Global Business Coalition for Education

Safe Schools Initiative Part of #LetGirlsLearn

The private sector has been showcased as one of the primary partners in the Obama Administration initiative Let Girls Learn.  GBC-Education’s ongoing efforts – in collaboration with A World at School and the UN Special Envoy for Global Education – with the Safe School Initiative in Pakistan and Nigeria are highlighted as part of this initiative.  The Safe Schools Initiative is an example of an existing partnership with bilateral and multilateral partners that is working to Let Girls Learn.

 

Let Girls Learn, announced on March 2 during Peace Corps Week and in advance of International Women’s Day, will build on existing efforts run by USAID, the U.S. State Department, the Peace Corps and the Millennium Challenge Corporation to empower girls.  It builds on the public engagement campaign launched last summer by USAID.  It also aims to strengthen public-private partnerships and to encourage organizations and government to commit resources for adolescent girls.

 

President Obama comments on the the broad importance of educating women and girls by stating: “When girls are educated, their future children are healthier and better nourished. Their future wages increase, which in turn strengthens their families’ security. National growth gets a boost, too. And places where women and girls are treated as full and equal citizens tend to be more stable and more democratic.”

 

Tamela Noboa, Managing Director of GBC-Education member Discovery Learning Alliance, also joined other leaders in girls’ education at the White House.

 

This announcement came the same week as the launch of GBC-Education’s Girls’ Education Task Force, aimed at improving education for the 31 million out-of-school primary school-age girls across the globe.  Current efforts by GBC-Education members impact the lives of 6 million girls globally through their investments in empowerment, mentoring and safe schools.

 

Businesses should continuing to build on the call to action from these new initiatives by investing in girls education. How will you help girls stand #UpForSchool and Let Girls Learn?

 

Miss the announcement event for Let Girls Learn?  Watch it here:


Photo Courtesy of the the White House.