Educating Girls and Women

Education is so important in changing a community living in poverty. So many opportunities arise for those who have a formal education. There are more job opportunities, which makes it possible to provide for a family. While having an education is important for everyone, it is extremely important that girls and women have an education. The benefits are endless. The following are a couple of quotes that I think explain this concept really well:

“If you really want to change a culture, to empower women, improve basic hygiene and health care, and fight high rates of infant mortality, the answer is to educate girls.”
--Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea and Stones into Schools

(Image c/o Girls Who Rock)

“What we are learning around the world is that if women are healthy and educated, their families will flourish. If women are free from violence, their families will flourish. If women have a chance to work and earn as full and equal partners in society, their families will flourish. And when families flourish, communities and nations do as well.”

--Secretary of State and former First Lady Hilary Clinton

I found this poster on a website for the organization, "The Girl Effect." Learning about this and other organizations is what got me fired up about educating women and girls. Click on the image for a more close-up view.

(image c/o girleffect.org)