Find out how Action Education is working to ensure access to quality education for all. quality education for girls and women across the world, combating gender inequality and promoting their social and economic emancipation.
8 March: girls' education, one of the keys to an egalitarian and equitable future
8 March is much more than just a date on the calendar. It is a global day dedicated to tackling the persistent inequalities faced by women, and to calling for action on gender equality and celebrating their achievements.
In a world where women make up more than half the population, it is imperative to recognise and remedy the injustices and inequalities they still face, particularly in the least developed countries. Despite decades of struggle and mobilising for women's rightsMany women continue to face gender discrimination and inequality at every stage of their lives. Their right to life, identity, education, health, employment and participation in decision-making is often violated. Access to education is one of the areas most affected, with 129 million young girls deprived of education and 515 million illiterate women in the world.
Access to pre-school education, an essential weapon against inequality
One of the keys to an egalitarian and equitable future lies in guaranteeing the fundamental rights of girls from birth. Civil registration is crucial to ensuring their legal existence and their access to rights such as education and health.
- Action Education is actively working in countries such as Burkina Faso to remedy this situation, by assisting the town hall in issuing birth certificates to unregistered pupils.
- Action Education is committed to initiatives aimed at improving this environment, particularly in Vietnam, by refurbishing nursery schools in remote areas, thus providing a favourable learning environment for girls under the age of 8, as well as the raising parents' awareness on the importance of pre-school education. By investing in quality programmes from the earliest age, their right to education is guaranteed on solid foundations.
Presentation of birth certificates by accompanied pupils, Ouagadougou commune. Action Education Burkina Faso, 2020
Tackling the problem of interrupted schooling
At primary and secondary level, it is crucial to ensure a high level of a safe and inclusive learning environment for young girls, combating gender-based violence and ensuring free schooling.
- Action Education works directly in communities to raise awareness of these issues and enable vulnerable girls to receive support.
- Action Education is also investing in construction of adapted toilets the needs of girls. In many regions, the lack of appropriate sanitation facilities is a major obstacle to girls attending school regularly, particularly during their menstrual periods. Providing gender-sensitive toilets helps to create a safe and hygienic environment, encouraging girls' continued participation in their education. Access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive rights education is also essential for the empowerment of girls and the prevention of early pregnancy and forced marriage.
- As part of its programmes, Action Education offers a menstrual hygiene education to help them understand their menstrual cycle and have access to hygiene and protection products.
Calavi, Houinmin school, January 2023, Sylvie HINSON
Support for the most vulnerable girls
In many parts of the world early marriagesThese practices, often motivated by economic constraints and the lack of educational opportunities, are a violation of young girls' fundamental rights. They also have an impact on the overall development of the countries concerned. In India, for example, almost 16% of adolescent girls are married before the legal age. This practice deprives young girls of their fundamental rights and of any autonomy/emancipation.
Action Education raises awareness among families and communities of the harmful consequences of early marriage and the importance of education for young girls during their studies, while offering practical support to the girls most at risk.
Vocational training and socio-professional integration of women
Action Education also extends women's access to higher education and vocational training, offering opportunities for economic empowerment.
As a significant example, in India, through the iLEAD projectthe introduction of practical training in more than 40 professions in India has enabled thousands of young women to find stable employment. These individual successes, like that of Satarupawho owns his own garage after completing his training in car mechanics, testify to the importance of acquiring technical skills (literacy and technical know-how), strengthening interpersonal skills, developing leadership, introducing entrepreneurship, etc.
Access to education in times of crisis
During times of crisis, whether health, security or economic, women and girls are the first victims, exposed to increased domestic and sexual violence and the risk of forced marriage. Action Education recognises education as an essential bulwark against such violence and the economic inequalities that particularly affect women and girls at these critical times.
A prime example is the SCOLFILLE in Burkina Faso, where the security crisis has led to the closure or destruction of thousands of schools and the mass displacement of people, many of them children. Thanks to this project, girls of school age are enrolled in the first year of primary school, those at risk of dropping out are supported, while older girls or those who have dropped out of school join accelerated classes covering the first three years of primary school over a nine-month period. School fees and supplies are covered, and school canteen programmes are improved to ensure that children have adequate food.
The project has a direct impact on more than 2,800 children and adults, including 2,000 girls, as well as training 180 teachers and supporting 630 community members involved in school management.
Pafadnam Hadji not attending school, enrolled at the SSAP centre in Sapouy sector 4, Burkina Faso, January 2023, Dramane Sessouma
Involving communities and local players and raising awareness of gender equality
By engaging in dialogue with communities and their representatives, it is possible to change attitudes and reduce the influence of patriarchal society, thereby overcoming the sexist socio-cultural norms that still hinder girls' and women's access to education. Action Education recognises that the participation of girls and women in discussions and decision-making is essential to guarantee their fundamental right.
As part of our project in Benin to support secondary education, we have set up anonymous "Suggestion Boxes", enabling young girls to express themselves freely on the issues they face, such as harassment or violence. These suggestions are discussed publicly and solutions are adopted collectively, strengthening the girls' sense of belonging and self-confidence. The concrete results of this project are tangible, with a significant drop in repetition rates and a reduction in teenage pregnancies.
Action Education is also involved in awareness-raising initiatives at community level, particularly in India, where sexist socio-cultural norms continue to compromise access to education for girls and women.
Through our Enlight project, we are raising parents' awareness of the importance of girls' education and building teachers' capacity to promote innovative and inclusive teaching methods. We also encourage the whole community to participate in the governance of education, in order to create an environment in which everyone can flourish. These efforts have a direct impact on more than 2,500 young girls in nine Indian cities, encouraging them to pursue their studies and aspire to ambitious goals, as shown by the following examples Kavinilaa Year 5 pupil determined to become a lawyer to support women in need.
Enlight project in Chennai, October 2022, Chandra Kiran
