There was a time when girls were prohibited from attending school or educating themselves at home. Education was not considered necessary for girls as many older people believed that irrespective of education, girls had to spend the rest of their lives in four walls of their houses. Thus, educating them would be expensive and excessive.
Now, we have begun to realize that girls’ education is necessary and that this modern age is awakening girls to enter into all spheres of life and compete with men. Education for girls has the potential to change society peacefully. It is critical for the upliftment of marginalised groups in society, particularly girls. Education for girls is crucial because they form the foundation of society, and serve as the race's mother and as the generation's guardian. Girls must be educated since they shape the next generation and hence the country's fate.
Considering this illiteracy not only towards girls but also for boys, International Literacy Day was founded by the proclamation of The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, in 1966 “to remind the public of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights.” International Literacy Day is observed every year on September 8 to raise awareness and concern for literacy problems that exist within our local communities as well as globally. According to UNESCO, there are still 773 million illiterate adults around the world, and 496 million are women.
This gender disparity in literacy serves as a sobering reminder of the ongoing inequality in educational systems all across the world. Poverty, cultural norms, early marriage, and discrimination are just a few of the challenges girls and women encounter that prevent them from pursuing an education.
Educating girls not only empowers them but also creates gender equality, economic benefits, good health and well-being and global development. However, challenges persist:
- Poverty: Many families are unable to pay for their daughters' schooling. This obstacle can be lessened by addressing poverty via focused initiatives including scholarships, school food programmes, and financial incentives.
- Child Marriage: Girls are frequently forced to quit school because of early marriage. Child marriage legislation, information campaigns, and assistance for vulnerable girls can all help address this problem.
- Infrastructure and Access: Schools are frequently far away, underequipped, or dangerous. Education can be more easily accessible for girls by making transport and infrastructural investments.
Let's not forget that education is a fundamental human right and a means to a more just and prosperous society on this International Literacy Day. Girls' education is a moral priority as well as a wise investment in the future of our society as a whole. By removing obstacles and encouraging girls' access to a quality education, we can provide them the tools they need to succeed as leaders, agents of change, and advocates for gender equality and literacy.
The major mission of the Child Help Foundation is to educate underprivileged children. Since the organization's start, teaching kids for their future well-being and improvement has always come first. Apart from school improvements in infrastructure, and other amenities, the organization also provides education kits, stationery items, and tuition classes to children who are unable to go the school due to unforeseen circumstances. Even at Child Care Institute children are provided with necessary items regarding their education.
We are incredibly appreciative that we were able to assist 4,82,051 underprivileged children through the Quality Education Programme and provide them with the tools they needed to succeed.