Educating Girls: The International Day of Education 2022
January 2022
On the International Day of Education 2022, we would like to draw attention to the importance of girls’ education. When girls are provided with the access to education they deserve, the world benefits- poverty drops, opportunities arise and communities strengthen.
According to Unicef, 129 million girls are out of education globally. Poverty is the largest barrier to education. Families in rural areas of Kenya, where secondary school enrolment is fewer than the already low 53% national average, often want the best for their children but lack the financial means to support their education.
When girls are provided with the access to education they deserve, the world benefits- poverty drops, opportunities arise and communities strengthen.
What is clear is that education is the tool to empower girls out of poverty and improve economic growth in local communities, but ensuring we can help reduce the gender inequality gap on a global scale is a challenge. Educating girls can be the lifeline to support a family out of poverty. When you educate a young person in Africa, they will be three times less likely to get HIV/AIDS, less likely to drop out of school due to early pregnancy, earn 25% more income and have a smaller, healthier family.
The Nasio Trust, a UK charity and Kenyan NGO, have implemented a programme that aims to provide positive change and support to reduce the global education gap for girls. The Exceptional Student Programme, run in collaboration with S.A.F.E Samburu, has issued scholarships to 9 exceptional girls in rural Kenya. Despite economic hardship and social difficulties, all girls on the programme have proven their academic excellence. All our girls from Mumias, West Kenya, obtained grades in the top 10% nationally prior to joining the programme and demonstrated their commitment to helping their local communities.
Meet Lydia, one of our exceptional girls…
Lydia, 16, achieved 7 ‘A’ grades in her 10 subjects in her recent examinations. Her headmaster describes her as one of the most “disciplined, focused and hardworking students”. Despite losing her father at a young age and her mother having to start life over again with her 5 children, Lydia has proven her academic excellence and dedication to support her family with a better life. She is driven by education and hopes to become a teacher in future.
Our programme gives students like Lydia, who otherwise may not have been able to reach their full potential, a chance of education. We support the girls educationally through awarding scholarships and their families economically to offer a holistic approach to countering poverty. Socially, we hope to develop effective leadership skills in our girls. Girls are encouraged to participate in sports or extra-curricular activities and we offer career guidance to give them the best opportunity to achieve their aspirations, including relevant talks and mentorship.
We look forward to welcoming our next cohort of exceptional girl in April 2022 and hope to continue to give girls the chance they deserve.
To find out more about how to support, mentor and get involved with the programme this International Day of Education, head over to our child sponsorship website, or contact: amber.vetta@nullthenasiotrust.org.
This story is listed in: Education, Inspirational Women, Success Stories
