Why I support education for girls in Mozambique
Education Matters 💖
Did you know that 132 million girls around the world are out of school and unable to access education? Something that we take for granted everyday is a life-altering privilege for others.
I’m so excited to be partnering with Kurandza during the month of September for the #IStandForGirls campaign! Together, we’re raising funds to send 250 girls in Mozambique back to school because when girls are educated, they are more likely to...
▪︎ gain independence, health, safety, and security into adulthood.
▪︎ have access to jobs and earn a higher income than those who are not.
▪︎ send their own daughters to school and break the cycle of poverty.
▪︎ invest back in their community and improve global development.
"One child, one teacher, one book, and one pencil can change the world.” — Malala Yousefzai
When you provide education for one girl, she will subsequently impact 100 people! Every girl who is educated not only creates a better future for herself, but for her family, community, and continues if she has her own children. 💖
Who is Kurandza?
Kurandza is a grassroots nonprofit that believes in the power of education, especially for girls in rural Mozambique.
Elisabetta Colabianchi founded Kurandza after moving to Mozambique as a Peace Corps volunteer. Kurandza, which means “to love” in Changana, the local language of the community, began as a sewing cooperative to teach local Mozambican women financial literacy, health, and entrepreneurship. After fundraising to create a nutrition program during a drought and hunger crisis, Elisabetta sponsored the education of a preschooler whose progress promoted the movement for a campaign to sponsor the education for girls in Mozambique. The first campaign in 2017 was successful in their goal of sponsoring 100 girls to go to school! Since then, Kurandza has witnessed the transformative power of education and has focused their efforts on providing scholarships, resources, and psychosocial support to the now 250 girls in their program. Coming from marginalized, vulnerable backgrounds, for the first time in their lives, they can dream of a bright future for themselves.
Love is the top value of Kurandza and what fuels their work in Mozambique. They believe that every person deserves to lead a dignified life, be treated with kindness, and shown love. Kurandza educates and equips girls to have a say in their future, creating transformational change and dignified employment opportunities for women globally.
What is #ISTANDFORGIRLS?
This is the annual fundraiser Kurandza leads to help 250 girls receive an education. All proceeds from the campaign go towards the education of girls in Mozambique, along with the additional support they need to stay in school and change their lives.
#IStandForGirls because access to an education can change the direction of a girl’s life.
#IStandForGirls because no child should have to wonder if they’ll be able to get a job or go to college.
#IStandForGirls because empowering a woman empowers an entire community.
#IStandForGirls because the cost of your daily coffee can send a girl to school.
Facts
▪︎ Education ensures that a girl will have more choices and opportunities for employment later in life.
▪︎ Having access to education directly correlates to fewer child marriage, and reduces the rate of early pregnancy and HIV transmission.
▪︎ Research indicates that when more income is put into the hands of women, child nutrition, health and education improves.
▪︎ When a girl goes to school, she can become a leader in her community.
▪︎ Educating girls helps drive economic development, benefiting everyone leading to a more prosperous nation.
▪︎ When a girl is educated, she’s more likely to send her own daughters to school someday, breaking the cycle of poverty.
Statistics
▪︎ Around the world 31 million girls lack access to primary education. — UNESCO
▪︎ 132 million girls around the world can’t go to school. — UNICEF
▪︎ In rural Mozambique over 70% of women are illiterate. — USAID
▪︎ Nearly 50% of girls become child brides in Mozambique. — UNICEF
▪︎ Only 39% of girls compared to 52% of boys attend school in Mozambique. — UNICEF
▪︎ 11% of girls continue school past 7th grade, and only 1% go on to graduate from college. — USAID + WORLD BANK
You can give girls a brighter future when you sponsor their schooling.
I stand up for the girls who aren’t able to speak up for themselves yet during the #IStandForGirls campaign with Kurandza.
Let’s together make an impact in empowering girls through education.
I know there are a lot of important causes to give your attention to these days so from the bottom of my heart — thank you for considering one closest to mine. 💖
