Recently I was given the opportunity to attend a conference for an organization called She's the First, a non-profit that spreads awareness and raises money for girls to be the first in their family to attend secondary school. There, I was inspired. I learned about so many amazing women and men that had goals and aspirations to make a difference in the world. I was also able to fall back in love with an organization that caught my eye that first week of college freshman year. It reminded me how strong the girls we sponsor are and how, by giving these girls and education, they are able to not only benefit themselves but also the men in their region and their communities in general.
While being apart of She's the First and attending the conference, I further learned about the challenges that the girls we sponsor face on a day to day basis. I learned about how underrepresented of the girls are in the schools with an enrollment rate of only around 33 percent in some of the countries.
Many of these girls travel hours upon hours to get to school, and when they get home, they have to take care of their family, cook, and clean. These girls face violence and even isolation by following their dreams. Many are not given the same opportunities as the boys in their communities and have to fight tooth and nail for their basic right to an education. Even with all of these obstacles, the girls are not deterred. They know how important their schooling is and how their lives will be if they do not get the crucial education that they need.
Although these statements focus primarily on girls, there is an underlining domino affect that benefits the men as well. At the conference, I learned that when you educate a girl you educate a nation. By giving a girl an education, she is more likely to educated her children and other people in her life and invest money back into her community. For instance, by giving a girl a secondary education, she is able to produce a return of 18 percent in future wages, while boys with a secondary education are only able to produce a return rate of 14 percent. In other words, girls are able to significantly increase their country's economic output.
By focusing on girls, we are not saying that boys' education does not matter, but simply specializing in something that will benefit everyone in the long run. By educating a girl, they are helping to bring equality for both men and women and further developing the entire region.
All in all, She's the First and the conference has rekindled a fire in me to make a difference. There is so much in this world that needs to be changed and can be changed by simple actions that anyone and everyone can be involve. Whether it be girls' education or anything else, find something you are passionate about in this world and take steps to make an impact in whatever you have found. Get involved, make a difference, get educated and change the world.
