#NoExcuse. Unite to End Violence Against Women

During the 16 Days of Activism Campaign, Education Cannot Wait urges leaders to protect women and girls from violence through the power of education.

By Education Cannot Wait

December 6^th, 2024

"We urge leaders to take action to put human rights of girls and women – especially their right to 12 years of quality education – at the forefront of the global agenda. Now's the time to invest in girls' education so they can become child scholars, not child brides." ~Yasmine Sherif, ECW Executive Director

In crisis situations, adolescent girls are more likely to be married before turning 18 than to complete their education. Millions of girls face daily challenges such as early pregnancies, gender-based violence, and sexual and physical exploitation. To achieve gender equality, education is one of the most effective approaches.

Ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 2025 – a visionary blueprint for achieving gender equality and women’s and girls’ rights everywhere – Education Cannot Wait (ECW) is calling on partners to unite in ensuring safe, quality and inclusive learning environments for girls in emergencies and protracted crises.

Girls living in conflict-affected countries are 2.5 times more likely to be out of primary school compared to girls not caught in conflict. Just as concerning is that only 26% of the poorest girls in crisis-affected countries complete lower secondary education. Through its groundbreaking global investments, ECW is working to create safe, gender-responsive learning spaces that protect girls, provide them with opportunities to thrive and empower them as agents of change in their communities. As we unite to end violence against women and girls, ECW is celebrating the safety, well-being and rights of girls worldwide by sharing inspiring stories of young mothers from Bangladesh, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan.

Roshida in her classroom at a UNICEF learning centre in Cox's Bazar. © CODEC/Taharul Islam

Roshida*, Bangladesh

Orphaned by both parents at three years old, Roshida had already known loss from a young age. Then, at nine years old, she lost the safety and security of her home when she and her grandmother became part of the approximately one million Rohingya refugees forced to leave Myanmar. Like many other Rohingya refugees, Roshida and her grandmother now live in Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh, the largest refugee camp in the world. There, Roshida attends classes at an ECW-supported learning centre run by UNICEF and other partners.

However, girls in refugee camps like Roshida face barriers to their education such as concerns related to safety, menstrual hygiene supplies and child marriage. When Roshida’s grandmother became concerned about Roshida’s safety traveling to and from the ECW-supported learning centre, she had pulled Roshida out of school and started looking for a husband “to protect” Roshida instead.

Then a community volunteer from an ECW-supported school committee stepped in to support Roshida’s return to school. The volunteer shared information with Roshida and her grandmother about the heightened risks of gender-based violence associated with child marriage and the opportunities provided by education.

“I won’t get married before I turn 18. I see the challenges that the girls in my community face. If I get an education, I will teach them and, together, we will create a more equal future.” ~Roshida

Roshida now regularly attends classes at the ECW-supported learning centre, with the help of volunteers who walk Roshida safely to and from school every day. She is excelling in school. She now dreams of inspiring other girls to also break the cycle of violence against women and replace it with a cycle of education and empowerment.

Aicha rests with her son in the nursery. © Irene Galera / JRS WAF and GL

Aicha*, Chad

Aicha, a mother of five, begins her day early, juggling her responsibilities as a teacher at the local school with her duties at home. She spends five hours teaching eager minds, only to return home where domestic chores and preparations for the next day’s lessons await her.

Women like Aicha face significant challenges in refugee and local communities across Chad. Many girls drop out of school due to early marriages or pregnancies, and for those who persevere, the lack of support from their husbands or public institutions makes balancing work and family life daunting.

Recognizing these barriers, ECW has partnered with Jesuit Refugee Service to invest in early childcare and education solutions, providing a lifeline for women like Aicha. In the Kounoungou Refugee Camp, which hosts Sudanese families fleeing conflict in Darfur, ECW-funded nurseries have been established adjacent to schools. These nurseries offer a safe, nurturing space for young children, allowing teachers and mothers to focus on their work and education with peace of mind.

For Aicha, the nursery has been transformative. She can now teach her students knowing that her youngest child is nearby, cared for, and safe.

"The nursery helps me a lot because my mind is calm while I [teach]. I leave my baby here, and I am sure that he is safe and well-cared for," Aicha

Girls in Tanganyika, DRC celebrate the inauguration of their school built with the support of ECW. © ECW/Justin Makangara

Angel*, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Just a few years ago, Angel was forced to flee her village from inter-ethnic conflicts in the Tanganyika province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. At a young age, she and many other young women had already suffered terrible violence, including sexual violence and the death of family members. Angel’s province, Tanganyika, has the highest prevalence of child marriage of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s provinces, with 49% of girls married before the age of 18 and 52% with a child before the age of 18.

Now, Angel lives in a camp for internally displaced people with her toddler. There, she attends an ECW-supported school set up by UNICEF, WFP, Armée du Salut, and other local partners alongside 505 other children, 249 of them girls. Before these temporary learning spaces were created, children had to walk more than 5 km just to attend overcrowded classes. Vocational training, psychosocial services and mental health care were also provided by ECW and its partners.

To strengthen their commitment to education, students have received school supplies, such as supplies for sewing training. Beyond education, sewing training has reinspired hope and dignity in survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and young mothers. Sewing has helped them cope with trauma. Because of the support from ECW and its partners, Angel has rediscovered empowerment and autonomy in the process of learning to become a seamstress. She has gained the chance to learn, socialize and create a better future for herself and her child.

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

Ajak*, South Sudan

Ajak, gazes at the sky above South Sudan, reflecting on the dreams she once had. Today, she feels a hope that had eluded her for years.

“For the first time, I feel fulfilled doing something for myself,” ~Ajak

In South Sudan, many girls face the reality of early marriage. Ajak was married at just 15 years old, and by the time she had her second child, she thought her chances of returning to school were over.

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

That changed when Ajak discovered an ECW-funded programme implemented by World Vision South Sudan. The programme allowed her to reclaim her education. With this support, Ajak is back in school and thriving in school. She is determined to complete her secondary education and dreams of attending university and plans to support her children to go to school too.

*Names have been changed for privacy purposes.

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Footnotes

Story written by Emilie Andre and Yannie Hoàng

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FootNotes

Story written by Emilie Andre and Yannie Hoàng