Thursday 8 March is International Women’s Day and AMS wishes to recognise women and in particular the importance of providing quality education to all across Asia and the Pacific.
The day brings together global governments, women’s organisations, businesses and charities together under the banner of International Women’s Day. The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is #PressforProgress. The website argues: “We can’t be complacent. Now, more than ever, there’s a strong call-to-action to press forward and progress gender parity. “A strong call to #PressforProgress. A strong call to motivate and unite friends, colleagues and whole communities to think, act and be gender inclusive.”
Sadly, for many females in developing countries, it can still be incredibly difficult, or in some cases impossible, for females to access educational opportunities. Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai outlined four major benefits to providing education to females in developing nations including:
- If all girls went to school for 12 years, low- and middle-income countries could add $92 billion per year to their economies.
- Educated girls are less likely to marry young or contract HIV—and more likely to have healthy, educated children.
- The Brookings Institution calls secondary schooling for girls the best and most cost-effective investment against climate change.
- When a country gives all its children secondary education, it cuts its risk of war in half.
AMS currently supports several equal rights projects across Asia and the Pacific. In Thailand, the Marist Brothers work in Samut Sakhon and the Marist Fathers in Ranong to provide education and refuge to Burmese migrant children, especially those who are undocumented and denied access to the Thai education system. In Bangladesh, the St Marcellin School supports children of the tea garden plantations by providing education which they would not be able to otherwise access. Approximately 50% or 96 of the school’s enrolment is female. The Children & Youth Centre Ponta Leste, located in Timor-Leste, supports 333 students in their education programs of which 70% or 232 are female.
Education for girls can transform communities, countries and our world. It is an investment in economic growth, a healthier workforce, lasting peace and the future of our planet.