Out of the 69 million children that are denied their right to education globally, 54% are girls.

Every year, the Global Campaign for Education (GCE), a partner organization of the Education for All – Fast Track Initiative (EFA FTI) - organizes a Global Action Week during the first week of May, in order to raise awareness about the millions of children and adults who are denied the right to have a quality education around the world. This year’s Action Week takes place from May 2-8, under the theme “Women and Girls’ Education”. The focus of this event is to draw attention to the millions of girls and women in developing countries that cannot access quality education. In addition, it aims to highlight the numerous benefits that an educated woman can bring to the community, such as economic progress and breaking the cycle of poverty.

Families, communities, and children in more than 100 countries have joined this campaign. The Global Action Week centers on “story telling”, to encourage women and girls who had access to an education to tell how they it has made in their lives. On the other side of the spectrum, women and girls who were not able to have an education will explain the impact that lacking an education had in their lives. Men and boys are also encouraged to tell stories but will be focused on women’s experiences and tell why they think that girls and women should have the right of an education.

There has been a significant increase in the number of girls’ enrolment in primary school. However, there is still much work to be done to ensure access to education for every child before 2015. Let’s take this opportunity and spread the word about this urgent priority. Join the campaign at www.makeitrightforgirls.org.

(*)The Global Campaign for Education (GCE) encompasses around 80 non-governmental organizations working in the education sector. It comprises all large international Civil Society Organizations, teachers unions as well as many regional and local, developing country-based civil society education coalitions.

More Resources:

Global Action Week
http://www.globalactionweek.org/
Global Campaign for Education on Twitter, Facebook and Youtube
Global Campaign for Education Resources
http://www.campaignforeducation.org/resources
10X10
http://10x10act.org/2011/05/global-campaign-for-education-global-action-week/