A Sykomal Girls ' Middle Schooler smiles while working on a lesson in her Ishkashim , Afghanistan , class .
many years in villages , talking with women , elders and children , I am convinced that the most powerful force of change , and the best investment one can make is girls ’ education .
As far back as 1959 , the UN General Assembly ’ s Declaration of The Rights of The Child stated that , “ The child is entitled to receive education , which shall be free and compulsory . He shall be given an education , which will promote his general culture and enable him , on a basis of equal opportunity , to develop his abilities , his individual judgment , and his sense of moral and social responsibility , and to become a useful member of society .”
In 2000 , the global development community proposed eight goals to be implemented over 15 years called the Millennium Development Goals . In education , the goal was to eradicate illiteracy and provide universal education to every child . Thirteen years later , the Millennium Goal in education has mostly fallen far short of the objectives . In 2012 , according to UNESCO , there were 121 million
If you educate a boy , you educate an individual , but if you educate a girl , you educate a community .
h
children not in school including 65 million girls .
The World Literacy Foundation reported in 2012 that 796 million people on the planet are illiterate , including 510 million women , and estimated that the economic loss of having so many illiterate people is a staggering $ 1.19 trillion .
The costs associated with and implications of illiteracy are profound . Without the ability to read and write , people cannot read directions , ballots , medicine and food labels , letters , or newspapers . They have difficulty using a bank , understanding government policy , using computers and cell phones , helping their children with homework , and much more .
As a child growing up in Tanzania , I learned a quote : “ If you educate a boy , you educate an individual , but if you educate a girl , you educate a community .” In simple terms , this is what causes the “ ripple effect .” A single educated boy might leave his village . But an educated mother is more likely to stay and encourage her children to go to school . This is why both boys ’ and girls ’ education is important .
Over the years , I learned a term in military parlance called “ force multiplier .” What it means is that when a capability , tool , or means is added to a combat force , the probability of a successful mission outcome is significantly increased . A force multiplier can bring profound change , and often change the tide of a battle or a war . In today ’ s war on poverty , amid natural disasters , crippled economies , environmental degradation , and
46 | Journey of Hope C E N T R A L A S I A I N S T I T U T E