Gender Equity and Girls’ Education
Empowering girls through inclusive education and leadership opportunities
UN SDGs 1,4,5,8 and10
Lyra’s gender equity programs break down the barriers girls face in accessing and completing their education. We focus on safety, inclusion, confidence-building, and life skills, so that girls consistently attend school and thrive.
In 2021 the lower secondary enrolment rate stood at 28% in rural Tanzania of which 34% complete lower secondary school, and of which, 36% are girls. Higher secondary enrolment rate stands at 6%,of which only 1% of girls complete higher secondary education. There is a clear correlation between levels of education and teenage pregnancy. As levels of education rise, the risk of pregnancy falls. 52% of teenage girls with no education are pregnant or have given birth, compared to 10% of teenage girls with a secondary or higher education.
Completing a good quality secondary education is thus one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of child brides and teenage pregnancy. Girls will have smaller, healthier and wealthier families later in life than those who do not attend school.
Lyra hostels give girls a safe space to live, but also time to study after school and at the weekends. This translates into higher academic achievements for girls living in the hostels. Lyra conducted an analysis of the difference in academic performance of hostel girls and non hostel girls, focusing on national exam results over a four year period. Across these schools the number of hostel girls in the top performer category is significantly higher than girls who did not live in hostels. During the four years and across all schools, there are significantly more hostel girls in the top performer category than non-hostel girls.
“We ran 16kms to school and back, crossing mountains and rivers. Four girls in my class got pregnant because of unsafe accommodation, and that was the end of their education. Living in the Lyra dormitory changed my life. I was the first girl from my school to pass Form IV exams. I am now at University studying to be a teacher, thanks to Lyra. My Mum is so proud of me!”
Our Programs
Mama Matrone
Through this collaboration, teachers are gaining access to critical parenting training delivered by the Mama Matron Program, designed to improve collaboration and strengthen education, provide mentorship, all leading to safer learning environments. Mama Matron’s contribution as an addition to the curriculum helps support Lyra’s mission to empower girls through education.
Read more about the program here.
Together, we’re proving that when women support women, change multiplies.
Sponsor a girl’s journey through education
At Lyra, gender equity is central to our mission. We work alongside communities to challenge norms, support adolescent girls, to help create a future where every girl has the chance to lead. For £275 or $290, you can enable a girl in rural Tanzania to stay in a Lyra eco-hostel so that she can learn safely and consistently - creating a better future for herself.