Empowering Girls Through Education: The Backpack Campaign
A Brighter Future Awaits
In today’s world, education serves as a vital pathway to a brighter future, particularly for girls. It opens doors to opportunities, enhances safety, and fosters leadership. However, for millions of girls around the globe, access to education remains a distant dream. Plan International has recognized this urgency and recently unveiled its 2025 State of the World’s Girls report, alongside a backpack campaign aimed at expanding educational opportunities for girls everywhere.
Highlighting Barriers to Education
The release of the 2025 report, titled “Let Me Be a Child, Not a Wife: Girls’ Experiences of Living Through Child Marriage,” shines a stark light on the obstacles that hinder girls’ educational journeys. It reveals that child and early forced marriage continues to be one of the most significant barriers to girls’ education. Over the span of fifteen countries, interviews with 251 girls who married before the age of 18 offer a heartbreaking glimpse into their experiences.
Key findings include:
- 63% no longer in education: Most of the girls surveyed reported dropping out of school, training, or work after marriage.
- Marriage impacts education: Over one in three girls cited marriage as the direct reason for their educational disruption.
- Regrets of lost opportunities: A small minority were able to pursue education after marriage, but many expressed deep regret over opportunities lost.
This report not only highlights a global issue but also raises awareness about the concerning fact that child marriage is still permissible in 34 U.S. states, where nearly 300,000 minors were legally married from 2000 to 2018.
Global Conversations and Awareness
The findings of the report have triggered vital global discussions about child marriage and educational equity. For instance, CNN’s in-depth feature, “As Equals,” has further propelled the conversation into mainstream media, ensuring that the issue reaches a wider audience.
Advocating for Educational Equity
“Every girl is worthy of an education, yet across the world, too many girls are kept from school by poverty, safety concerns, accessibility, and cultural norms like early marriage,” said Shanna Marzilli, president and CEO of Plan International USA. Her words echo a commitment to removing barriers and uplifting girls through education, asserting that when girls succeed, entire communities benefit.
Introducing the Backpack Campaign
Recognizing the need for immediate action, Plan International has launched a matching gift campaign called the Backpack Campaign. This initiative aims to provide girls with the essential tools they need to stay in school. For these girls, a backpack represents more than just school supplies; it symbolizes a commitment to education and a future of possibilities.
The campaign’s impact is already being felt across five countries, where backpacks filled with critical school supplies have been distributed. In celebration of International Day of the Girl, every backpack purchased this October will be matched—effectively doubling the impact and ensuring that 500 backpacks reach young learners worldwide.
How You Can Make a Difference
Supporters are encouraged to take part in this transformative initiative. A simple act of donating $25 this October can provide a girl with a backpack and educational supplies, paving the way for uninterrupted learning and future opportunities. The invitation is clear: “Give a girl a backpack,” reinforcing the notion that small contributions can create significant change.
About Plan International
Plan International is a dedicated nonprofit organization striving to advance children’s rights and promote equality for girls globally. With over 85 years of experience, it works across more than 80 countries to tackle the underlying causes of challenges that children face, particularly focusing on the experiences of girls. From educational endeavors to humanitarian relief, Plan International is committed to ensuring that every girl has the chance to learn, lead, and thrive.
By joining forces with organizations like Plan International, we can work toward a future where education is accessible to every girl, creating pathways for growth, leadership, and empowerment.