In rural Uganda, teenage girls once faced a stark choice: drop out of school to marry early or endure classrooms lacking basic sanitation. Initiatives like the Promoting Equality in African Schools (PEAS) program are rewriting this narrative, building safe, gender-responsive campuses that support girls' health and dignity. Across three countries, nearly 300,000 students now benefit annually from such efforts.
Zambia's Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) mirrors this progress. Since 2001, over 617,000 young women in rural areas have completed secondary education through its programs, gaining leadership skills to become community role models. These stories took center stage at the 10th-anniversary celebration of UNESCO's Prize for Girls' and Women's Education in Beijing, where projects from Kenya and Lebanon received awards.
Peng Liyuan, UNESCO special envoy for girls' and women's education and wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, emphasized a critical message during the ceremony. "As we enter an era shaped by artificial intelligence and rapid technological change," she stated, "we must equip women with scientific knowledge, technical skills, and innovative capacity." Her call to action highlighted the need for inclusive science education to ensure women can fully participate in and lead technological advancements.
The event underscored how grassroots educational programs align with global priorities. By addressing barriers like early marriage and inadequate infrastructure, these initiatives create pathways for women to engage with STEM fields—a crucial step in building equitable societies ready to harness 21st-century opportunities.
