Gender Discrimination in Education

In low-income countries, girls are more likely to drop out of school compared to boys, according to a report by the World Bank, with only 38% of girls completing lower secondary school compared to 43% of boys. Particularly in countries affected by fragility, conflict, and violence—often called FCV countries—girls are 2.5 times more likely to be out of school than boys. The difference is mainly because of several key factors: poverty, cultural norms, and violence, as girls are often forced to walk long distances to reach school, placing them at higher risk of violence and sexual harassment.

Breaking Barriers to Girls’ Education

Poverty

Poverty is one of the main factors preventing girls from going to school, as many families in poor areas struggle to afford school fees. Sometimes, parents might decide to keep their daughters at home to deal with domestic chores, look after their younger siblings, or help with farming or any other type of work to generate income.

At Humanity First International, we understand that real impact comes from addressing social issues at their core. That’s why girls’ education cannot be improved without tackling communities’ financial constraints. When families have a more secure income, the likelihood of girls staying in school and finishing their studies increases.

Therefore, our Knowledge for Life programme works hand in hand with food security, global health and water for life programmes to alleviate poverty and achieve the desired outcome from promoting girls’ education.

Child marriage and early pregnancy

Early marriage and pregnancy can be both the cause and consequence of dropping out of school. In poor areas, it’s tempting for families for their girls to get married, as it alleviates the cost associated with their education, and they might receive a bride price in some contexts.

Heavy studies have been done in Sub-Saharan Africa regarding the situation, and it has been reported that in some countries where there’s no clear policy about early pregnancy and education, usually the head teachers make the decision about allowing married or pregnant girls to attend the school or not.

That’s why we invest in our staff and educational materials promoting the importance of having equal access to education for both genders. The educational materials are carefully selected by education experts to ensure that gender stereotypes are not reinforced in schools, as these can significantly influence girls’ future educational and career choices.

Our Primary and Secondary Schools

Our highly ranked primary and secondary schools are safe and inclusive environments for all children. And Humanity First International is committed to building schools in areas with the most need, refurbish and upgrade existing ones and equip scientific labs.

Our schools exist on different continents, with a total of 37 schools spread throughout Africa, employing 128 staff members and with 6,645 students enrolled. In the Americas, our organisation manages 3 schools with 38 staff members and 653 students. Meanwhile, in Asia, Humanity First International runs 11 schools with 11 staff members, reaching 1,109 students.

Humanity First International Skilling Centres

Beyond primary school education, Humanity First International also trains adults to embark on a wide variety of careers through our vocational centres. Students build skills for careers that are in demand where they live, like sewing & tailoring, IT, catering, electrical work, or driving. Over 1,000 people have graduated and been certified from vocational courses in Mali, Liberia, Burkina Faso, Guyana and more.

Local Economic Growth

At Humanity First International, we believe that skilling centres are a pathway to sustainable skills development, helping youth secure better employment and an improved lifestyle. Our existing skilling centres are well-equipped and teach a variety of skills tailored to the needs of the community. The aim of our vital initiative is to uplift the lives of vulnerable youth, positively impacting local economic growth by increasing employability and upscaling local businesses. Developing a skilled, empowered workforce driving economic growth and social progress, leading to reduced poverty and a better quality of life

Community Development

Skilling centres equip communities with essential abilities for a sustainable and better livelihood. Skill education empowers individuals to excel in their profession and enhances confidence, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Learning a new skill helps them discover their passion and strengthens them, leading to fulfilling lives and careers.