At Par With the Boys: Education Helps Girl Children Claim Equitable Right

BOSTON, May 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Like any other girl her age, Punam gets excited at the idea of new clothes and dressing up in them. Albeit, this time, she does not whimper at the thought of wearing the same clothes every day.

She finally gets to wear her school uniform.

Hailing from Mallavala village in Dehradoon India, Punam was forced to drop out of school after her primary education, as the secondary school was far away from her village. Parents encourage their sons to attend far away schools, but refrain from letting their daughters study further. CRY America supported Project MASS (Mahila Abhivrudhi Mattu Samrakshana Samasthe), worked with the children's group and parents to ensure that Punam went back to school to continue her education.

Residing in Jaganur village, 15 year old Deepa's story echoes a similar situation. To aid family income and her brother's education, she was forced to drop out of school and work in a sugarcane field, until CRY supported Project MASS (Mahila Abhivrudhi Mattu Samrakshana Samasthe) intervened and counselled Deepa's parents to join a school closer to her village, getting her closer to her dream of becoming a teacher.

Sustainable change in the lives of these girls and many others is possible only by ensuring that girls get the opportunities to go to school and realize their full potential. A look at the statistics in India reveals that school dropout rates amongst adolescent girls remain high at 63%, while 53% of girls in the age group of 5-9 are illiterate. Girls are more likely to drop out of school than boys.

"Gender discrimination is a primary reason why girls are treated differently from their brothers. This differential treatment makes girls susceptible to multiple violations of their rights to a meaningful childhood and adulthood", says Shefali Sunderlal, President, CRY America.

CRY America's 'Stay In School' campaign works towards removing road blocks that hinder girls like Punam and Deepa from going to school and ensures that issues such as child labor, child marriage, gender discrimination and healthcare are addressed. The change is brought about by sensitizing not just the school, but working with the children, their parents, local community and local government agencies.

Ms. Sunderlal added, "The only lasting solution to the myriad problems facing girl children is education.  We have witnessed transformational changes in the lives of girls when they are educated. The positive change empowers not only the girls, but their entire family, the community and generations to come."

To support the Stay in School campaign, view http://www.america.cry.org/stayinschool

About CRY America: 

CRY America is a 501c3 non-profit that is driven by its vision of a just world in which all children have equal opportunities to develop to their full potential and realize their dreams. With the support of over 20,000 donors and 2,000 volunteers, CRY America has impacted the lives of 450,832 children living across 2,642 villages and slums through support to 70 Projects in India and the USA.

For more information on CRY America, visit http://www.america.cry.org  or emailsupport@cryamerica.org

Further contact : Manoj Sharma - +91(0)9811135420