Girls interrupted – 10 Days To Act

Young delegates with Plan CEO Nigel Chapman at the African Union youth takeover in Addis Ababa

16 June 2014: Children from across Africa have taken over the African Union building in Addis Ababa today – kicking off 10 days of global action for increased investment in education.

Plan-supported youths from Sierra Leone, Egypt, Malawi, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Norway, Liberia, Kenya and Germany all took part in the action in the Ethiopian capital, where they called on governments across the world to deliver on their commitments to education and raise their domestic spend to 20%.

Currently, the average spend on education worldwide is just 14.4% of domestic spend.

Support girls’ education

Christiana interviewing at the African Union in Addis Ababa

Christiana – a former child bride – conducting an interview at the African Union

Among the young delegates was a former child bride from Sierra Leone, who told ministers that quality education is the only way to prevent violence against women and bring change.

Christiana*, 17, from Sierra Leone – a sub-Saharan country where average spend on education per year was 3.6% of GDP in 2012 – escaped a forced marriage and is now back in school.

“Governments need to pay attention to more vulnerable girls who want to stay in school, give us trained and qualified teachers, more female teachers in the school to motivate girls and create safe places to learn,” she said.

10 Days To Act
The takeover event launches 10 Days To Act – 10 days of campaigning up to 26 June, when all governments around the world will be asked to pledge their commitment to education at the Global Partnership for Education pledging conference in Brussels.

Africa has the highest rate of girls out of school in the world – and in some parts 4 out of 5 girls receive no formal education.

Girl holding up 10 fingers

The youth takeover launches 10 Days To Act – 10 days of global action for education

Take Action now – support 10 Days To Act and sign the petition.

Follow the youth takeover action on Twitter

Meet some of the youth delegates taking part in African Union event

Watch a film featuring youth delegate Christiana to see how she’s turned her life around after being forced to become a child bride.

Girls interrupted – 10 Days To Act

June 2014: See how poverty, child marriage and discrimination are stopping 85% of girls in Sierra Leone from going to secondary school.

Knowing that education is the only way to escape poverty, many girls will give anything to pay for their school fees.

Plan’s Girl Power Project harnesses girls’ determination – giving them financial and vocational training as well as leadership skills so that they can take control of their lives.

10 Days To Act
Millions of children globally – mostly girls – are being denied their right to an education. The world’s governments have just days to show their commitment to education by pledging new investments at the Global Partnership for Education replenishment conference in Brussels on 25/26 June.

Christiana*, who appears in this film, was among the young people taking part in a youth takeover of the African Union building on 16 June, to call on governments to increase their funding for education.

MORE WAYS TO SUPPORT Ten Days to Act

Post a selfie on Twitter urging governments to act using #10DaystoAct

More ways to support 10 Days To Act

Join Plan’s Because I am a Girl campaign for girls’ education

* Name has been changed for child protection

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