Why so many girls leave school.
Fact: Worldwide 31 million girls are currently out of school
In Ghana, 6 out of 10 girls have dropped out by the time they reach high school, leaving them with no education and little chance of fulfilling their potential. Learn why so many girls leave school too soon in rural Ghana. This year, WomensTrust is working to ensure that 200 girls in the village of Pokuase remain in school, thrive in their educations and pursue their goals. Each of these girls is a high-achiever but is at risk of dropping out due to a lack of money or support. However, with a little support from WomensTrust, these girls are succeeding.
What it Takes
It takes so little to make all the difference for a girl. Leveraging contributions from our WomensTrust community of supporters, we give girls basic school supplies that their families cannot afford...
School fees
Shoes, backpacks, books, notebooks and pencils
Other school-related expenses
One of our students told us what a big difference it made to her education simply to have a separate notebook for each of her subjects. So many of her classmates only have one notebook for all subjects, for the entire year.
In addition to the basic necessities, we also provide educational enrichment to give girls additional academic support. Girls come to WomensTrust for after school computer literacy training as well as tutoring to prepare for national secondary school and college entrance exams.
Now that WomensTrust students are starting to advance to college, we provide them with full college scholarships, paying for their tuition, room, board and a computer. Sandra, Monica and Edith (pictured above, from left), current WomensTrust summer interns, are looking forward to starting college with full scholarships in the fall.
Ready for some inspiration? Meet Rosaline!
Rosaline, now 20 years old, was just seven when she joined the very first class of WomensTrust scholars. As a young student at the Pokuase Methodist Primary School, she excelled. However, her mother, Comfort, struggled to afford school fees for Rosaline. Comfort was raising four children on her own after her husband passed away. She worked hard selling roasted plantains to keep her children in school, but it was often not enough. However, after Rosaline joined WomensTrust and received scholarships for her school fees and supplies as well as extra academic supports, she thrived.
Rosaline, her mother and all of us at WomensTrust are proud to share that she has just completed her first year of college, or "tertiary," with the support of a full WomensTrust scholarship. Currently studying geography and rural development at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Rosaline has plans to continue on to law school after she finishes at the university. Frankly, we find her commitment and accomplishments to be nothing short of inspiring. Our current 7, 8 and 9-year old WomensTrust scholars, just starting their educations, can look at Rosaline and know their dreams can be limitless.
Thanks to all of you who supported these girls with what it takes - a belief in their potential and the resources they need to fulfill it.