My petition

Did you know that girls and young women are facing a crisis? It’s widespread and affects tens of millions of girls around the world.

So, what is it? It’s education or rather, a lack of education. Today, over 130 million girls aren’t in school. That’s right: More than 130 MILLION girls are being denied the opportunity to discover who they are, make choices for themselves and learn vital skills, like reading and writing.

This means the future leaders and peacemakers of these countries have no means to learn the skills they need to bring stability, prosperity, and harmony to these places. The progress of their countries is limited without girls' education.

These future leaders and peacemakers need your help. Gender inequality has been present throughout history, and it continues to be a major barrier to human development today. Since 1990, girls and women have taken major steps, but they have not yet achieved the expected gender equity.

Some of the barriers girls face are:

The cost of education – Though education should be free, there are a lot of costs associated with sending children to school. The cost of uniforms, textbooks or bus fare can be too much to bear for a family living in poverty.

Distance to school – In many parts of the developing world, the nearest primary school to a particular community might be a 4 or 5 hour long walk away.

Gender norms – Typically, girls are asked to fetch the water, take care of their younger siblings and to help their mothers cook and clean. Due to this, girls may not have the opportunity to attend school because their contributions to the household are valued more than their personal education.

Poverty – In many parts of the developing world, children’s health is a big concern, especially if they’re facing poverty. If there’s not enough food or sufficient clean water to keep girls nourished and healthy, they may not be well enough to attend school.

Early marriage and pregnancy – When girls are forced to marry young, they are often pulled out of school at a very critical age in their development. Many girls leave school due to early marriages or pregnancy.

So, what is Plan doing to address these barriers and keep girls in school? I’ve decided to go big and pull all the stops out on to bring the issue of girls’ education the attention it needs.

Tell the world this is unacceptable. Sign our petition and share it with your friends. People need to hear your voice because educating girls means a better world for everyone. Share with your friends and family:

When you educate a girl, you change the world. Help us create a new future for women and girls around the world.