Why girls?
Two out of every three children we select for our programme are girls, and they come from areas where girls too often face the prospect of child marriage, early pregnancy or unemployment. Find out why.
The gender gap
Women are still underrepresented at all levels of decision-making worldwide.
But when women are in positions of influence in their communities, they contribute to more balanced, gender-sensitive, environmentally considerate and forward-looking policies. The world needs more leaders and change-makers who are female.
However, around the world, women and girls continue to be discriminated against and excluded because of their gender. Millions face violence in their everyday lives, and the bright ones are held back.
Illiteracy
Over 700 million people worldwide are illiterate. 2 in 3 are female.
Early marriage
1 in 3 girls in the developing world are married before age 18.
Pregnancy
1 in 3 girls in the developing world give birth before age 20.
Education can change the fate of girls
Ensuring that girls get a secondary education is one of the most effective ways of averting child marriage and young pregnancies.
That is why two out of every three children we select are female, and why they come from areas where girls too often face the prospect of child marriage, early pregnancy or unemployment.
The girls who join our programme are given tools and support to become future leaders and change-makers - and exceptional role models for other girls from their communities.
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