1. Lilian L., sponsored student at St. Francis’ School for Girls, Kenya
Girls’ Education in Developing Countries
The Stats:
• 1 in 7 girls in the developing world will be married by age 15.
• 1 girl in 3 will be married by age 18.
• But ensure she has 7+ years of education and she will marry 4 years later and have 2.2 fewer children.
Statistics sources at
Lilian L., sponsored student at St. Francis’ School for Girls, Kenya

2. Students at St. Francis Girls Secondary School
The Stats:
• An extra year of primary school education boosts girls’ eventual wages by 10-20%. An extra year of secondary school adds 15-25%.
• When an educated girl earns income she reinvests 90% in her family, compared to 35% for a boy.
• Giving women the same access to non-land resources and services as men could reduce the number of hungry people in the world by million.
Statistics sources at
Girls’ Education in Developing Countries
Students at St. Francis Girls Secondary School

3. Maasai wedding in Laikipia, Kenya (2013)
The Situation:
• Population: 399,000
• Poverty headcount: 47%
• Formal employment: 28%
• Primary school is mandatory & government-sponsored, secondary school is not free. • Maasai culture is traditionally pastoralist, and girls’ academic education is not prioritized. The majority of girls from poor backgrounds have no means to continue beyond primary school, thus they face childhood marriage, losing the chance to develop their own voices and obtain earning power.
Girls’ Education in Laikipia, Kenya
High-school education enables girls to say no to marriage & take control of their futures.
Maasai wedding in Laikipia, Kenya (2013)