Uniting Women Through Service and Education
Two thirds of the world’s 785 million illiterate adults are female. Educating and empowering these women is a key first step to ending poverty in the developing world. Yet, nearly 1/4 of young women aged 15-24 in developing countries have not completed primary school.
OUR PARTNERSHIP
In a Perfect World has partnered with buildOn to break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy by constructing schools in some of the world’s economically poorest countries. Together, we have constructed 21 schools in 7 different countries, where more than 3,400 students are educated daily and hundreds of men and women attend adult literacy classes. In a Perfect World is pledging $1 million to build 33 more by 2020.
How We’re Empowering Women in the Developing World:
ADULT LITERACY CLASSES
In a Perfect World (IAPW) schools around the globe teach women literacy and numeracy through the lens of health, enterprise and relevant life skills. Taught in the evenings, in the same schools their children attend by day, the Adult Literacy Program gives parents and grandparents the education they need to build a better life for themselves and their children. buildOn currently conducts the three-year Adult Literacy Program in developing countries with some of the world’s lowest female literacy rates, including Haiti, Malawi, Mali, Nepal and Senegal.
GENDER EQUALITY
From empowerment workshops for at-risk tweens to encouraging female enrollment in IAPW-funded schools, IAPW has a long history of raising up young women. In particular, we recognize the need to ensure that young women have access to education. Education is not only a right, but a critical component to breaking the cycle of poverty. Yet, cultural pressures in developing countries often lead to prioritizing the education of boys over girls. By ensuring that boys and girls are sent to school in equal numbers, girls are given a chance to get on the path to earning an income, lead healthier lives, avoid marrying early and have fewer children, all of which contributes to lifting households out of poverty. Not only is a woman’s immediate family affected, but these benefits can lift up entire communities for generations to come.
Our Stronger Together Campaign Chairs
Manuela Testolini
Founder and President
In a Perfect World Foundation
Lori Bush
CEO Rodan+Fields, Retired
Skin and Beauty Expert
Katharine McPhee
Actress &
buildOn Ambassador
Get the Stronger Together Yearbook
Donate $1,000 or more and receive a StrongerTogether 2016 Yearbook showcasing the impact of your support!
Join IAPW on a Trek to Haiti
Donate $5,000 or more and you’re invited on a Trek to Haiti with IAPW founder, Manuela Testolini to experience the impact of your contribution in person.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
