Season greetings... while working at Microsoft within International IT, I learned how the Gates Foundation through education was ending the poverty cycle. Specifically, girls education. Much of my work now is about understanding and evolving the systems within an organisation (not technology, but systems thinking) and educating girls is one of the keys to countries leaving poverty.
This year, like 2020, we are not sending gifts; we are donating to ONE GIRL, a charity that educates girls in the poorest countries of the world.
Sadly there are;
132 million girls around the world who are denied an education.
11 million girls that may not return to school because of disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
One girl to every two boys graduate high school.
39% of girls are married before their 18th birthday.
13% of girls are married before the age of 15.
However, when a girl is educated;
With every year of schooling, a girl’s income will increase by 20%.
A child born to a literate mother is 50% more likely to survive past the age of five.
When 10% more girls attend school, a countries GDP rises by 3%.
As a father of three children, with the two eldest being girls aged 16 and 14, this is very uncomfortable, and why we are giving to ONE GIRL.
Want to learn more?
Watch this one minute or three-minute video. Seasons greetings and best wishes for 2022; the blog will resume in late January.