Send girls to school in Ethiopia

Poverty, especially when coupled with social norms and traditional practices, is one of the main barriers to girls’ education. The pandemic has only exacerbated inequality. The Malala Fund estimates that as a result of COVID 19 and its social and economic impact, 20 million girls in lower income countries may never return to the classroom.

Nearly two years into the pandemic, all the girls in our program have remained in school. They have laughed and learned, asked questions, thought critically, and grown in knowledge and sense of self. They have also learned about COVID- and how to keep themselves and their families safe.

We’re continuing to have meaningful conversations with families about the value of education, even at a time of increased hardship and instability. We also continue to provide families with increased food and household items so that they do not need to turn to their girls for support.    

Every girl deserves to go to school and the independent future that only an education can provide. Thank you for supporting girls in Ethiopia.    

Links:

• Malala Fund releases report on girls' education and COVID-19

This January, the girls in the Enhance Worldwide program returned to school, with COVID safety guidelines in place.

This is a huge step for girls’ education. The Malala Fund estimates that as a result of the pandemic, 20 million girls in developing countries may never return to the classroom. Once out of schools, girls may begin working to support their families, become caregivers for younger siblings, take on more household chores, or be married off. After the Ebola crisis in Liberia, many girls did not return to school- and those who did had poorer attendance because of these increased domestic responsibilities.

This is why we’ve been working with families throughout the pandemic to ensure that their girls will not lose their opportunity for education. We’re continuing to provide families with increased food and household items so that they do not need to turn to their girls for support. For the past year, we’ve been talking to them about the importance of sending their girls back to school fulltime, just like before COVID- and now that time is here.

Everyone deserves a return to normalcy after such a hard year, including schoolgirls in Ethiopia. Thank you for ensuring that the pandemic only paused, but did not end, their days at school.