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More than 500 million adolescent girls and young women live in the developing world, and they have a key role to play in the economic and social development of their communities and countries. However, many don’t get the opportunity to get an education, find work, or participate equally in society – simply because they are girls.
Across the globe, girls are at the bottom of the social ladder, deprived of the same opportunities as boys. For example, research has shown that girls are more likely to suffer from malnutrition; be forced into an early marriage; be subjected to violence or intimidation; be trafficked, sold or coerced into the sex trade; or become infected with HIV.
Plan is an organisation founded more than 70 years ago, and is one of the oldest and largest children’s development organisations in the world and has no political or religious agenda. Plan works at the grassroots level in more than 49 developing countries, giving children, families and communities the tools they need to break the cycle of poverty.
Plan’s Because I am A Girl Campaign examines and responds to the needs of girls throughout their childhood, adolescence and as young women around the globe. Girls have a unique power to positively influence the lives of those around them, as future women, mothers, workers and leaders.
For every year a girl stays in school, her future income rises by 15 per cent and her children are 5–10 percent more likely to survive. A girl who receives adequate education is likely to have less children, and she will invest more of her resources into those children who will, in turn, grow up to be productive adults. When women in developing countries thrive, all of society benefits, and succeeding generations are given a better start in life.
Ruth’s Charity Challenge is to raise money, which goes directly to Plan’s GirlsFund for projects such as health and education and promoting gender equality.
For 14 days in May Ruth will go to Nepal and see how Plan is working with communities to build a stronger, brighter future for disadvantaged children.
For more information about the Australian organisation Plan go to www.plan.org.au
