Education for a rural girl means empowerment to transform her life and the lives of those around her. Plan International works globally, building enough evidence to prove that by investing on girls, poverty cycle can be broken. Adolescence is crucial for them, it is when they are forced to abandon their studies, they become more vulnerable to violence and prone to early pregnancy therefore condemned to live in poverty. It is at this stage that your support for a girl is urgent and decisive!
In Guatemala, the illiteracy rate among women ages 15 to 24 is 36%. The situation of rural girls is even worse, the average is 1.8 years of school. Due to poverty and cultural traits faced by families, education and food is prioritized on boys, relegating girls from a balanced diet and equal education. Our project is to give the opportunity to go to school to 50 girls between the ages of 13 and 16 from the department of Baja Verapaz in Guatemala.
Together we will focus on granting 50 Guatemalan rural girls with scholarships. We will identify the girls who are likely not to continue for all known reasons. Funds will be used for them for school enrollment, books, transportation and uniforms. Our aim is to avoid school dropouts, and will do so by regular visits to schools and a close interaction with scholars and parents. We seek integral development of girls teaching them on self-esteem, leadership and all about their rights.
It has been proven that when educated girls become adults, their income will increase in 20% and they will reinvest in their family's development. If all women received at least the first 3 years of middle school, child mortality would be reduced by half. Girls can participate actively in their development and conditions for their communities are also more likely to improve. Only with education, they can exercise their right to Learn, Thrive, Decide and Lead their lives.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
