Did you know that fewer than two thirds of girls finish primary school and only a third finish secondary school according to statistics from the United Nations?
Afghanistan is the only country where girls are banned from attending school, but there are plenty of other places where girls face barriers to education - such as poverty, conflict and cultural norms, including early marriage. While girls often beat boys when it comes to academic achievement in the West, in poorer countries, they often fail to be educated at all.
Today, on the International Day of Education, an impressive line-up of female celebrities are backing the charity Plan International’s winter appeal to help girls around the world to finish school. Celebrity chef Nisha Katona, a judge on the BBC’s Great British Menu, who grew up in Ormskirk, Lancs, Is using profits from her restaurant chain Mowgli Street Food, to fund the transformation of two girls’ schools in her family’s home city of Varanasi in India.
She and some of her restaurant staff visited the project last year and witnessed the positive impact that access to education is having on girls in the community. Nisha tells The Mirror: “As someone with roots in Varanasi, the value of education resonates profoundly with me. Having experienced the impact it can have, I felt a calling to give back to the city that shaped me.”
Olympic gold medallist Rebecca Adlington, TV presenter Kate Lawler and EastEnders and Strictly star Molly Rainford, are all backing the campaign and share positive memories of their schooldays. Swimmer Rebecca says: “I don’t think I would have felt as confident in my swimming ability if it wasn’t for those friendships I made in school. It’s shocking that around the world 40% of girls don’t finish school. Education is a right not a privilege. We must do everything we can to remove the barriers that keep girls away from the classroom.”
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Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)Kate Lawler, the first female winner of Big Brother, adds: “I think the impact my education had on who I am today is monumental.” Molly Rainford agrees, adding: “Education gives you the confidence to follow your dreams and to know that you have different options. Every girl should get that chance, it’s the starting point for everything else.”
Girls around the world who Plan International are trying to help include:
Rosa, 14, Mozambique
Forcibly displaced by the conflict in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique's northernmost province, Rosa, 14, now lives in a resettlement centre with her mother, sister and brother, attending a temporary learning space built by the charity. She says: "Classes are going well. I got a uniform, notebooks, pens, pencils and even a bag to put the books in. I couldn't read before, but thanks to this support, my performance at school has improved a lot.
“With the continuing attacks, many families have been separated, people have been hit by bullets, others have died and many children who have survived and managed to reach safer areas, are not in a good psychological state. Many cannot even study. Thanks to this project, the children are getting help and are getting better."
Dabo, 11, of Ethiopia
Like many girls in Borena, Ethiopia, drought-related hunger forced Dabo, 11, to leave school three years ago, in first grade. She says: "The reason I left school is because my parents couldn't afford to buy me anything. I couldn't attend classes because I was hungry. I want to be an educated girl so that I can improve the life of my family. I want to have a school bag, pens and books. It was three years ago that we lost everything. I eat once a day. When we don't have any food, we stay hungry."
Lakshina, 14, of Nepal
Lakshina, 14, from Dolpa district in Nepal, is passionate about fighting harmful traditional practices like child marriage. She says: "Such practices prevent us from getting an education and living our lives to the full. I believe that every girl deserves the opportunity to decide her own future and pursue her goals without being bound by outdated customs."
Every week, Lakshina - who wants to become a nurse - walks for two days to reach her school, where she lives in a hostel during the week. She says: "With the support of my family, I am determined to achieve my dream." Lakshina and her friends in the Adolescent Girls' Club organise events at their school to teach students about the dangers of early marriage and the importance of gender equality.
"We organise debating competitions, spoken performances, poetry contests and street plays," says Lakshina. "These activities help us deliver the message about the harmful effects of child marriage and the importance of girls' rights in an engaging and impactful way."
Plan International UK’s Winter Appeal this year is helping girls defy the odds and finish school – readers can find out more on their website.
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