Tuesday 11 October 2011

The Girl Effect


I was reading PencilGirl's blog about the
The Girl Effect and decided to share it here:

I'm a girl yes I am still a girl even if I am a 48yr old woman
I went to school and got an education
I then decided to get married at the age of 22
I had 3 beautiful healthy daughters
I chose to be a full time mother
My health is good and when it's not I go to the doctors
I have a loving husband and a supportive family
I am a lucky woman......................

But life isn't the same for all girls. Consider this scenario.
    * A girl- 12 years of age.
    * Never been to school. Illiterate.
    * No particular skills she's been trained in- except maybe to cook and clean.
    * She's from a poor family, and viewed as an extra mouth to feed.
    * She is married by the age of 14. She doesn't get to choose her husband, or even if she wants to
        get married.
    * Her husband may be tall or short, young or much much older than her, kind or violent.
    * She get's pregnant. She's barely 15.
    * She might die during childbirth.
    * If she doesn't die, she ends up with a family to feed, and probably no source of income.
    * She isn't qualified for a lot of jobs, and struggles to make ends meet.
    * She might get forced into prostitution.
    * She might get AIDS.
    * Life isn't so good, is it?

11 comments:

  1. Although I am sure this is written about some third world country [the link is no good, so I couldn't read Pencil Girl's post] . . .

    This post holds very, very true for many part of the United States where families are so impoverished that these things happen and happen all the time.

    You don't have to look far in any part of the world, to see this in your own back yard.

    Although I will say, that there are many more opportunities in some countries than others, but when generations are raised in the same cycle over and over again it doesn't stop.

    This is applicable the world over. A lot of people just choose to ignore it or concentrate on countries other than their own.

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  2. I second what skippy says. unfortunately, this happens all over the world, right in our own backyard.

    i remember when i was 14 years old, my neighbor's dad traded her to a 19 year old to cover a debt he owed. She had her 1st child at 15, her 2nd at 16, and was pregnant with #3 when #2 died in her arms.

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  3. Oh my goodness, Teresa, that is so sad. The world can break your heart so quickly and we have to be on the lookout all the time for ways to mend so we have the strength to help others.

    Love,
    Lola

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  4. Hi SkippyMom

    I have no idea why the link didn't work for you it works for me stupid link.......but yes I think it was written about a third world country but as you said these things happen all over the world, even in countries like America & Australia and it is a terrible thing to think it could happen in such developed countries.

    Hi Teresa

    What a sad thing that is it is because it can happen in any country that I felt the need to post this just to remind those of us who are lucky to have such great lives that we are lucky as there are so many girls in the world who are not so lucky.

    Hi Green Girl

    Terrifying indeed things like this make me so glad that I am not in such a situation.

    Hi Lola

    Yes I agree with you and I think we need sometimes to be reminded that there are those in the world a lot worse off then we are.

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  5. I thought you were linking to Pencil Girls post regarding what she said. Sorry. Instead I got the "World needs a kick in the pants. Agree Disagree" page which wasn't what I expected.

    My apologies. And I was interested in what PG said first since that is who you mentioned and thought we would be directed to her blog.

    I don't vote on those kinds of websites.

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  6. such is life for girls and boys. we should always appreciate the small blessings we are blessed with, and the interesting thing is that girl may very well be happier than the girl with everything because she understands the true nature of the universe...........the lessons we learn in this life will be rewarded in the next. i believe it to be true, call it kharma, fate, kismet whatever the name i find comfort in it.

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  7. Hi SkippyMom

    My bad I should have explained the link better oh well what's done is done.....

    Hi Tim

    That's an interesting pint you have raised not sure I agree with you completely but I do belive in an afterlife and in karma.

    Hi Kneesandpaws & Becca

    Yes I do think it is sad also.

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  8. We have so much to be thankful and should never take it for granted-thank you for sharing.

    Thank you also for your prayers for our little Lucas.

    Carolyn

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