WASHINGTON (June 14, 2016) – CARE, the global poverty-fighting organization, today announced a new commitment to educate three million girls in seven countries at the first-ever United State of Women Summit. The commitment is part of “Let Girls Learn,” the White House’s ground-breaking initiative designed to tackle the barriers that keep 62 million girls – half of them adolescents – out of school.
CARE said it will reach the three million adolescent girls by investing $15 million dollars in its successful “Udaan Second Chances” academic program. The program provides an intensive, nine-month curriculum for girls who were unable to either start or finish primary school. It builds confidence and teaches skills the girls need to overcome the social and economic factors that keep them out of school, prepares parents to embrace educational opportunities for their daughters and engages men and boys to be part of the support system.
“CARE is thrilled to continue our partnership with Let Girls Learn to ensure every girl receives a quality education and the tools needed for a better, brighter future,” said Joyce Adolwa, CARE’s director of girls’ empowerment. “We know that when girls are educated, all of society benefits. Girls who attend school tend to delay marriage and pregnancy, are less vulnerable to disease, and are more likely to increase their own earning power for life.” Adolwa spoke at the Summit today in a panel titled, “Breaking the Cycle of Poverty: Economic Empowerment for Women and Families.
Through CARE’s “Udaan Second Chances,” some of the most marginalized girls in rural India have completed secondary school and even college. With a 95 percent success rate of girls graduating the program to move on to secondary school, CARE will broaden this program to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Malawi, Mali, Nepal, Pakistan and Somalia with the support of the U.S. government, Ministries of Education, corporations, foundations and local partner organizations.
To arrange interviews at the United State of Women Summit, contact Nicole Ellis, +1-202-595-2828, nicole.ellis@care.org.
About CARE:
Founded in 1945 with the creation of the CARE Package®, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE places special focus on working alongside poor girls and women because, equipped with the proper resources, they have the power to lift whole families and entire communities out of poverty. Last year CARE worked in 90 countries and reached more than 72 million people around the world. To learn more, visit www.care.org.