Because I am a Girl

        
Because I am a Girl is a global campaign to claim a brighter, safer future for girls. Investing in girls is key to eliminating poverty and creating a better world.


There are an estimated 60 million child brides worldwide, some as young as 7 years old. If the present trend continues, another 100 million girls will be forced into marriage over the next decade.

Compared to boys, girls are less likely to survive, go to school, be healthy and find a good job. Plan believes that educating girls is the key to reducing poverty and inequality. Here are some of the reasons why:

• girls of educated mothers are more likely to live beyond five years old;

• an extra year of primary school boosts girls’ eventual wages by 10-20 per cent;

• educating young women gives them the skills to generate an income. This can lift a whole family out of poverty thereby benefiting entire communities and generations to come.

Because I am a Girl is Plan's campaign to fight gender inequality, promote girls' rights and lift millions of girls out of poverty. Join the campaign via Plan's fundraising country websites.

http://www.plan.fi/Page/ce196e3d-e200-460c-808a-e3628ddae6eb.aspx