Help girls (From Barry And District News)

Help girls

The education gap between boys and girls has again been highlighted this week with the publication of the A-level results.

Boys only bettered the fairer sex in languages and Religious Studies.

The results follow a continuing trend. A recent Ofsted report stated that girls outperformed boys in most subjects in the UK, while an internationally-based report stated that girls outperformed boys in reading at the age of 15 in all 43 developed countries studied.

The irony of this situation is that girls in the Third World, in countries which crave educated citizens, often cannot gain access to education. In total, 65 million girls are denied their right to education, the same number of all school-age girls in North America and Europe put together.

How many Marie Curies, Florence Nightingales or Ellen MacArthurs are missing their chance to contribute?

If girls were given equal access to education would the Third World be in its current predicament? World Vision certainly doesn't think so.

We see girls as the key to successful development and work to provide them access to education and healthcare, to put an end to abuse and exploitation.

We accomplish this through child sponsorship, a unique way to engage in the lives of those born into poverty.

It only costs 60p a day, and, who knows, you may be sponsoring a future doctor, teacher or Prime Minister.

Graeme Young, World Vision UK World Vision House Opal Drive Fox Milne Milton Keynes MK15 0ZR