." (n.d.): n. pag. Empowering Women in Work in Developing Countries . Web.

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