Every day, Valeria puts on her white lab coat and heads into the microbiology lab at a seafood processing facility near her home in Santa Elena, Ecuador. She works to make sure food is safe and meets quality standards. It is important work grounded in science, focus and care. But this career path did not always feel possible.
Growing up in a rural community on Ecuadorās coast, Valeria asked big questions.
Why do plants grow the way they do?
How does the body heal?
What is happening inside the cells we cannot see?
Biology gave her a way to understand the world and imagine her future. Still, staying in school was not guaranteed. Financial challenges and social expectations placed on girls often push education out of reach. At times, Valeria did not know if she would be able to keep going. That changed when she received a scholarship through Plan International. It covered essentials like transport and supplies and eased the pressure so she could stay focused on her studies.
āFor me, being part of the University Scholarship Project was a true miracle. Without that support, I would not have been able to finish my studies, or perhaps I would not even have entered university.ā
Valeria, 27, Ecuador
Valeria worked hard. Late nights studying. Balancing school with part-time jobs. Navigating demanding courses like organic chemistry. She sometimes felt out of place next to classmates with more resources, but she never let go of her goal.
Along the way, she discovered something that clicked: microbiology. The idea that tiny organisms could shape the safety of our food fascinated her. That interest became her path.
After years of determination, Valeria became the first college graduate in her family. Now, at 27, she supports not only herself but also her siblings and her mother. She is especially close with her grandmother, who raised her with values of strength and perseverance.
And she is not stopping here. Valeria hopes to continue studying and growing in her field. She wants to build her own home one day, and she is already encouraging younger relatives to pursue education too.
āAs I am the first professional in the family, I feel I must encourage my cousins to pursue a career, because education is the best thing you can receive.ā
Valeria, 27, Ecuador
Valeriaās story shows what becomes possible when girls have the chance to stay in school and follow their passions. Around the world, many girls still face barriers to finishing school and pursuing careers in science. When girls are encouraged to keep learning and dreaming, they become leaders, innovators and changemakers in their communities.
On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Valeria shows what it looks like when curiosity meets opportunity and why supporting girlsā education matters now and for the future.
āWomen and girls’ empowerment is rooted in sustainable access to skills and decent work.ā This is a mantra repeated in textbooks and lectures. But I didnāt realize how true it was until I joined Planās Youth Advisory Board and saw the impact for myself.
As a member of Plan International USAās Youth Advisory Board and a student studying political science and global studies, I found myself at the crossroads of merging these aspects of my life into a meaningful experience last summer. I set out to document the female-led changes to increase employment and reduce poverty facilitated by Plan and other organizations in Jordan and Bangladesh.
I first embarked on my journey starting in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where I interned for Grameen Bank, a Nobel Peace Prize-winning microfinance development bank that provides collateral-free loans to villagers, supporting more than ten million people, 97% of whom are women. Through monitoring loans, reviewing credit accounts, and conducting a case study in my motherās district of Sylhet, I learned about the growing role of women as both primary earners and decision-makers.
Learning leadership through access to finance
Many of the women I interviewed shared how they never learned how to read or write until trying to open a bank account, where they spent more than two weeks learning how to write their name to sign onto their first loan.
Fast-forward twenty years, and these same women now hold positions as deputy mayors or village representatives. They serve as role models for their daughters by helping build the first high schools in their communities.
Women also pool resources together to lend funds as a group and invest in vocational training and technology literacy programs, including initiatives supported by Plan International Bangladesh at the Youth Learning Centre. Girls are creating jobs, agency, and access through resources communities work together to provide.
Seeing generational change firsthand
I was stunned by the unbridled progress rural women had made compared to when my mother had left. Surely this must have been a ruse.
Thankfully, I was proven wrong when I encountered the She Leads program run by the Jordan River Foundation in partnership with Plan International Jordan.
Youth-led change through the Girl Engage approach
Embodying the Girl Engage approach, local youth volunteers ā many my age and in university or high school ā facilitate workshops that raise awareness of domestic and online gender-based violence while building skills around boundary-setting and decision-making.
They worked with girls and boys as young as five, as well as mothers and grandmothers, using expressive arts and community-led initiatives to destigmatize these issues and move forward together.
These youth leaders went on to create a website and podcast highlighting entrepreneurial projects and workforce readiness programs for women across Jordan, fully owning tools made possible through Plan-supported spaces.
What these experiences mean for the next generation
Although She Leads in Amman concluded in September 2025, its impact continues to resonate. The passion these young people bring to advancing girlsā leadership transcends generations and language. They are united by one shared aim: to teach, protect, and equip girls to go beyond their goals.
