"When courageous women work together, it reflects the best we have to offer the world." Leymah Gbowee



Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Giving Thanks for Girls Around the World

I am blessed to have a beautiful 14 year old daughter named Carrie. Carrie is a kind, gifted and smart young woman who gives of herself for others.Carrie received her report card today and received straight A's. Did you know that there are more than 600 million girls living in the developing world and at least 1/4 of these girls are not in school. I am thankful that my daughter is able to receive an education and has many choices for her life.

If a girl does not receive an education, she is married off at a young age, she is illiterate, isolated, pregnant and stuck in the cyle of poverty. One girl in 7 in developing countries marries before age 15. If a girl in a developing country receives an extra year of primary school it will boost her eventual wages by 10 to 20%. An extra year of secondary school 15-25%. If you give a girl an education she will have a better chance of being healthy and not having HIV. She will marry later when she chooses and raise a healthy family. When women and girls earn income they reinvest 90% of it into their families, as compared to only 30-40% for a man.

Women need to invest in giving women and girls an education. It will change their life - it will change the world. I encourage you to visit The Girl Effect website and become educated and become involved. Together, let's change the world - one girl at a time.

Visit other blogs about the girl effect at: http://wiselivingblog.com/the-girl-effect-blogging-campaign/

Blessings,

Barbara

1 comment:

  1. Thank you Barbara, for jumping in to the Girl Effect blogging campaign, and for sharing your reflection here. It's wonderful to have your voice included.
    Warmly,
    Tara

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