Did you know that over 132 million girls around the world are out of school? This number was before the COVID pandemic began and now millions of more girls are at risk of not receiving an education this school year. As my own thirteen-year-old daughter prepares to begin her hybrid version of 8th grade, I often realize how incredibly blessed we are to have the opportunity and the resources to continue her education. Millions of children, especially girls, will miss out this year and not have the opportunity to learn. However, there is something we can do to help out and make a difference.
I’m thrilled to be partnering for the fourth year in a row with Kurandza this month for the #IStandForGirls campaign. I learned about Kurandza’s work five years ago when I started researching my popular Gifts that Give Back page and international nonprofits that are changing the world. I shared Elisabetta and Percina’s powerful story about why they founded Kurandza on the blog and have been an avid supporter of their work in Mozambique ever since.
While the global pandemic has impacted us all, it has impacted some of the most vulnerable communities around the world even more. Thanks to organizations like Kurandza girls are able to continue to receive an education and continue learning and thriving despite these new challenges. Now it is more important than ever before to stand up and support girls’ education.
#IStandForGirls because I believe all girls around the world should have equal access to education and opportunities no matter where they’re from. I believe in the power of education, and that all girls have the ability to reach their dreams when given the chance at an education.
When a girl gets an education she…
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Is less likely to become a child bride
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Has improved nutrition and access to better health care
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Is likely to do what she can to uplift other girls in her community
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Can dream about a bright future!
Photo courtesy of Kurandza
When you educate a girl, you change her life.
In Mozambique where Kurandza works, 14-years-old is the average age when many girls living in poverty stop going to school because it’s too far away. Without education, girls and women in remote parts of Mozambique become child brides. Many families don’t send their daughters to school because they can’t afford the school fees or uniforms. High HIV rates and low access to basic health care have created a generation of orphans who cannot provide for themselves, creating a cycle of poverty. However, when a girl goes to school, this vicious cycle is broken impacting not only a girl’s future but that of the entire community. Education is an incredible investment!
Photo courtesy of Kurandza
Throughout the month of September, I am partnering with Kurandza to raise funds to send 205 girls in Mozambique back to school. This allows Kurandza’s Mozambique team to measure and make uniforms, purchase adequate supplies and arrange transportation and additional programming for the 2021 school year, which starts in January.
What does it cost to sponsor a girl’s education?
Kurandza is small and flexible, so there’s a lot less red tape than larger organizations. Their local team ensures donations are directed where they’re most urgently needed. This means your donation will directly support the girls and women in Mozambique. Sponsoring a girl’s education starts at only $20/month – just about the amount we spend on coffee each month. Here are two options to help get a girl to school and keep a girl in school:
- School fees
- Transportation to and from school
- Backpack full of school supplies
- Uniform
- Tutoring and mentoring
- Extracurricular activities
- Home visits and family support
- Covid-19 relief aid
Photo courtesy of Kurandza
Want to learn more? Visit www.kurandza.org/istandforgirls
Last year, I was able to get a corporate match from my husband’s employer and double our impact by sponsoring two girls. With the global pandemic, children around the world have faced new challenges. Thankfully, nonprofit organizations such as Kurandza have been able to step in and help vulnerable families and children get through these difficult months. Here are some of the ways Kurandza and donors have been able to help these past few months:
70 of our most vulnerable girls and their families received food and soap aid so that they could get through this crisis including 3rd grader, Ética, with her 5th grader sister, Pércia, and their mother, Cecilia. Middle Photo: All high school students participated in a Covid-19 prevention + mask usage training before receiving their own masks so they could go back to school (high schools opened last month). Photo of Tina with her mask. Last photo: Kurandza hired a new staff member, Alice (pictured mentoring Esmenia) to focus solely on home visits and extra tutoring to aid our girls with their distance learning. With primary schools still closed, our girls need extra support and encouragement to complete their studies at home.
I am so inspired by the work that Elisabetta and Percina do to help improve the lives of girls and their communities in Mozambique. If you would like to learn more, please visit www.kurandza.org.
Excellent!
Thanks Ruth!
Great to see you back and another great cause. ❤️
janet
Thanks Janet! I’ve been very busy these past few months and haven’t had as much time to blog or blog about. I really appreciate you stopping by!
Just good to know you’re safe! These days health and safety are primary concerns.
Thanks Janet. Yes, I haven’t written much or been very active on the blog. Life has been pretty crazy. I hope to restart the blog once we can resume traveling. Hoping that happens next year! How are you?
We’re doing well. Just had a lovely day at Mt. Lemmon near Tucson, so I have blog material for a few days and my husband was able to get away from work and out of the house! It’s been nice getting to spend time with my parents as well and really nice that it’s finally cooling down a bit!!
Oh I love Mt. Lemmon. My parents live near Sabino Canyon and have lived in that part of AZ for 25 years. We love driving up there and hiking around the huge trees. Wonderful!
Then we were near their place on our way back. Mt. Lemmon is wonderful. We’ll definitely be going there again. A real mountain!! I love it. 🙂
Yes it is quite special. I hope to try to find a way to visit my parents sometime this winter. It is so hard with COVID. Our lives are all turned so upside down. I am getting ready to hunker down for our long winter ahead. I bet you are so glad you aren’t in Chicago for this winter! I hope to get back to blogging once life resumes to some normalcy. I just don’t have much to say these days as I feel a big part of me is missing without travel. But I will be back!
Sounds like a truly amazing organization Nicole. I will check out their website. Hope you and your family are doing well.
Alison xo
Thanks Alison! Yes I love their work. We are doing well here but life has changed so much. I have decided to stop blogging for awhile and come back in full force when I have some inspiring things to say! Love getting your posts as always! 🙂 You always inspire me!
xox <3
Outstanding post, and an excellent illustration of the main thing I’ve been ranting about for over 40 years — the value and importance of an education. As far as I can tell, education is the key to,… well, just about everything. It has the potential to cure racism, sexism, and hatred.
For it’s hard to hate what we understand.
Thanks so much for the comment and for reading this post. I truly appreciate it and wholeheartedly agree. Knowledge is power!
Such an important and special post, it is mind boggling how this is such an issue in today’s world, and scary to realize it is not going to get any better without true action. 132 million girls around the world are out of school ~ this number is hard to wrap my head around… we are wasting great minds and opportunities to evolve into something more special globally by ignoring this issue. Great post ~ the powerful story of Elisabetta and Percina is inspiring and also for you to introduce us to Kurandza. Wishing you well ~
Thanks so much! Yes it is hard to wrap your head around these stats and I know with COVID it is even more daunting. Thanks so much for taking the time to read this post. I truly appreciate it. It is a fantastic organization.
This is definitely an organization I can and would love to help and support!!
Thanks Janaline! There is still time to help out. 🙂
Thank you for sharing! Girls education can change the world and I’m so glad to see you focusing on this.
Glad you enjoyed! Thanks for taking the time to read!