Children International’s commitment to all young women

As International Women’s Day approaches, I am certain we will scroll our social media and news channels and see celebrations of amazing women who have accomplished and overcome significant obstacles. For us at Children International, the stories of the young women and girls who participate in our programs are all amazing and worth celebrating every single day. Because when you delve into the circumstances and environments in which many of them live, you can’t help but be amazed.  

Bringing together people to end poverty for good is not just our vision. It truly is reflective of the work we do — particularly through Into Employment, our signature workforce development program. We are educating and training young people for in-demand jobs in their local communities and, in the process, connecting them with generous Children International supporters who fund Into Employment scholarships. We also are bringing them together with community partners and employers who are hiring them for jobs that will change the next generation of their families. Nearly 70% of these youth are young women. 

Additionally, at Children International, 93% of participating young women graduated from our Into Employment job skills training program in 2023.

Globally, young women are twice as likely than their male counterparts to drop out of school, miss job training opportunities or be unemployed, according to the International Labor Organization. Many have responsibilities related to being family caretakers that limit their ability to secure work that pays sustainable wages. These challenges, along with longstanding cultural practices in many of the countries in which we are based, inhibit the independence of women and girls, making their journeys out of poverty a steeper, more difficult slope to climb.  

When school-aged young women (and other youth) are deciding what to do with their lives, our staff provides coaching and guidance through individual support and life skills training. This year, we’re providing over 10,000 youth globally with scholarships that fund tuition and fees, job placement efforts and the critical coaching support I’ve described. For many of the young women connected to Children International, this makes all the difference. 

Perla, a Children International participant who lives in Guadalajara, Mexico, is one inspiring example. Sometime last year, one of our Into Employment® staff members visited Perla’s home when the Children International team realized her attendance in our programming had slipped. That staff member, Betina Enderle, told the young woman there were scholarships that could help her finish school and find work, and Perla jumped at the opportunity.

Perla is a young woman who became a mother at 14 and thought the door to a future where she could learn, thrive and succeed was shut. Thanks to Children International supporters, Into Employment gave her opportunities to continue her education.

Betina told me that during the visit, she discovered that Perla, already the mother of one child, had recently given birth a second time. Having the opportunity to participate in Into Employment was a game-changer for her. “More than anything, I wanted to continue studying,” Perla eventually shared with leaders at Children International. “I thought I had no more opportunities to study and finish school, [yet] this is the most important thing — to give something to my children and offer them more.”  

Many young women like Perla have their education interrupted by life events or are first in line to care for or provide income for the family. The costs related to public schooling and the difficulty of navigating the complicated state and national systems add another layer of challenges. 

Our Into Employment staff dedicate themselves to helping our youth succeed. For Betina, that meant helping a young mother who wanted to better her life, even while raising two small children. Betina allowed Perla to bring her children to class and, in turn, Perla was one of the top students in the program. 

Perla has gone on to acquire the government documents she needs to enter the workforce, create a résumé and gain financial literacy and budgeting skills. She recently completed her high school degree equivalency, is deciding what technical education to pursue and is working part-time to support her children. Her story has many chapters yet to be written!    

Into Employment staff member Betina Enderle (at right) mentors Perla in a one-on-one coaching session.

I asked our Into Employment staff in Mexico how Perla’s story reflects International Women’s Day — a day in which we celebrate women and their accomplishments around the world. Betina and Andrea Noriega, Into Employment coordinator, agree that our job is to honor all women who have fought for the rights to vote, learn and explore a career. As Andrea told me: “With Perla, it was letting her know that she’s more than just a mom. She’s also a woman who can learn and work!”   

On this International Women’s Day — and every day — let us celebrate women like Perla, who are eager to grow and evolve, and workplace leaders like Andrea and Betina, who are removing barriers for them. This commitment to empowering young women is at the heart of Children International’s mission. Thanks to supporters like you, girls and women around the globe can follow a brighter path to a different future. I invite you to open doors for more of them by giving to Into Employment. Together, we can change generations.