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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.girlsnotbrides.org/5-things-keeping-girls-out-of-the-workforce/">https://www.girlsnotbrides.org/5-things-keeping-girls-out-of-the-workforce/</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">5 Issues That Keep Girls Out of the Workforce<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"><img border="0" width="599" height="338" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D47DC8.87794570" alt="https://gnb-test.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/GNB_ASJ__073.jpg?crop=faces&w=901&h=506.8125&fit=crop&fm=pjpg"></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">Kavita (centre) was married at 17, but is able to stay with her parents until she finishes school. Credit: Allison Joyce/Girls Not Brides
</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:6.0pt"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">Posted on Wednesday 10th Oct 2018
</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-left:0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#333333"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"><a href="https://www.girlsnotbrides.org/tag/education/"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;background:#E6E6E6">Education</span></a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">600 million girls will join the workforce by 2028. If girls are educated and empowered, they will find skilled work
to support themselves and their families. But too often, girls are seen as an economic burden. They are taken out of school early, married off and trapped by household responsibilities. Girls who stay in school have the chance to learn, work and support themselves
in the future.</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">Girls Not Brides is a partnership of more than 1000 member organisations, all working to empower girls, prevent child
marriage or support married girls to gain the skills they need.</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">We take a look at five things keeping girls out of school, and how our members around the world are helping to solve
them.</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:.25in;mso-list:l4 level1 lfo2">
<b><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">Periods</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></li></ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">Too many schools lack safe and clean toilets for girls. Without running water, privacy or sanitary products, girls’ lives
are put on hold during their period, as they have little choice but to stay at home. They can miss as many as 1 in 5 school days as a result – or drop out completely.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">When girls are kept out of school, their opportunities to gain the skills to enter the workforce are taken from them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">Girls without a school education are
<a href="https://www.girlsnotbrides.org/themes/education/"><span style="color:blue;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">three times more likely to be married by 18 than those who finish school</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">Raising Teenagers Uganda installs water tanks at schools and helps girls create reusable sanitary pads.
</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">“While teaching at [a primary school] in Kireka years back, I realized that many girls would face a lot of challenges
especially after starting their menstruation” says Hope Nankunda, Leader of </span>
</i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"><a href="https://www.girlsnotbrides.org/members/raising-teenagers-uganda-rtu/"><i><span style="color:blue;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Raising Teenagers
Uganda.</span></i></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"><img border="0" width="490" height="403" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D47DC8.DBC1CF30" alt="A young girl smiles, showing the reusable sanitary pads that will help her stay in school."></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">A girl smiles, showing the reusable sanitary pads that will help her stay in school. Credit: Raising Teenagers Uganda.</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ol start="2" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:.25in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo3">
<b><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">War and conflict
</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></li></ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">“Education is the armour that will protect you in life.” — Muzoon, resettled refugee and Malala Fund Girl Advocate</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">War and conflict exacerbate many of the drivers of child marriage.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">Displaced families are often unable to meet their children’s basic needs. For example, 86% of Syrian refugees live below
the poverty line.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">Many Syrians are choosing to marry their daughters at a young age as they struggle to survive.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">Conflict puts women and girls at increased risk of violence. Child marriage is seen as a way to protect girls from sexual
violence in an unsafe environment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"><a href="http://sboverseas.org/"><span style="color:blue;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">SB Overseas</span></a>
works with refugee communities in Lebanon.They speak with communities and families about the impact of child marriage, encouraging parents to keep girls in school. They also run ‘catch-up’ schools to help girls gain vocational skills and earn their own money.
</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"><img border="0" width="494" height="245" id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image006.jpg@01D47DC8.87794570" alt="A graphic describing a refugee girl's experience of child marriage"></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">This
<a href="http://online.fliphtml5.com/njli/mxku/#p=3"><span style="color:blue;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">powerful graphic</span></a> follows Fatima as she becomes a child bride. Credit: Felix Brassler / SB Overseas.</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">A lack of vocational training</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></li></ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">“Once I complete this training, I am sure I will get a job, which will enable me to buy my own machine and start my
own business.” – Scholastica, a student with Huru International.</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">Even if girls are able to attend school, they may find the curriculum out of step with their needs. Practical skills training
such as tailoring or radio programming can help them gain valuable skills and find work.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"><a href="https://huruinternational.org/"><span style="color:blue;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Huru International</span></a>
teaches girls industrial sewing so they can make reusable sanitary pads, underwear, reusable diapers and bed nets. They offer advanced training for dressmaking and tailoring, and even cover soft skills to support entrepreneurship.</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"><img border="0" width="477" height="318" id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:image008.jpg@01D47DC8.87794570" alt="A young woman smiles as she learns to use an industrial sewing machine."></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">“<i>I finished secondary school a few years back and have been searching for something to do to make money ever since” – Caroline, 20. Credit: Huru
International.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">Sexual violence</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></li></ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">For many girls, the journey to school is not only long and tiring but dangerous. Girls who walk for hours through remote
areas are often at risk of sexual violence. This stops many girls from going to school.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">When girls’ education is cut short, they cannot hope to join the skilled workforce.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">In Nepal,
<a href="https://www.jwas.org.np/"><span style="color:blue;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">JWAS (Janaki Women Awareness Society)</span></a> gives girls bicycles so they can travel quickly and safely to and from school. Girls can dedicate more time
to schoolwork or household responsibilities, allowing them to compete “on an equal footing” with boys.
</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">Her bicycle is “more than just a form of transportation for a poor school girl.” JWAS says it brings “motivation,
self confidence, and empowerment for her.”</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"><img border="0" width="461" height="346" id="Picture_x0020_5" src="cid:image010.jpg@01D47DC8.87794570" alt="A group of smiling girls pose with their bicycles, at a bicycle gifting ceremony in Nepal."></span><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">Girls smiling at the ‘bicycle gifting ceremony’ in Janakpur, Nepal. Credit: Janaki Women Awareness Society (JWAS).</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<b><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif">Social norms</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></li></ol>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">When money is scarce, many families choose to educate sons rather than daughters.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">They may see educating boys as investing in future wage earners.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">Daughters are often seen as future mothers and homemakers, unlikely to ever hold jobs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">In cultures where brides move into their husband’s home, many families see little benefit in educating a girl who will
join a different family.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">The URMUL Trust in Rajasthan, India supports communities to go ‘child marriage free’ and helps girls stay in school and
out of child marriage.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">They help married girls like Kavita, 17, to delay going to their in-laws’ home so they can finish school.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:.25in"><span lang="EN" style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:#333333">“She will have a brighter future if she finishes her studies” says Pappu, Kavita’s father. “As a father I dream that my
daughter will get a job as a constable in the police. That’s why I’m doing this so that I can make sure she has a bright future. She will be able to take care of herself and her family.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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