Empower = Power = Strength

Empowerment of Today’s Girls Builds Power for Tomorrow’s Women and Strengthens our Collective Future.

I recall my daughter’s high school history teacher calling me aside at a parent’s night. He said that he was interested to meet the mother of his student who fervently asserted that women were equal to men. She, at the time, argued that women have as many rights and opportunities and possibilities as men. I am glad she saw/sees the world this way. If more people project that into this world, I, too, believe it will be so. I believe in putting the mindset and energy out there to manifest its reality. Yet, that is not all it takes. It requires perseverance, courage, and determination. And upending institutions and cultural structures. It is a matter of proclaiming and insisting upon equal opportunities, equal education, and equal compensation. And, it takes supporting the organizations that provide opportunities, access to education and employment, and that support and empower girls – globally.

UNESCO estimates that around the world 132 million girls are out of school, including 34.3 million of primary school age, 30 million of lower-secondary age, and 67.4 million of upper-secondary school age.

When girls and women are educated, they become more informed about nutrition and their health, they have fewer children, and marry at a later age (if they choose to marry). They are more likely to earn higher incomes in the labor market which uplifts their families and communities from a cycle of poverty.

What are the obstacles for girls to gain access to education? The World Bank Organization explains that they must overcome poverty, violence, child marriage, lack of adequate infrastructure, and lack of trained educators.

At the least, they need school supplies, meals, safe transportation to and from school, tuition, books, paper and pencils, and uniforms.

While ourSpHERE’s event/ride is to support the international awareness campaign of Lotus Outreach’s work, there are other important nonprofit organizations supporting girls that I would like to give a shout out to:

-to name a few.