The importance of female education was the focus of a recent Washington gathering, attended by powerful women from the halls of Congress and around the world.
The organization Women Thrive Worldwide held a fifth annual Women’s Day International Breakfast to explore ways that the U.S. government can join forces with private sector organizations and the international development community to improve learning. A special focus of this year’s event was a discussion of the barriers that women face to getting education.
“We just simply can’t build the world we want without education at the center of our efforts,” said New York Congresswoman Nita Lowey.
She was joined by speakers from international groups who spoke of the importance of women to the success of families and economies.
“Without women, men cannot prosper– Because men came from the womb of women, how can we live without them?… If you provide education for women, you have the quality woman” said Juhundi N. Mbwambo of Elimu Community Light, an organization based in Tanzania.
The main barriers girls face in pursuing higher education in many places are child marriage and sexual abuse.
“Thirty nine million girls drop out of school during adolescents… Age 14 is the most critical time: they get married [and amongst other things] are sexually abused,” said Subhadra Belbase, Special Adviser to Plan International’s Policy Advocacy and Campaign Team. “If a child gets nine years of education: they have the skills and knowledge to get up and claim her rights.”
Sakena Yacoobi of the Afghan Institute of Llearning suggested that giving a basic education to girls is not just an impact on the economy but an impact on leadership.
Congresswoman Lowey said she believes that providing girls with quality education builds the foundation for strong women, families and communities.
“A quality education can be the difference between living a lifetime in poverty or having the ability to change not just a families economic situation, but a whole community’s” agreed Ritu Sharma of Women Thrive Worldwide.
Panelist M.Chariot Kruvant of creative associates international said that a system of trust should be built in the endeavor to provide quality education for students.
“We have to work in the community. It would be bad for us just to go into the community and tell them what to do” said Kruvant.