As part of the Plan USA Youth Advisory Board and in preparation for the
Youth Leadership Academy 2026, I hope to carry forward even a fraction of what these women and girls have taught me to the next generation of changemakers and leaders in Washington, D.C.
About the author
Saudah is a member of Plan International USAās Youth Advisory Board and a junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Part 2 of a photo essay series on access to education in Latin America
Photos by Chris de Bode for Plan International
In many communities, the path to education is shaped by fear, distance and gendered expectations. For girls, the risks can include harassment, violence and pressure to leave school early. For boys, economic demands often pull them out of the classroom long before they are ready.
This second installment of School Matters shares four stories from Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia that show how safety, gender and poverty continue to shape who gets to learn and who is left behind.
For 12-year-old Erika, the walk to school carries a constant sense of fear. Sexual violence in and around schools is widespread in her community, and her parents worry every day about her safety.
āA motorcycle followed me. The driver cut me off and tried to grab me. It was really scary.ā
Erika, 12, Ecuador
Her father believes schools must do more to protect children and provide education about consent and safety. Erika wants to continue studying. Her family wants her to stay safe.
At 12, Alicia is working to catch up on lessons she never fully learned in primary school. The transition to secondary education has been difficult, especially in mathematics, where the foundation was never firmly built.
āI didnāt know how to multiply or divide, or even about odd numbers.ā
Alicia, 12, Peru
With support from her older sister, who now attends university, Alicia studies every evening. Her goal is clear and steady: she wants to continue learning and follow the same path.
In Bolivia, boys are often expected to work long before they finish school. Miguel, 15, lives at a boarding school during the week and returns home on weekends to earn money in the fields.
āI use all of it for food and school supplies. I have to look after myself.ā
Miguel, 15, Bolivia
His goal is simple and far-reaching. He wants to finish school and earn a diploma, even as economic pressure threatens to pull him away.
Why these stories matter
Safety concerns, learning gaps and economic pressure continue to shape who can stay in school across Latin America. When education systems fail to protect and support children, the risks fall hardest on girls and on families already living with limited resources.
These stories show that access to education is not just about classrooms. It is about safety, dignity and the ability for every child to learn without fear.
About the Global Partnership for Education
The Global Partnership for Education is the worldās largest multi-stakeholder fund and partnership dedicated to transforming education systems in lower-income countries. For nearly two decades, GPE has brought together governments, civil society, teachers, youth, the private sector and philanthropy to expand inclusive, quality education for every child.
GPE supports countries to strengthen education systems, mobilize domestic financing, improve equity and efficiency and deliver lasting systemwide change. Its 2026ā2030 Case for Investment calls for urgent, sustained financing to close the global education funding gap and ensure every child, especially every girl, can learn and thrive.
About the project
The Safe Horizons: Andean Alliance for Disaster-Resilient Education project is funded by ECHO and implemented by Plan International in Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. The initiative helps children and young people safely access education and succeed in school and beyond.
About Chris de Bode
Chris de Bode is an international award-winning documentary photographer and film director. He has worked in more than 90 countries, focusing on humanitarian and social issues.
Part 1 of a photo essay series on access to education in Latin America
Photos by Chris de Bode for Plan International
Around the world, children are traveling farther, risking more and overcoming greater obstacles for the chance to learn. In Latin America alone, students cross floodwaters, walk unsafe roads and study in classrooms at risk of collapse. These stories reflect the wider pressures facing education globally and the urgency behind investments that build resilient, inclusive learning environments.
This first installment of School Matters highlights four stories from Bolivia and Peru that show what it takes for children and families to stay connected to education.
Holding a family together through education in Bolivia
In the Tarija region of Bolivia, Dalita wakes before sunrise to open her small shop. A single mother, she works from early morning until late at night to afford school supplies, uniforms and transportation for her children.
āIām not the kind of mom who gives up. I would sacrifice anything for them just to make sure they can stay in school.ā
Dalita, 37, Bolivia
Despite rising costs and uncertainty, Dalita remains determined that her children will continue their education.
A boarding school as the only option for sisters in rural Bolivia
In rural Bolivia, sisters Carla and Janet attend a boarding school far from home because daily travel is too long and too expensive. After their mother died, Carla left school for two years to care for her family before returning through the boarding program.
āBecause meals are included and we donāt have to travel every day, boarding school is more affordable.ā
Carla, 14, Bolivia
While separation from family is difficult, the school allows both girls to stay enrolled and continue learning.
