The Girl Effect

Have you heard about the girl effect?


I mentioned last week that I have been reading, hearing, encountering, facing, examining and experiencing the strength and the importance of women. Today, a number of bloggers out here on the world wide web are blogging about the Girl Effect. I felt moved to participate as well. I am a girl, I have three girls -- but most importantly I understand the impact educating girls can have on the world, especially the developing world. Here are some facts:

• Medical complications from pregnancy are the leading cause of death among girls ages 15-19. Compared with women ages 20-24, girls ages 10-14 are five times more likely to die from childbirth, and girls 15-19 are up to twice as likely, worldwide.



• When a girl in the developing world receives seven or more years of education, she married four years later and has 2.2 fewer children.



• When women and girls earn income, they reinvest 90% of it into their families, as compared to only 30-40% for a man.



• 25% of girls in developing countries are not in school.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) summed up the mounting research this way: "Women's empowerment helps raise economic productivity and reduce infant mortality. It contributes to improved health and nutrition. It increases the chances of education for the next generation."



From Half the Sky "Girls who are denied access to education are more likely to be trapped in a cycle of poverty and disease, forced into child marriage and prostitution, become victims of sex trafficking, domestic violence, and so-called honor killings."



Check out the Girl Effect website and check out this link - if you have your own blog maybe you can blog about the Girl Effect too? I hope you feel compelled to act.



You must be the change you wish to see in the world -- Mahatma Ghandi