Educate a Girl, Educate a Nation - Sierra Leone

Today we celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child. This year's theme is "Invest in Girls' Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being" 

Targeted and evidence-based investments in key areas that promote girls’ leadership and well-being are needed to secure their rights and development – in every setting and context. It is imperative to increase funding in key areas, including girls' health, education, violence prevention, and economic empowerment. Moreover, the international community will not meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their targets without investing in adolescent girls who, when supported, deliver returns and powerful change for girls themselves, their families, communities, and societies.

Education: For every additional year of secondary education a girl receives, her potential income increases by about 10-20%. This translates into greater economic productivity, reduced poverty rates, and improved overall well-being. Education confers compounding protective effects against several harmful outcomes in relation to their health and well-being.

Health: Every dollar invested in sexual and reproductive health and rights for adolescent girls can yield economic returns of up to $120, leading to improved health outcomes and increased economic opportunities.

Targeted resourcing for and with adolescent girls: We know multi-sectoral interventions can deliver the greatest impact, reaching adolescent girls wherever it makes the most sense for them in their context – whether a mobile health clinic, vocational centre, traditional classroom, or youth club. Evidence has indicated that multi-sectoral programming for adolescent girls can offer better value for money, delivering results across multiple outcomes for girls and their families.

https://www.unicef.org/gender-equality/international-day-girl-2023

Your support continues to help girls get their education and access to mentoring programs that discuss their physical & mental well-being. One of the girls your support has recently helped is Isha, who received school supplies and tuition support for this school year. She is starting her first year of Junior Secondary School (JSS) this year. Her favorite subjects are Physical Health Education and Social Studies and she dreams of becoming a medical doctor in the future.

Your ongoing support is helping transform girls into educated, self-sufficient, and empowered women. Making a monthly donation is the most effective way to help girls get their education, but every dollar donated makes a difference! If you are not yet a recurring donor and would like to sign up for a recurring donation go here.

Another way to help is to share this project with your contacts and invite them to consider supporting this ongoing project.  Just copy and paste the below text on your social media or create your own text.

I support girls' education in Sierra Leone.  Educated girls educate the entire nation.  Learn how can make a difference too at https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/educate-a-girl-educate-a-nation-sierra-leone/ #DayoftheGirl

If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at GlobalGiving@developafrica.org. 

 

With great appreciation 

Amy and the Develop Africa team

Links:

• Educate Girls to become Empowered Women
• UNICEF-International Day of the Girl 2023

In Sierra Leone, only 30% of girls enroll in secondary school, and even fewer go on to college. This is due to a number of factors, including poverty, cultural barriers, and lack of resources. Many families cannot afford to send their daughters to school. 

Education is essential for girls' success. It gives them the knowledge and skills they need to get good jobs, support themselves and their families, and participate fully in society. 

Mentoring can help girls to stay in school and to complete their education. Studies have shown that girls who have mentors are more likely to stay in school, achieve higher grades, and graduate from high school. Mentoring can also help girls to prepare for college and careers. 

In addition to its academic benefits, mentoring can also have a positive impact on a girl's well-being. Mentors can provide girls with emotional support and guidance, and they can help girls to develop healthy relationships. Mentoring can also help girls to build coping skills and to develop a sense of resilience.

This year your support helped provide mentoring sessions on Drug Awareness, Public Relations, Marketing and sales, Financial Literacy, Skills Training, and Health and wellness including menstrual health and mental health.

YOU are truly making a difference in girls' education including mentoring with every dollar you donate.  If you are not yet a recurring donor and would like to make a greater impact you can set up a recurring donation here.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at GlobalGiving@developafrica.org.

With great appreciation,

Amy and the Develop Africa team

Links:

• Educate Girls to become Empowered Women