As we observe International Day of Education, we are reminded that access to education is a necessary foundation for every young girl to use their full potential and overcome social or economic struggles.
Despite progress in expanding access to schooling worldwide, girls continue to face challenges that disrupt their education. According to UNICEF, around 119 million girls are currently out of school globally, including 34 million of primary school age, 28 million in lower secondary, and 58 million in upper secondary.
The reasons girls are excluded from education are varied and interconnected. Poverty plays a central role, as poor families often prioritize boys when educational resources are limited. Harmful social norms, including child marriage and gender‑based violence, further delay girls’ ability to stay in school and complete their education. In some communities, schools fail to meet the needs of safety and hygiene for girls.
According to UNESCO, discriminatory practices and gender-based barriers continue to effect women in adulthood from fully exercising their right to education. These inequalities are reinforced by norms that prioritize domestic responsibilities or caregiving for women over formal learning.
Let’s highlight some of TP Women initiatives that address these challenges:
Greece
TP partnered with Mexoxo in Greece to offer scholarships for eCornell’s “Take the Lead” training, providing 1,000 scholarships to TP employees and women from the community. The program helps participants develop skills in leadership, entrepreneurship, time management, and career growth. In addition to that, the local TP Women mentoring program continues to support learning and dialogue around gender equity.
Colombia
In Colombia, TP Women organizes initiatives such as “AI Power Girls,” which introduced girls aged 6 to 15 to technology, innovation, and basic business concepts through creative workshops. By building confidence and curiosity at a young age, these sessions encourage girls to see themselves as future creators and entrepreneurs.
Also, the “Dare to Be Whatever You Want to Be” initiative was created to inspire girls to dream without limits and explore careers such as engineering, aviation, journalism, and artificial intelligence. Since 2022, it has empowered more than 3,000 girls to believe in their ability to pursue careers in diverse fields.
Kenya
In a partnership with Konexio Africa, TP Women provided young girls with a six-month-long digital inclusion training in Kenya. This initiative helped girls gain essential skills for the digital economy and equip them for future career opportunities.
Additionally, we launched a year-long webinar series focused on personal development and well-being. These webinars provided women with tools to manage stress, improve productivity, and learn more about work-life balance.
Ghana
In Ghana, TP Women launched the “Pad Me” project in partnership with the Viola Ford Fletcher Foundation to address a key barrier to school attendance. Our volunteers provided sanitary pads, hygiene kits, and menstrual health education to over 300 girls in underprivileged communities.
We continue to focus on educational initiatives for women and girls and want to create equal opportunity for women to thrive and reach their full potential in their professional lives.
The Philippines
In the Philippines, TP joined the national 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women and hosted educational initiatives such as Men as Allies: How They Can Help End Violence Against Women, which explored how men can become strong allies in creating a safe, respectful, and VAW-free community at TP. To close the campaign, TP organized a self-defense training workshop that allowed participants to learn practical moves that empower and protect.
The US
TP Women hosted an educational session in the US, teaching young women about resume building and improving their interview skills. Participants learned from a dynamic training program that included mock interview sessions to enhance their practical skills and increase their confidence for future job interviews.
Learn more about the philosophy behind TP Women by reading about other impactful initiatives here.
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