While India claim improvements in recent years in terms of enrollment in its schools, girls are still underrepresented proportionally. After primary schooling, many girls give up their education due to limited resources, household chores, having to babysit siblings, or an early marriage. Even if they reach school as kids, adolescent females are the first to drop out. Around 63.5% of female students quit school during adolescence, and approximately 40% of girls leave school.
Children's Hope India Girls School in Bhopal, India, whereby donors are matched with a specific child in need of financial resources to support their education. A $200/year donation covers all educational expenses for the child, school fees, stationery, uniforms, medical coverage and a mid-day nutritious meal. While in school, students are encouraged to get vocational training, coaching for standardized exams, and earn scholarships or qualify for additional monthly rations in special cases.
The impact of education on girls is extraordinary. Education of the girl child is tied to improved health, self-reliance, and provide future opportunities. It provides foundation for learning and critical thinking. Education of the girl child positively impacts the economy in which she lives, specifically correlating with increased wages for her, higher GDP for her country, and a stronger community. A 10% increase in adolescent girls in school is associated with as much as a 3% increase in GDP.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).