Breaking the Cycle: How Education Can Lift Girls Out of Poverty

How Education Can Lift Girls Out of Poverty

In 2021, out of the total number of people living in extreme poverty in India, 47 million were female. According to the World Bank, for the rural, working-age population, only 16 percent of women are economically active, compared with 53 percent of men. These statistics exist because of women's limited access to resources and financial assets, traditional ideologies, and the burden of domestic work. However, education, including higher education such as colleges, can help women and girls learn the skills required to become successful. Reaching this level includes becoming more knowledgeable, earning a higher income, and living a more comfortable life. Most importantly, once girls are given access to educational tools, they are able to set up future generations for success as well, breaking the cycle of poverty.

The Power of Educating Girls

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has the right to education. Still, for many girls worldwide and in India, this right is denied due to financial, cultural, and political barriers. Interestingly enough, educating girls would actually benefit not only the individual but also the society which promotes it, for the following reasons:

Education allows women and girls to acquire the technical and intellectual skills required for joining the workforce. If they are allowed to study, educated women are more likely to secure stable employment or start a business, overall contributing to their country's economy.

When women are allowed to receive a higher education or obtain a job, if they have children, they are more likely to invest in their children's education as well. Furthermore, this investment may help to break a family's cycle of poverty since the children will have access to better healthcare, resources, and opportunities, benefitting future generations too.

Education also allows women better access to healthcare information, allowing them to make more informed decisions about marriage, family planning, and having children later in life. This not only allows women to go to college and achieve professional careers, but also leads to healthier children, whose futures are more secure.

Finally, educating girls and women challenges traditional gender roles and promotes gender equality. When both male and females are given equal opportunities to learn, women are more likely to advocate for their rights and participate in decision-making processes. This can lead to broader social change, with traditional gender roles diminishing in prevalence.

How Do We Achieve this Goal?

Provide financial support and free education for girls. Many families cannot afford school fees, uniforms, and supplies. Supplying this for free can reduce financial burdens on families.

Build safe transportation to and from school. Doing so may convince parents that girls will not face safety risks on their journey to school and will be more inclined to allow them to go.

Finally, the government will need to implement and enforce policies that promote girls' education, protect their individual rights, and address discrimination that they face.

In Conclusion: What Can LAMP Educational and Charitable Trust Do?

We have the capacity to assist many girls and women to attain a higher level of education and break the cycle of poverty for their families. We hope that we can work together with different individuals and the government to achieve the goals listed in the section above. With the power of free education and support from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) like Lamp Educational and Charitable Trust, we can help these girls complete their education and lead successful, independent lives, securing the future of generations to come.

Our educational programs such as Project Bodhane, Project Makkaḷa Pravēśa, and Project Kumkum are an important part of this effort. In addition, our innovative offline and online interactive platforms are helping female students increase their access to education and support. We are asking for your help to share this blog, so we can spread awareness and mobilize action. Whether you are a volunteer, donors, or simply a reader who is interested in our blogs, you are helping us reach our goals. Our mission is to provide essential educational and technical guidance to empower girls and women, allowing them to achieve their desires and lead increasingly fulfilled lives, eventually breaking the cycle of poverty.