The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming It!

August , the month where we celebrate the most selfless creatures that walk planet Earth – women. The glue that holds families together and the soft hands of a mother that guide us along the rugged path of life and the foundation of our upbringing. Yet, after years of struggle and endless fighting for equality, women still face unimaginable obstacles when it comes to education.

Educating a girl is one of the best investments her family, community and country can make. We know that a good quality education can be life-changing for girls, boys, young women and men, helping them develop to their full potential and putting them on a path for success in their life. We also know that educating a girl in particular can kick-start a virtuous circle of development.

More educated women, for example, marry later, have healthier children, earn more money that they invest back into their families and communities and play more active roles in leading their communities and countries. Unfortunately, there are still big rocks in the way of certain young girls’ dreams. Many barriers prevent girls from receiving the education they deserve and most of these obstacles are unimaginable to many of us, but for millions of girls in developing countries, it’s a daily reality. These include:

Forced marriages

In many cultures, women are perceived as submissive servants, cooking and cleaning in the kitchen, providing for their husbands, while raising the children. Some of these girls are forced to get married at the young age of 13, never having a chance to stay in school and build on their dreams.

Poverty

Even if education could have been free, the tremendous cost of textbooks, uniforms and school supplies can make education inaccessible.

Early pregnancy

Without the basic education and knowledge surrounding sexual education, a lot of young girls fall pregnant and is forced to drop out of school, with more than 70% of them never returning to finish their matric and pursuing tertiary education.

Violence in schools

Whether it is walking long distances to school and then arriving at school, exposed and subjected to physical violence, girls are at an increased risk of experiencing harassment and being sexually abused.

Gender inequality:

Girls are often kept out of school to help with housework or care for extended families and their younger siblings.

So how do we get these girl back into the classroom to ensure that they have a fair shot of making their dreams a reality and becoming the future leaders of tomorrow?

• Provide equal access to education by developing gender-sensitive learning environments for girls.
• Educate boys and men about gender equality by engaging them in promoting girls’ and women’s rights.
• Keep schools safe for girls by providing them with a learning environment that’s free of violence, abuse and bullying.
• Provide school feeding programs that keep girls’ stomachs full, their brains active and offer parents incentives to send their daughters to school.
• Challenge gender roles and stereotypes by running information sessions that raise awareness at home and in the community on the importance of girls’ rights and gender equality.

Be the change you want to see and fight for equal rights, whether you are male or female. To leave you all with a thought in celebration of Women’s Month – “Because you are women, people will force their thinking on you, their boundaries on you. They will tell you how to dress, how to behave, who you can meet and where you can go. Don’t live in the shadows of people’s judgement. Make your own choices in the light of your own wisdom.