EducatingWomen is the Solution: The How's and Why's

As we stand on the precipice of a new chapter, we reflect on all that we hope to do in the future. As our world now suffers from new wounds, we must push ourselves to break any boundary we had known before. We must be stronger and more resilient, but even with this newfoundmotivation, we are left with questions on how to repair the economy, decrease unemployment, close the wealth gap, and deal with ingrained stigma. Our organization was not only founded due to our unwavering belief in educational equality but also upon the basis that educating a young woman fuels a community and creates solutions to some of the biggest crises present today.

As the GEM Trust established itself in India, we initially sought to understand the reasons behind the lack of education among young girls. A primary threat is the lack of financial stability, which prevents families from affording tuition and other necessities such as school supplies and transportation. Based on the reports aggregated by the World Bank, we can observe the direct correlation between educating women and reducing poverty. Implementing stable education for women can significantly reduce the issue of forced marriages. Additionally, women who pursue education are less likely to face forced marriages. Education offers a sense of freedom, free will, and independence that women in these rural communities may be devoid of. It’s quite simple. By providing young women with essential tools like information, support networks, advocacy, and necessary skills, we indirectly empower them to take control of their own future. Education also provides an economic incentive, thus allowing more women to secure high-position occupations and support themselves and their families with their own income. By doing this, families avoid financial instability, which could potentially lead to many early marriages.

This poses an intriguing inquiry: How? How do we educate young women? It may seem like an easy question, but the situation is a deep-rooted problem that stems from bigger issues such as poverty, stigma, and accessibility. GEM Trust designs its initiatives to directly address these obstacles. We provide scholarships for young women seeking secondary education, which includes transportation and funds for academic material such as textbooks and uniforms. We offer seminars and workshops through our Academic Support Center that inform the girls about their menstrual health, nutrition, and career planning. In doing so, we allow the local communities direct accessibility to tools and resources that were completely unavailable. Not only do the girls benefit from receiving a stable and nurturing education through our constant support, but their families witness how capable young women truly are.

By educating young women, we grant them access to pave their own futures and obtain stability, independence, and empowerment. These young women can fill occupational positions in all infrastructures and industries, thus allowing for not only a more inclusive economy but one that allows women to cumulate their own income. By funding education for young women, we fund solutions for us all - we reduce the poverty rate, keep adolescents and children safe, and propel the economy. It's a mutually beneficial solution: educating women enhances all aspects of life.

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