Yes, you can help on International Day of the Girl!

Extreme poverty, illiteracy, hunger, exploitation and disease all form part of the difficult puzzle that is international development. But there is one piece of the puzzle that, if supported and encouraged, could alleviate the impact of all of these other challenges. That crucial piece is girls. Girls are disproportionately affected by the problems making up the development puzzle, yet when we invest in girls by educating them and providing opportunities for a secure livelihood, their impact resonates powerfully in terms of poverty reduction, economic growth, and democratization.

We need to break the cycle of inequality for girls and perhaps nowhere is that more evident than in Swaziland. One out of every three girls in Swaziland experiences sexual abuse before she reaches the age of 18, furthering the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country with the highest prevalence in the world. That is why Crossroads International has been working with local women-led partner organizations in Africa for more than a decade to reduce violence against women and girls, and to encourage training, economic opportunities, and access to justice.  

Programs like our Girls’ Clubs in Swaziland are growing exponentially and transforming lives by providing girls with the tools and confidence to build a brighter future. But this is a critical time for Crossroads International. In a few months, our funding agreement with the Canadian government will come to an end. Canada spent about 20% less on development in the past year, and there has been no call from the government to renew funding for next year. We’re hopeful that the government will issue a call for proposals soon, because without it our ability to support programs like Girls’ Clubs in Swaziland will be compromised.

 This International Day of the Girl, we want to know that we can continue to effectively carry out our work. We want assurance that we can increase the number of girls we’re reaching in Swaziland through Girls’ Clubs. In the next five years we want to see 4000 girls in Clubs, building up from the 1200 girls we’re supporting through these Clubs today.  

People ask, “What can I do for girls on the International Day of the Girl? What is my role?” Well this year more than ever we need your help to continue our work with Girls’ Clubs, and all of our other programs, including enabling women in accessing the justice system, and creating opportunities for entrepreneurs in countries where making ends meet is a serious challenge. You can contribute to securing our future reach by supporting Crossroads financially, help us help others!