Corporate Social Responsibility
We are proud supporters of Plan International’s Because I Am A Girl campaign.
It’s a no-brainer: girls who are educated, healthy, safe from violence, and empowered will pull themselves, their children and their communities out of poverty.
[S]tudies show that when you invest in girls, the whole world benefits. If a girl has enough to eat, a safe environment, and an education, she’ll work to raise the standard of living for herself, her family and her community. And in time, she can even strengthen the economy of her entire country. http://plancanada.ca/the-Girl-Issue
Moreover, we are all about efficiency and effectiveness, and “educating girls yields a higher rate of return than any other investment available in the developing world”. (Summers, 1992) It’s not that investing in boys’ education isn’t worthwhile – it’s that the payoff for investing in girls’ education is on average larger. (Herz, 2011)
“Girls’ education is an integral part to virtually every aspect of development. And what is just striking is the amount of hard, rigorous academic data that is, not only about what girls’ education does in terms of returns for income, and for growth, but in terms of health, AIDS prevention, the empowerment of women, and prevention of violence against women.” (Herz and Sperling, 2004)
We encourage you to donate. We ask our clients to designate 2.5% of their fees as a donation to Because I Am A Girl.
Further Reading:
Investing in All the People: Educating Women in Developing Countries (Summers, 1992) | This paper discusses the enormous economic benefits of investing in women’s education: over time, increases in girls’ education have the potential to transform societies. |
Educating Girls: What Works (Herz, 2011) | A summary of the evidence in favour of investing in girls. |
Investing in Girls’ Education (Kennedy, 2009) | A Harvard (Kennedy School of Government) report that argues persuasively that investing in girls’ education, with its effect on stability and economic growth, is in business’ own best interest. |
Gender Inequality, Income, and Growth (Dollar, Gatti, 1999) | A report from the World Bank Development Research Group. The World Bank DRG has a great deal more information available online: http://www.worldbank.org/gender/ |
What Works In Girls’ Education (Herz, Sperling, 2004) | The two authors were part of the UN Millennium Task Force. This is the transcript of a moderated discussion at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, D.C. |
Further Reading:
Investing in All the People: Educating Women in Developing Countries (Summers, 1992)
This paper discusses the enormous economic benefits of investing in women’s education: over time, increases in girls’ education have the potential to transform societies.
Educating Girls: What Works (Herz, 2011)
A summary of the evidence in favour of investing in girls.
Investing in Girls’ Education (Kennedy, 2009)
A Harvard (Kennedy School of Government) report that argues persuasively that investing in girls’ education, with its effect on stability and economic growth, is in business’ own best interest.
Gender Inequality, Income, and Growth (Dollar, Gatti, 1999)
A report from the World Bank Development Research Group. The World Bank DRG has a great deal more information available online: http://www.worldbank.org/gender/
What Works In Girls’ Education (Herz, Sperling, 2004)
The two authors were part of the UN Millennium Task Force. This is the transcript of a moderated discussion at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, D.C.