In Peru, Yulitza chose to attend a secondary school farther from home because nearby schools lacked teachers and consistent instruction. The daily journey is long and unreliable, with frequent breakdowns that sometimes force her to turn back.
āI want to be so many things. Maybe a psychologist, a doctor, a teacher or an accountant.ā
Yulitza, 16, Peru
Despite financial pressure and doubts from her family, Yulitza remains committed to finishing school.
Six-year-old Gael has begun walking after previously relying on a wheelchair. Inside his school, the lack of ramps and accessible bathrooms turns everyday routines into obstacles.
āI wish there were ramps. I canāt go to the toilet by myself.ā
Gael, 6, Bolivia
Why these stories matter
These childrenās daily struggles reflect a global picture. Education systems around the world are under unprecedented strain. More than 270 million children and young people are out of school and education faces a US$97 billion annual funding gap.
When systems weaken, girls face the steepest consequences, including higher risks of child marriage, early pregnancy and gender-based violence. Education remains one of the most powerful investments a society can make. It strengthens health outcomes, economic stability and long-term peace.
About the Global Partnership for Education
The Global Partnership for Education is the worldās largest multi-stakeholder fund and partnership dedicated to transforming education systems in lower-income countries. For nearly two decades, GPE has brought together governments, civil society, teachers, youth, the private sector and philanthropy to expand inclusive, quality education for every child.
GPE supports countries to strengthen education systems, mobilize domestic financing, improve equity and efficiency and deliver lasting systemwide change. Its 2026ā2030 Case for Investment calls for urgent, sustained financing to close the global education funding gap and ensure every child, especially every girl, can learn and thrive.
About the project
The Safe Horizons: Andean Alliance for Disaster-Resilient Education project is funded by ECHO and implemented by Plan International in Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. The initiative helps children and young people safely access education and succeed in school and beyond.
About Chris de Bode
Chris de Bode is an international award-winning documentary photographer and film director. He has worked in more than 90 countries, focusing on humanitarian and social issues.
Plan International was quoted in Devex as Congress debates the future of US foreign aid amid political pressure and funding uncertainty. The article examines whether recent congressional statements will translate into real protections for aid budgets ā and what that could mean for partners and communities worldwide.
In Ethiopiaās Afar region, where tradition shapes every stage of life, a girlās future is often decided within days of her birth. For generations, female genital mutilation has been considered inevitable, a practice carried out in silence, fear and conformity. But some parents are choosing a different path.
Through these stories, we meet mothers, fathers and daughters who are quietly defying expectations to protect girls from harm. Their choices reflect courage in everyday moments: a decision made at home, a conversation in a classroom or a community beginning to shift. Against a harsh landscape and powerful social pressure, these accounts reveal how change begins, one family, one choice at a time.
āI am relieved I was spared FGM.ā
Hayat, 14
Hayat, 14, and her mother Birtukan, 38
Relieved not to be cut
In Ethiopiaās Afar region, 14-year-old Hayat rests her head on her mother Birtukanās shoulder, a powerful image of love and resistance. Despite cultural pressure, Birtukan refused to subject her daughter to FGM, choosing health, hope and a different future.
āI am relieved I was spared FGM, because I could have bled a lot. There is also the risk of HIV/AIDS and the risk of fistula during childbirth due to cutting,ā says 14-year-old Hayat.
Her mother Birtukan explains, āWhen I was pregnant, before I gave birth, I experienced pressure to have my daughter cut. I heard that circumcision is harmful to women due to diseases and many consequences that follow. I have learned a lot about it. So I did not cut my child.ā
āIn everything we hear, in education and on the radio, it is a harmful practice that exposes girls to a lot of bleeding. I hear about fistula disease. In general, it is completely harmful. In Afar, especially in the remote areas, there is a saying that if a girl is not cut, her desire for men increases. But thatās not true. You cannot link that to not being circumcised.ā
Shishig, 34, and her daughter Eman, 14
TV broadcasts sparked her awakening
Shishig, 34, embraces her daughter Eman, 14, in a moment of solidarity and strength. In a community where FGM has long been the norm, Shishig stood firm and said no after learning about the dangers through TV campaigns.
