Educating girls and eradicating poverty

Posted by Jenni Colwill on 16 October 2009 | 0 Comments

Tags: poverty, women, girls, education

October 17 2009 is set aside by the United Nationals as International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. This year is the twentieth anniversary, and we still have a way to go.

The day is set aside to highlight the effort and struggle of people living in poverty and to promote awareness of the need to eradicate it. But how?

The data tells us that educating girls increases economic productivity and improves family nutrition. It reduces infant mortality. For every year beyond fourth grade that girls go to school, family size drops 20% and wages rise by 20%.

That's why a whole lot of non-government organisations, including 2020women, have released a statement organised by UNIFEM Australia supporting action to ensure girls' rights during childhood; giving girls access to quality education and to the knowledge skills and opportunities they need to realise their full potential.

We can't achieve gender equality without these things, and without giving girls a good education we won't eradicate poverty.