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Educational Excellence

Impacting Education Worldwide:

Supporting GIRLS...to Make a

Difference for Girls

In this article explaining the Society’s new GIRLS international project, the
International Educational Excellence Committee shows how donated dollars
make a difference in targeted programs and, ultimately, in individual lives. Written
in collaboration with representatives from UNICEF, the article explains the Sierra

Leone Girls’ Education Innovation Challenge (GEIC) program and introduces
readers to Anipha, whose participation in GEIC made an important difference in
her education and the quality of her life.

DKG’s Vision of “Leading Women Educators Impacting Education Worldwide” is both accurate in
describing members and ambitious in focusing on global impact! Embracing impact on a local and state
organization level is well within the grasp of most members—but reaching out worldwide may seem
daunting. To make this global goal possible, the International Educational Excellence Committee urges
participation in the Society’s new international project in collaboration with UNICEF: the Girls Initiative
to Revitalize Learning and Success (GIRLS), which focuses on supporting the education of girls in Africa.
In July 2024, the International Convention voted to approve this new international project to replace
the concluded Schools for Africa initiative. Doing so continues DKG’s long history of supporting UNICEF
projects through donations. Over the past 12 years, members contributed more than $600,000 to the
Schools for Africa initiative, which enhances education for children in 21 countries. Prior to this, DKG
donated $200,000 to train educators in Afghanistan.
As noted on the DKG website (go to About > Key Initiatives > UNICEF GIRLS Program):
The initiative aims to:
1) get a better understanding of the current barriers and bottlenecks facing girls in Africa;
2) address harmful social norms that impede prosperity of girls;
3) deploy technology to accelerate results in girls’ education;
4) mount global advocacy and leadership through a Global Platform; and
5) develop a Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) to tap into expertise on gender equality and
women’s empowerment and change the trajectory of learning and earning outcomes for girls
and young women. (About the Fund, www.dkg.org)
Individuals and chapters of DKG can contribute to this fund through the following link to enhance
the lives and education of girls in Africa (#DKGimpact): https://www.unicefusa.org/about-unicef-usa/
partnerships/humanitarian-organizations/delta-kappa-gamma-society-international

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