Uniting to End Violence Against Women & Girls, Leaving No One Behind

Education Cannot Wait supports universal schooling for girls in South Sudan and Uganda

By Education Cannot Wait

November 25^th, 2022

Girls around the world continue to face gender-based violence.

Acts of discrimination against girls are perpetuated daily — whether physical, sexual or psychological. Girls, especially displaced girls, are often forced into marriage at an early age, stripped of their inherent right to an education.

Today’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women launches a 16-day UNiTE campaign led by the UN Secretary-General and UN Women. 16 days devoted to preventing and eliminating violence against women and girls, and working to create opportunities for the most vulnerable in our society.

Of the 222 million children and adolescents living in crisis contexts, 78 million are out of school and 54% are girls. Violence for these individuals creates early educational disadvantages that can derail their lives.

On this day, ECW champions the safety, well-being and rights of girls everywhere with inspiring stories of young, educated mothers in Uganda and South Sudan.

Linda, a South Sudanese refugee living in Uganda, wears a school uniform and holds her young child. Photo © Norwegian Refugee Council Uganda

UGANDA - LINDA

Linda, a South Sudanese girl who faced unimaginable acts of violence in her home country and was forced to flee to Uganda, is a survivor.

After settling at a camp in the West Nile region, Linda enrolled in school. When academic fees became unmanageable for her single, unemployed mother, she dropped out and was pushed into to what seemed to her like the only option for a better life — marriage. She was only 15 years old.

She became pregnant almost immediately, and her husband would often hit her. When he failed to bring home food, she would fetch water to try to make a small living for her family.

She left him and returned home a year later.

Alone and without financial resources, an ECW-funded accelerated education programme implemented by Norwegian Refugee Council Uganda helped her enroll in school again.

The accelerated education programme is supporting vulnerable young women and girls, like Linda, who have dropped out of school. It provides them with books, pens, mathematical sets, sanitary pads, and more. And it’s completely free of charge.

“I was motivated to go back to school because I realized getting married was not the solution to my problems, getting an education is the solution,” Linda says, holding her young child and smiling.

Uganda hosts close to 1.5 million refugees, and more than half are women and children. ECW is committed to helping women and girls in Uganda who have been displaced by war — including those subjected to harassment and gender-based violence, or forced into abusive relationships.

Linda is now 18 years old and hopes to attend secondary school one day. She dreams of becoming an accountant.

Ajak smiles at the camera while telling her story. Photo © World Vision South Sudan

SOUTH SUDAN - AJAK

Ajak, 23 years old, looks up at the sky in South Sudan and recalls her earlier ambitions in life. She’s happier now than she used to be.

“For the first time, I feel fulfilled doing something for myself,” she says.

In South Sudan, many girls at Ajak’s age are pushed into early marriage. She got married when she was 15 years old, and it was only after having her second child that she realized she could still be in school.

“I regretted my decision to marry early, and accepted my fate, thinking it was too late for me to go back to school,” says Ajak.

When Ajak learned about an ECW-funded programme implemented by World Vision South Sudan, she realized that it wasn’t too late to pursue an education.

With support from ECW, Ajak is now back in school in the sixth grade. The programme creates a child protection help desk to support children who are at risk of abuse, exploitation and violence. It trains teachers to provide psycho-social support and counseling to children in the community.

A teacher at the community’s primary school, Awac, supports Ajak in her education trajectory. Awac knows that she wouldn’t have been able to become a teacher or complete her studies without the help of encouraging individuals along the way, and hopes to offer similar support to her young student.

“The lean season, July to August, is the time most girls are forced into marriage as people suffer from hunger. The programme is effective in saving many girls from early marriage. There is a need to continue advocating for children’s rights in South Sudan’s communities,” says Awac.

With the possibility of an education, Ajak’s life has changed drastically. She is now full of hope for the future.

“I am determined to complete my secondary level and find a way to proceed to university. I plan to support my children to go to school, too.”

Ajak, surrounded by her three children, reviews her school lessons with her teacher. Photo © World Vision South Sudan

WHY WE MUST ELIMINATE VIOLENCE AGAINST GIRLS

Girls are strong. Girls are leaders. But every day, girls are subjected to violence and discrimination. In order to become future women leaders, they need our support.

As global crises disproportionately affect the most marginalized across the globe, it’s clear that there is still work to do to fulfill our promise of turning the #222MillionDreams✨📚 of crisis-affected children and adolescents into a reality.

This begins by prioritizing and investing in equitable education alternatives. This begins by ensuring that girls around the world are heard. Their voices should not be silenced.

On 16-17 February 2023, ECW and Switzerland are hosting the ECW High-Level Financing Conference in Geneva — co-convened by Colombia, Germany, Niger, Norway and South Sudan. At this event, world leaders, donors, governments, private sector companies, high-net-worth individuals and other global advocates have the opportunity to come together and commit to mobilizing resources to achieve collective education outcomes.

Collective action is required to end violence against women and girls around the world.

Uwase Diane and Joseline Mururunkwere, two young girls in Uganda, sit outside their Child Rights Club reflecting on how education has made an impact on their lives. Photo © Windle International Uganda/Dionne Kanjogera

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