THE CASE FOR GIRLS SARA POSADA NIKE FOUNDATION

WE START WITH THE GIRL TO UNLOCK POTENTIAL

We believe in the girl effect: the powerful social and economic change brought about when girls have the opportunity to participate. We have seen it, BRAC has taught us much about it, and the research confirms it, too.

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SHE’S FALLING FAST 60% 50% 76% 50% pregnancy OF SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA’S ILLITERATE POPULATION ARE GIRLS AND WOMEN OF ALL BIRTHS IN LATIN AMERICA, THE CARIBBEAN AND SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA ARE TO ADOLESCENT GIRLS OF HIV+ TEENS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA ARE GIRLS OF ALL SEXUAL ASSAULTS WORLD-WIDE ARE AGAINST GIRLS YOUNGER THAN 15 IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR GIRLS IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD 50% 76% 50% pregnancy

RIGHT AND SMART AN EDUCATED GIRL… MARRIES LATER IS MORE LIKELY TO SURVIVE CHILDBIRTH HAS HEALTHIER CHILDREN EDUCATES HER SONS AND HER DAUGHTERS A HEALTHY GIRL… SURVIVES CHILDBIRTH

INVESTING IN GIRLS = ECONOMIC GROWTH

GIRLS PROTECT INVESTMENTS IMMUNIZATION REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH EDUCATION NUTRITION WEALTH CREATION FOOD SECURITY CHILD MARRIAGE EARLY PREGNANCY SCHOOL DROP-OUT HIV/AIDS

WHAT STANDS IN OUR WAY? 13

DISAGGREGATED BY SEX BUT NOT AGE HIV/AIDS 14

WE DON’T REACH GIRLS BECAUSE WE THINK WE HAVE

YOUTH PROGRAMS MISS THE MARK TOO 10 – 14 15 – 19 20 + AGE GENDER 16 Source:  Weiner, Adam. 2007. “Assessing equity of access in youth programs,” Promoting Healthy, Safe, and Productive Transitions to Adulthood Brief no. 28. New York: Population Council. 16

CHILD ≠ GIRL YOUTH WOMEN Our key learning here has been simply this: Girls between 10-19 have a unique set of circumstances that set them apart from conventional categories of development. In sum, in order to realize the girl effect, we must address the unique challenges that girls face and the roadblocks that face the sector in reaching them.

STOP POVERTY BEFORE IT STARTS