1. The Crisis in Girls’ Education

2. United Nations Millennium Declaration : In September of 2000, World leaders gathered at the UN headquarters in New York to discuss what the UN’s role should be in the new millennium From this declaration, the General Assembly derived eight goals aimed at raising the quality of life of people around the globe by 2015 One of the eight goals is:

3. Goal 3 Empowering women and promoting gender equality, specifically setting targets to eliminate gender disparity in all levels of education by 2015.

4. There are currently 61 million children around the world who are not in school. Approximately 39 million (or 63%) of these children are girls

5. 39 million uneducated girls is the total population for state of California… and is 9 times the total population of Kentucky!

6. Educating girls results in… Healthier, better educated children and grandchildren. Fewer maternal deaths and reductions in the under 5 mortality rate. Delayed marriage and better parenting skills. Improved literacy and numeracy skills leading to greater economic opportunities. More skills and knowledge enhancing women's self esteem and the well being of families.

7. Pakistan has the 2 nd largest number of children out of school (5.1 million) in 2010.

8. Facts About Girls Education in Pakistan The overall literacy rate is 46% while only 26% of the girls are literate There are 163,000 primary schools but only 40,000 are for girls. Two-thirds of Pakistan’s out of school children are girls (over 3 million). Pakistan spends 7 times more money on the military than it does on primary education. (Information obtained from unesco.org)

9. Mission of Malala Malala is all about education and the basic rights. She lives in Pakistan’s Swat valley, and began writing a blog recording her thoughts and experiences about being forbidden from going to school. Because of her outspoken views, in October 2012 she was shot and critically wounded in a Taliban assassination attempt. She is playing a vital role to bring education to those areas where there is no concept of education. Extremists warned her, abolished the buildings and attempted to assassinate her, but still her hopes are high. Learn more about Malala and her speech at the United Nations at aft.org and see it here.aft.orghere