Left out and left behind
LEFT OUT, LEFT BEHIND
Growing up in crisis is putting girls’ education and their futures in jeopardy #LeftOutLeftBehind
If you’re a girl affected by conflict or disaster, your life chances are likely to be among the worst in the world. You’re more likely to be married before the age of 18 than to finish school. You’ll be at greater risk of exploitation and early pregnancy. And there’s a two in three chance you won’t even start secondary school.
Right now, 13 million girls are out of school as a result of humanitarian crisis. That’s the equivalent of three girls missing out for every girl in school in the UK. Instead of enjoying their childhood and education, these girls face unimaginable risks – such as sexual exploitation, child marriage and trafficking. To try and protect them, many families keep girls at home to help with household chores, making it an uphill struggle for them to access their education.
When a crisis strikes, it’s these girls’ voices that go unheard. But in places like South Sudan and the refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh, girls are telling us they want an education more than anything. Now that’s a step closer, with news the UK Government will provide £515 million for global education, building on a £85 million pledge for the Education Cannot Wait Fund. The next step is to make sure these funds reach the girls who need them most.
Growing up in crisis
13 million girls are out of school because of conflict and disaster
For every ten refugee boys in secondary school there are fewer than seven refugee girls
2 in 3 girlsin humanitarian crisis won’t start secondary school
‘I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO SCHOOL’
In South Sudan, 14-year-old Helena and her family were forced to flee their home after fighting broke out.
Since then, Helena’s father and two of her brothers have died. Now Helena spends her days looking after the family’s cows.
“We had to leave all our clothes and utensils behind – everything. I was very scared,” Helena says.
“I have never been to school because there is nobody to pay the fees. If I could change one thing about my life it would be to go to school.”
‘GIRLS WERE BEING KIDNAPPED FROM MY SCHOOL’
The crisis affecting the Lake Chad Basin is one of the most severe humanitarian emergencies in the world, and the brutal conflict has had a far-reaching impact on girls’ lives. They’ve lost loved ones, been denied their rights to an education and healthcare, and many have been forced into early marriage and teenage pregnancy.
For Kwanye, the crisis meant having to drop out of education because girls were being kidnapped from her school. "I had good grades, friends and was happy at school before the crisis,” she says.
'Our journey to school could be made safer'
13-year-old Basma left Syria when she was 9 years old. She lives with her family in the Azraq refugee camp.
"There is a very long walk between the school and our shelter. I don't feel safe. We get harassed by the older boys," she explains.
"Some parents stop their daughters going to school because of their worry of harassment. They marry their daughters off to protect them. I know a girl aged 14 who is now married, her husband is 18."
NO GIRL LEFT OUT OR LEFT BEHIND
During a crisis, education is transformative for girls. It offers a safe space to learn and recover from the trauma they’ve experienced – but crises are placing this in jeopardy.
Momentum around the issue is growing. The UK Government has announced £515 million for global education, building on their £85 million pledge for the Education Cannot Wait Fund. This will provide vital schooling to millions of girls whose lives have been torn apart by conflict and disaster, including those in the Sahel region of Africa – one of the worst places in the world for girls seeking an education. Now we have to make sure these funds reach the girls who need them most.