The Batonga Foundation equips adolescent girls living in extreme poverty with the skills, tools, and support they need to complete their education so that they can become the change-makers of Africa.
Today, more girls are graduating from elementary school in Africa than ever before but prejudice, poverty, travel distance and cultural traditions keep fewer than 17 percent of girls from completing secondary school. Shockingly few go on to university, vocational school or some form of job training. More than ever, there is an urgent need – and tremendous opportunity – to leverage the recent progress in girls’ elementary education graduation rates and redirect the course of girls’ lives.
Batonga is supporting 178 girls in Benin from grade 7 through grade 12 with scholarship packages that include tuition, uniforms, school supplies, one healthy meal a day and mentoring and community awareness activities that promote girls’ education.
Girls’ education improves the well-being of individuals, families, communities and countries. If African girls are given the opportunity to continue their education beyond the primary level they can become the change-makers of Africa.
