GIRLS Inspire is a partnership between the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and community organisations in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Mozambique and Tanzania to address the barriers women and girls face that prevent their full participation in society, particularly the harmful cycle of child, early and forced marriage (CEFM).

COL is an intergovernmental organisation created by Commonwealth Heads of Government to encourage the development and sharing of open learning/distance education knowledge, resources and technologies.

Recognising that advancing the goals of both women’s empowerment and gender equality are central to ‘Learning for Sustainable Development,’ COL mobilises the power of open and distance learning (ODL) to enable women and girls to access educational opportunities.

Thanks to grants from the governments of Canada and Australia, COL will use ODL and technology to support the schooling and skills training of girls and women. Under this project, 45,000 girls and women will have the opportunity to either complete secondary school or be trained in some skill for employment or entrepreneurship over the next three years.

As a brand, GIRLS Inspire features an abstract flower image in the logo to represent the flourishing of women and girls who will be enriched by learning new skills on their way to empowerment. It also promotes the flourishing of the environment and communities in which they are living. It celebrates growth, health and change.

Each petal has a different colour, representing a mosaic of personalities, vibrant cultures and diversity. It is a strong and bold shape, rather than a fragile one. The petals overlap and interlock, symbolising the unity of the cause. These colours were selected to embody the depth, uniqueness, diversity and strength that girls and women hold and represent.

GIRLS Inspire recognises that girls have the ability to inspire their peers to grasp the opportunities for learning and to reach for the stars. It places girls at the centre, so they can inspire change and transform the world.

Our Sponsors

Government of Canada – through the Global Affairs Canada office:
Ending child, early and forced marriage (CEFM)

Canada has made ending child, early and forced marriage a foreign policy and development priority. COL’s work builds on Canada’s international advocacy efforts in this area by working in Commonwealth countries to promote secondary schooling for girls and women and provide them with skills development training to improve their livelihoods.

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Australia:
Gender equality and empowering women and girls

Universal education is a strategic priority for Australia’s aid investments in education, with a particular focus on girls and children with disabilities. Australia supports initiatives at all levels recognising that improving learning outcomes for girls means addressing a range of interlinked challenges including safety, quality learning, adequate facilities, transitions from primary to secondary school and local leadership.

Our Partners
All
Bangladesh
India
Mozambique
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
Tanzania
Associação Progresso
Location: Mozambique
Bedari
Location: Pakistan
Centre for Mass Education in Science (CMES)
Location: Bangladesh
Institute of Adult Education (IAE)
Location: Tanzania
Mann Deshi Foundation
Location: India
Ajuda de Desenvolvimento de Povo para Povo (ADPP)
Location: Mozambique
Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha (SSS)
Location: Bangladesh
Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC)
Location: Pakistan
Kiota Women Health and Development (KIWOHEDE)
Location: Tanzania
Women's Development Centre
Location: Sri Lanka