We believe all girls should have unconditional and unrestricted access to the best possible education available in their community. We believe in the transformative power of education. Join us as we change the world, one educated girl at a time.
-- "The first day at school when I rejoined was the best and the happiest day of my life." Riffat, 6th Grade Chakwal, Pakistan
-- Lois becomes a school teacher with her newly earned certificate in education (Tanzania): http://www.girlsed.org/news/2019/11/22/lois-one-of-kigomas-newest-nursery-school-teachers
-- Students in Pakistan show resistance in fight for education: http://www.girlsed.org/news/resistance-for-education
--Stories (Tanzania): Serafina and Hadija: http://www.girlsed.org/news/2018/12/10/celebrating-women-celebrating-sarafina-and-hadija
-- Interview with Aisha (Pakistan):
Q: How has your education raised your awareness about issues around the world?
A: I am Aisha. I am from Thar Chakk, a small village of Kalar kahar. The only education facility is up to primary level and if girls wish to study any further, we have to travel some 21 km. from our village. So the importance of girls' education and their interest in global issues are topic never discussed. Education raised curiosity to know more about my country.
Q: How has your education assisted you to fight extremism, build intercultural communication and be advocate for positive change?
A: I'll use my education in self-development and will try to support girls who are keen to pursue education. I am spreading awareness for girls' education, its importance and how beneficial it is for society on the whole.
Mission: The mission of Girls Education International is to expand and support educational opportunities for underserved girls and women in remote and developing regions of the world.
Vision: Girls Education International envisions a world where educational opportunities for women and girls are equal to those typically afforded boys and men, and thus provide the foundation for healthier and prosperous societies that reflect their unique cultural differences.
Since its inception in November 2006, Girls Ed has been hard at work partnering with local organizations to bring education to girls and women in underserved areas. Currently we partner with nonprofit organizations in Pakistan and Tanzania.
Our Story
Rock climbers and longtime friends Lizzy Scully and Heidi Wirtz co-founded Girls Education International in November 2006. The catalyst to this greatest change (and challenge) of their lives was a rock climbing expedition the two women embarked upon to the Karakoram Range of Pakistan. While climbing, Lizzy had a near-death accident that prevented the friend's ascent of the 2,500-foot granite wall. While Lizzy recovered, the women stayed in the village of their trekking cook. During their ten-day visit, they visited the local schools and discovered a wide discrepancy between the boys' and girls' schools The boys had a teacher, a four-room school, and clean grounds, while the girls had two dilapidated rooms, a schoolyard in disrepair, (with feces in the backyard), and an unqualified local teacher with only a few years of education herself. Struck by the lack of opportunities for women and also by the kindness of the villagers, Heidi and Lizzy decided then and there that they would do something to help Pakistani girls.
Within a few months of returning to the States, the friends founded Girls Ed. Due to political instability and their naïveté regarding how to tun programs abroad, they failed to start a program in Pakistan that first year. However, fueled by passion and an increasing knowledge of the societal benefits of educating underserved girls abroad, they decided to begin work elsewhere. They formed a relationship with Emily Sherman-Davis, the Program Director for Common Ground Society in Liberia, and started a scholarship program for 47 girls in Bong and Margibi counties, Liberia, in 2008.
Meanwhile, we identified a wonderful nonprofit organization to partner with in Pakistan. Bedari, based in Islamabad, proved to be the ideal partner for work aimed at empowering and educating girls and women. For the past seven years, Bedari and Girls Ed have worked to increase access to education for girls in remote regions of Pakistan. Girls Ed's commitment to the program is to raise the funds needed to transport the girls from their home villages to their schools safely. We have supported as many as 100 girls at a time, and currently support 60 girls.
In addition, we launched a new project in Tanzania where we partner with the NGO Project Wezesha. Project Wezesha has been working in Tanzania since 2009 and among their accomplishments are the construction of a secondary school in the village of Mgaraganza Village, the completion of school toilets, desks, and chairs, and also a scholarship program that has supported students through secondary school, high school, vocational training and even university. As a partner of Girls Ed, Project Wezesha manages the Girls Ed scholarship program and academic study camps. Our in-country partners, Lucas and Madaga, also serve as important mentors, advisors and role models to our students.
We're proud of how far we've come as an organization! Since we launched as an official 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, our Board of Directors been made up of many talented, innovative, committed, and passionate individuals! The learning process never ends for small nonprofits. We're grateful to all the supporters around the world who have contributed time, money, expertise, and direct services to ensure that we can work toward our mission every step of the way.
Organization name
Girls Education International
other names
GEI
2006
Tax id (EIN)
20-8565842
Category
Education, Community Improvement & Capacity Building, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations, Youth Development
Organization Size
Small Organization
Address
1312 17th St Suite 71365Boulder County, CO, US
TZ
PK