Millions of people all over the world are denied an education, forced into lives of abuse and neglect and face discrimination on a daily basis.
Why? Because they were born as girls.
Masses of girls don’t have the same choices and opportunities that boys and men have, simply because of their gender. This condemns them to lives of poverty, mistreatment and cruelty, which continues to be passed down from generation to generation.
But the abuse can be stopped.
Charities such as Plan UK support girls living in poverty around the world by helping them to claim their rights andgiving them access life-changing education. It is only with education that girls can learn about their rights and the opportunities they could have access to if they were treated fairly.
Such campaigns help to raise awareness, teaching families the importance of their daughters and the negative consequences of practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM).
With generous support, charities can keep delivering practical solutions that help girls build themselves a better future.These include providing girls with the education they need to make their own way in the world. Often, the perception of girls’ potential to earn an income is poor, and so families do not make their education a priority. The expectation that girls will marry and not work means that teachers often give them less attention and girls have poorer access to learning materials than boys. Girls are also far more likely to be forced into child marriage, 14 million girls under the age of 18 being married each year.
By making education a priority for these girls, they can escape a life of abuse and neglect that often accompanies forced marriage. They can wait until they are ready to have children, rather than giving birth when they are children themselves. They can claim their independence and marry a person of their choosing, rather than being given to someone often many years older than them. Education can help free these girls from poverty, disease, abuse and cruelty.
Donations could help train community workers to register births, meaning girls can prove their age and claim their rights. Such donations can also provide school fees and study materials for girls, as well as equip them with the skills necessary to earn their own income and be free of family pressure.
It’s easy to get involved in the various campaigns on offer, from helping girls gain access to quality education as well as educating them on the importance of staying in school and delaying marriage. Donors can select a country to send aid to and support millions of girls either with a one-off or monthly donation.
Please, help girls around the world gain access to life-changing education by showing your support now. Visit Plan UK today at www.plan-uk.org.
