Access to education, medical care and social participation is not a given for millions of girls and women. However, when women are empowered, it is not only they themselves who benefit, but entire communities.
In our projects in Bangladesh, India, Kenya and Ethiopia, we are also specifically committed to the advancement of women.
How we specifically support women and girls:
Education for girls
Education is an important key to equality. In all of our schools in the project countries, the proportion of female pupils is at least 50%. This is particularly important as girls are still disadvantaged in many regions and rarely have the opportunity to attend school.
We are committed to providing safe accommodation so that girls are not hindered by long and dangerous journeys to school. In Kenya, we are currently building a boarding school for 50 girls at the Eroret School. This means they no longer have to travel several hours to school and can concentrate fully on their education.
In Bangladesh, we support young women with a scholarship program which gives them access to further education and even university. Many graduates later return as teachers and pass on their knowledge to the next generation.
Medical care and health promotion
Women often have less access to medical care, whether due to financial barriers or a lack of infrastructure. We therefore offer targeted basic medical care in our projects.
Through workshops on sexual health and family planning at schools and in the communities, we give girls and women the knowledge they need to make self-determined decisions about their bodies and their future.
Support for mothers and families
In many countries, women and older girls bear the main responsibility for providing for the family. They are often the ones who look after younger siblings and prepare meals. By offering daily meals in our schools, we relieve the burden on mothers and older sisters – giving them more time for work, training or school.
Another important issue is access to clean water. In many African countries, women and girls have to walk long distances to the nearest water source every day – valuable time that could be used for education or work. By building wells in our project areas, we reduce this burden and improve the quality of life of entire communities.
Together for a better future
Every woman deserves access to education, health and equal opportunities – no matter where she lives. When we empower women, we empower society as a whole. We are committed to a world in which women can develop their full potential.
