Equality for women and girls has come a long way in the last few decades, but the journey is far from over. Education breaks barriers and drives gender equity, equipping girls with the knowledge and skills to shape a more inclusive world. Global efforts have dramatically improved girls’ access to education, achieving parity in most countries. The next challenge is ensuring all children – girls and boys – receive quality education that enables them to thrive.

Research shows that when girls are learning in school, the impact is life-changing: it improves their health outcomes and future earnings, reduces child marriage and early pregnancy, and fosters economic and social development across generations. At the Luminos Fund, we have seen firsthand how girls and boys excel equally when given the chance to learn in a supportive, joyful environment, free from limiting gender stereotypes.

This International Women’s Day, under the theme “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” we spotlight voices from our classrooms and reflect on how Luminos’ approach to girls’ education helps combat entrenched inequities, ensuring the most marginalized children can learn and thrive.

Luminos student Ellen outside her classroom in Liberia. (Photo: Mara Chan/Luminos Fund) 

The Power of Learning: Ellen’s Journey to Confidence and Success

Luminos is dedicated to unlocking the light in every child. Our structured approach ensures that girls and boys not only master foundational learning, but also see themselves as capable, successful learners. In our classrooms, leadership and participation roles are intentionally shared between girls and boys, sending a powerful message that all children can take on responsibilities and make decisions. This approach breaks down gender stereotypes while fostering confidence, assertiveness, and decision-making skills in girls.

For years, Ellen dreamed of going to school, but her family couldn’t afford the fees. Instead, she helped her mother with housework. Education seemed out of reach until the free Luminos program arrived in her community in rural Liberia.

Stepping into the classroom for the first time, Ellen was both excited and nervous. Like many Luminos students, she had never learned to read or write, and the thought of struggling in front of others made her shy. But that quickly began to change. Through Luminos’ step-by-step curriculum, Ellen learned to recognize letters, sound out words, and solve math problems. Each small success built her confidence, and over time, her transformation was undeniable. She even took on the role of teacher’s assistant.

Today, Ellen’s favorite subject is math, and she enjoys solving math problems on the chalkboard in front of her peers.

Luminos teacher Wubalem inside her classroom. (Photo: Mekbib Tadesse for the Luminos Fund) 

Empowering the Future: Wubalem’s Mission to Educate and Inspire

Luminos teacher Wubalem believes in the transformative power of education, and she brings that belief to life in her classroom each day. “Education gives you power,” she says. “When you are educated, you have the power to change yourself, your community, and your country.” For Wubalem, this is especially true for girls. “Change is not possible without the education of girls,” she declares. “My wish is for every single woman to get a chance to be educated. I wish to see female leaders in our community.”

At Luminos, gender inclusion is central to our curriculum and teacher training. Our storybook, Your Promise, introduces child protection and safeguarding to students, with a dedicated lesson on gender equality in the first few weeks of school. Additionally, our teaching and learning materials feature diverse, empowering representations of girls and boys in nontraditional roles, reinforcing the idea that every child can dream big and achieve their goals. Through class discussions, students examine gender assumptions and learn how to support one another as equals.

Sample Gender-Responsive Protocols for Luminos Teachers:

Luminos alum Meftua with her mother, Fayzi. (Photo: Mara Chan/Luminos Fund) 

Breaking Barriers: Fayzi’s Determination to Educate Her Daughter

Despite progress in education, gender inequality remains a significant challenge worldwide. Girls face unique barriers to education, especially in regions where child marriage and early pregnancy are prevalent. Many girls who marry young often drop out of school due to social, economic, and cultural pressures, including domestic duties, societal expectations, and the demands of pregnancy and childbearing.

Fayzi, who never had the chance to attend school herself, is determined to break this cycle for her daughter, Meftua, who attended the Luminos program in Ethiopia. “I was interested in going to school, but I didn’t have the chance, so I’m giving that opportunity to my children,” Fayzi explains. “I got married at 10 years old, and I had Meftua at age 15.”

Fayzi is committed to ensuring that her daughter’s future is not limited by the hardships she faced. She handles the household chores so Meftua can focus on her studies, knowing its impact.

“Meftua is very good at all the subjects, and I’m very proud of that. I want her to become a teacher because education is very important,” says Fayzi. “I would like for her to educate others from her community who didn’t get the chance to have an education. Education will change your life.”

Through her mother’s sacrifices and the opportunities provided by Luminos, Meftua is building a future beyond the limitations of child marriage. After graduating from the Luminos program, Meftua enrolled in her local government school. Her story is a testament to the power of education to break the cycle of inequality and inspire hope for a brighter future for girls everywhere.