Educating African Women
Of 163 million illiterate youth in the world, 63 percent are female. Although literacy rates have greatly improved in Africa over the last few decades, approximately 40% of Africans over the age of 15, and 50% of women above the age of 25 remain illiterate.
Children of uneducated mothers are half as likely to attend primary school as those whose mothers attended primary school themselves and one in three girls who complete primary school in Africa and South Asia cannot read, write or do simple math.
UNICEF reports that "Many schools are not child or girl friendly. Some are situated far from homes, exposing girls to danger when they walk to and from school. Girls trying to stay in school are also of being sexually harassed and exploited in schools by teachers and fellow students"
Educated mothers tend to send their children to school, helping to break the cycle of poverty.
Girls make up nearly 60 percent of the children who should be in school but in fact don't attend. Part of the problem is economic, but much of the reason remains rooted in societies that undervalue girls and, in some cases, abuse them.
“When you educate a girl in Africa, everything changes. She'll be three times less likely to get HIV/AIDS, earn 25 percent more income and have a smaller, healthier family.”
Deputy President, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcucka said it best,
“Educate a woman, you educate a nation.”
Children of uneducated mothers are half as likely to attend primary school as those whose mothers attended primary school themselves and one in three girls who complete primary school in Africa and South Asia cannot read, write or do simple math.
UNICEF reports that "Many schools are not child or girl friendly. Some are situated far from homes, exposing girls to danger when they walk to and from school. Girls trying to stay in school are also of being sexually harassed and exploited in schools by teachers and fellow students"
Educated mothers tend to send their children to school, helping to break the cycle of poverty.
Girls make up nearly 60 percent of the children who should be in school but in fact don't attend. Part of the problem is economic, but much of the reason remains rooted in societies that undervalue girls and, in some cases, abuse them.
“When you educate a girl in Africa, everything changes. She'll be three times less likely to get HIV/AIDS, earn 25 percent more income and have a smaller, healthier family.”
Deputy President, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcucka said it best,
“Educate a woman, you educate a nation.”
