Summary
We work with some of the most vulnerable and exploited young girls on the planet. We help them get off the street and into school and make it impossible for them to fail. We want to build a girls' academy which will be an inspiring school in the day and a safe place in the evenings, when we will provide support, recreational activities and vocational training. The government have given us this building to use; it's the former ministry of education; it needs some fixing! and we need your help
What is the issue, problem, or challenge?
73% of Liberian children are denied an education - over 80% of them are girls. A girl denied an education, is a girl on the street; it's a girl who's exploited and condemned to underemployment. The ripple of effect of this denial of her basic right is seen in the stagnation of her wages, her susceptibility to exploitation and disease, and even her children's future education. In an area with 75,000 people there is only one government school.
How will this project solve this problem?
We work with community leaders to identify girls who are at the highest risk of being sexually exploited to ensure that education and opportunity, not exploitation and poverty, shape their lives. We are building an academy so the girls have an inspiring school during the day and place to go in the evening that is safe and empowering; we will provide psychological support, health-care, nutritional guidance as well as recreational activities and vocational training.
Potential Long Term Impact
Educating one girl can change everything. Here's why: When a girl in the developing world receives seven or more years of education, she marries 4 years later and has 2.2 fewer children. An extra year of primary school boosts girls' eventual wages by 10 to 20%. An extra year of secondary school: 15 to 25%. When women and girls earn income, they reinvest 90% of it into their families. When we invest in girls we all win. This academy will effect over 500 girls directly and 1,000's more indirectly.
Project Message
"Being a part of More Than Me is the best thing in the whole world!"
- Elizabeth, 9 year old girl (mom is a sex-worker she won't be)
Funding Information
Total Funding Received to Date: £16,670
Remaining Goal to be Funded: £75,801
Total Funding Goal: £92,471
Additional Documentation
This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Excel file (projdoc.xls).
Resources