Day 3: MDG 3 - Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women

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Day Three was a bit easier actually. I say that having just had my Tesco 10p instant chicken noodles, which sufficiently sated my appetite (pour in a LOT of hot water and it soon becomes a hearty soup) for me not to feel too much like whingeing right now.


The most outstanding thing about today has been people's generosity and their willingness to talk about what I'm doing and the issues that have inspired them. As I write, the donations currently total £345, with an additional £80.38 in Gift Aid. That means we currently have enough to enable two girls to go to school on a full scholarship for a year, with school supplies for another 15 girls. That's phenomenal and I'm deeply grateful to everyone who has been generous enough to donate so far - but together we can push even further and do even more, which is also the case regarding progress on MDG 3.

MDG 3 - Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women


My mother is going to be absolutely delighted that I'm about to wax lyrical about how brilliant women are. But it's true. The current situation of women represent both one of the greatest injustices of extreme poverty and also one of the greatest opportunities. As we at dunnhumby say, it all starts with the data, so I'll let the statistics we use in the Global Poverty Project presentation spell out the problem:


Women make up 50% of the world's population, 
but make up three-fifths of those living in extreme poverty.
Women work two-thirds of the world's working hours, 
but earn only one-tenth of the world's income 
and own only 1% of the world's property.

In sub-Saharan Africa, 24 million girls can't afford to go to school. A girl may marry as young as 13 and has a one in 22 chance of dying in childbirth. One in six of her children will die before the age of five

The statistics spell out the lack of justice and fairness with great clarity. But the opportunity lies in the fact that it is so bad. Empowering and educating women is one of the most effective policies to tackle extreme poverty in communities. I can well believe it - the women I met while in Tanzania were strong, capable, full of love and compassion. They kept their families and their communities together. If you educate a girl, she'll end up earning 25% more, of which she will re-invest 90% in her family.


This video shows the power of 'The Girl Effect':





That's why this campaign is in aid of Camfed, who have enabled more than a million girls to go to school since 1993. This is an example of the work they've done:







They say a good writer borrows words from others while great writers steal them outright. To try and stake my claim as an OK scribbler, I can't find better words to make the point than to conclude with the words of Kofi Annan:


"There is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women. 
No other policy is as likely to raise economic productivity, or to reduce infant and maternal mortality. 
No other policy is as sure to improve nutrition and promote health -- including the prevention of HIV/AIDS. 
No other policy is as powerful in increasing the chances of education for the next generation. 
And I would also venture that no policy is more important in preventing conflict, 
or in achieving reconciliation after a conflict has ended."


With an impact that deep and profound, it's time to invest in women.


www.justgiving.com/dennis-marcus