Peruvian Hearts Why Girls

EN ESPAÑOL

The education and empowerment of women throughout the world cannot
fail to result in a more caring, tolerant, just and peaceful life for all.
–Aung San Suu Kyi

Peruvian Hearts believes that women play a critical role in ending the cycle of poverty. Therefore, we work with adolescent girls to empower them to become strong women who have the capacity to transform their own lives and become leaders in their families, communities, and country.

Some of the reasons we believe strongly in the support and promotion of girls and their education are:

A girl who does not receive an education is more likely to be a child
bride, contract HIV or AIDS and continue the cycle of poverty with her
own children (Nike Foundation).

If a girl has seven or more years of education, she will marry four years
later and have 2.2 fewer children (UNICEF).

When she earns an income she will reinvest 90% in her family, whereas
a man will reinvest only 35% in his family (UNICEF).

An educated woman is much more likely to send her children to school
and take them to the doctor (UNICEF).

When 10% more girls go to secondary school the country's economy will
grow by 3% (UNICEF).

Educated girls are more productive at home and better paid in the
workplace, and more able to participate in social, economic, and political
decision-making (UNICEF).

According to the Girl Scouts' Change it Up survey in 2008, 90% of girls
say they want to be leaders, but only 21% believe that they have the
qualities required for leadership.

One of the Millennium Development Goals set by the United Nations is "…to promote gender equality and empower women." Their target is to "…eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2005, and in all levels of education no later than 2015." Peruvian Hearts is committed to supporting the Millennium Development Goals as we work to empower girls with opportunities for leadership, service, and education.