Every year, on the 27th of February, countries across the world celebrate the #WorldNGODay. It is a day dedicated to recognizing the incredible work done by Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) — also often referred to as Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Charitable Organizations, across the world.

This special day is marked in 89 countries, across six continents, and it seeks to bring to the forefront the outstanding impact that ordinary citizens can have when they come together for a greater cause.

From grassroots movements and small local charities to family foundations and professional organizations to entities that span the world, it is incredible what we can achieve when we work together.

NGOs and Women’s Education and Empowerment

Students at the Akilah Institute in Rwanda

Today, education is considered to be crucial in the process of poverty eradication and economic development, and several studies have illustrated why investment in women’s education, in particular, results in a multiplier ripple effect that can transform countries and economies.

For example, according to the Global Partnership for Education:

“A one percentage point increase in female education raises the average gross domestic product (GDP) by 0.3 percentage points and raises annual GDP growth rates by 0.2 percentage points.”

There are also well-documented positive impacts on food security, climate change reversal, and social cohesion that arise from investing in women’s education. It is not surprising therefore, that women’s education and women’s empowerment has long been an area of focus for non-profit organizations across the world.

Their impact is clearly visible, with several reports (including this one by the Brookings Institution) showing that NGOs play a vital role in complementing the efforts of government in closing the gender gaps in education.

Students at the Akilah Institute in Rwanda

Among some of the organizations doing exceptional work in this field are Women for Women International, The Malala Fund, Women Deliver and Campaign for Female Education, all of which we encourage you to research and support on this #WorldNGODay.

We also invite you to get to know the Akilah Foundation a bit better.

The Akilah Foundation

The Akilah Institute is a social enterprise, and all incomes generated are re-invested into furthering our mission of educating Africa’s female leaders to solve the world’s most pressing challenges, through a lens of sustainability and opportunity.

However, our work would be impossible without the ongoing support we receive through the Akilah Foundation, a registered non-profit in the United States. The Akilah Foundation is Certified Transparent by Excellence in Giving.

Akilah Institute’s Class of 2020, with Karen Sherman, President of the Akilah Foundation

From its base in Washington DC, the Akilah Foundation works with Akilah’s network of passionate friends and supporters to raise funds for our operations. In order to keep our education offering accessible to all, up to 80% of our students’ tuition is subsidized by the generous support of our donors, through the Akilah Foundation.

It is this support that has enabled us to have almost 1,000 female leaders enrolled at our campus in Kigali today.

If you’d like to get involved and support the Akilah Foundation, please visit our website!