Shishig learned about the dangers of FGM through TV broadcasts. āI saw on television the message: āDonāt circumcise your children, donāt cut them.ā Female genital mutilation is harmful, we see it in advertisements and dramas. Thatās why I didnāt cut my children. I learned this on my own. I just saw it on television and I didnāt cut my daughters. I am also not cut.ā
FGM is rarely spoken about openly. Even with public messages, awareness is still limited, especially in remote communities. āBut I knew it can cause children to bleed to death and has lifelong consequences. Women experience problems during menstruation, have difficulty urinating and face a high risk of infections. It is extremely dangerous. That is why I decided to protect my daughter.ā
She recalls one tragic case: āIn our area I have seen one girl who was cut and bled a lot and they could not take her to hospital because the cutting could not be disclosed to others.ā
Although she herself is not cut, many of her friends are. After conversations, they now also advocate for abandoning the practice. āWe should not cut children. It is harmful.ā
āWe should not cut children. It is harmful.ā
Zehara, 37, and her daughter Fatuma, 14
Educating others to break the cycle
A mother and daughter in Afar stand together, reflecting the strength of families choosing to protect girls from harm.
Zehara is a teacher and facilitator of a Girlsā Club at her school, an initiative established by Plan International to teach girls about their rights. āWe know that cutting harms us. We are torn apart,ā she says.
She acknowledges the pressure from the older generation. āSome people say: āThis is our culture.ā But something that harms girls is not culture. Thatās what I tell them.ā
Zehara told a story to fellow parents about a 17-year-old girl with a swollen abdomen. Her father thought she was pregnant, but the real cause was the buildup of menstrual blood due to FGM. The situation was life-threatening. āThat made the parents stop and think.ā
Fatuma, a club member, speaks out against FGM and encourages others. āItās better not to be cut, because it causes harm later in life,ā she says.
Zehara remains hopeful: āThe community is changing now. If training and awareness-raising continues, it can become sustainable. We can save our community.ā
Ali, 48, and his daughter Seyida, 14
A father taking a stand
In Afar, fathers often have the final say in family decisions. Ali believes men must also take a stand and openly reject FGM.
āAll my daughters are uncut,ā says Ali. In Afar, fathers often have the final say in family decisions. Thatās why Ali believes men must also take a stand. He openly discusses FGM and encourages other fathers to reject the practice.
āFemale genital mutilation is often seen as a fixed part of our society,ā he says. āBut it is something that has developed over time. Something that started at a certain point can also be brought to an end.ā
His daughter Seyida shares her concerns: āThe genital mutilation practiced in Afar is very severe. When a girl is pregnant and wants to give birth, the doctor may refuse her because she is already cut. Then sheās cut again at the doctorās office. How many times can one girl be cut?ā
āIt is a difficult process, but together we can stop FGM,ā Seyida adds.
Ali believes change is possible: āWhen we advocate for our children, things will gradually become better.ā
Sinidu, 34, and her daughter Mekidas, 13
Knowing the law, making a choice
Families are making informed choices to protect girls, even when social pressure is strong.
āItās better for a girl not to be cut. They bleed a lot while being cut. Itās better for menstruation not to be cut,ā says Sinidu.
She is well aware that FGM is illegal and punishable by law. Her decision to protect her daughter was motivated by both legal understanding and what she has seen firsthand in her community.
Shimelis, 38, and his daughter Betelihem, 13
Calling out harmful practices
Fathers speaking out can shift norms, especially in communities where men influence family decisions.
āIt is an obligation to say that a girl should not be mutilated, to save the girl,ā says Shimelis. āIt was historically accepted, but the cutting of girls has nothing to do with religion. To tell the truth, it does not.ā
He continues, āIn the past, it was said that it is tradition. But it is time for development. We shouldnāt let anyone think otherwise.ā
Meyirema, 40, and her daughter Sumeya, 14
Facing resistance, choosing education
Some parents face backlash for protecting their daughters, but they stay firm and keep advocating for girlsā health, safety and right to learn.
āIf you are cut, childbirth becomes dangerous,ā explains Meyirema. āThe baby cannot come out, it becomes stuck and dies unless you are cut open. Many women do not understand this. And still they continue cutting girls. It is unbelievable.ā
She faced backlash for protecting her daughter: āOlder people say I am spreading bad ideas. They do not support me. But we do not listen to them.ā
Sumeya recalls the stigma: āPeople said if a girl is not cut, she will break things and wonāt be a good wife. They believed men would reject her.ā
But attitudes are changing. āNow we receive training about the consequences of FGM. Weāll start spreading what we learn at school and beyond,ā says Sumeya.
Women We Admire highlights new global research conducted with Plan International that explores how girls and young women define leadership and the barriers they expect to face. Drawing on insights from nearly 10,000 participants across 19 countries, the findings show high leadership ambition alongside persistent expectations of inequality.
