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A portrait of 16-year-old Samar who participates in a Save the Children youth program in Jordan. |
Young people in developing countries face an uncertain future. Net secondary school enrollment is only 52 percent for boys and 44 percent for girls, compared to 90 percent enrollment rate for both boys and girls in developed countries. Away from the safe environment of school, many of the world's most disadvantaged children are at increased risk for HIV/AIDS and getting caught up in social conflicts.
Making the transition to secondary school is especially difficult for girls. They may be under social pressure to take on added household responsibilities, marry, or avoid public exposure. They may also be at risk for sexual assault. In addition, families may be unwilling or unable to afford the higher costs of secondary education.
When children leave school, non-formal education can give them a second chance. Since many of the most disadvantaged children do leave school before adolescence, many of Save the Children's youth education programs are non-formal by design, reaching out to youth for whom there are few education opportunities and little hope. Helping out-of-school youth—both girls and boys—find their way back to school strengthens their integration into society, offering them another chance at a healthier, more productive adult life.
