Journey of Hope 2016 | Page 18

can. Empirical data has proven that when women are educated, societies change. When women go to school children live longer and are twice as likely to be educated; families are smaller and healthier; a family’s income is larger; and societies are more peaceful. For so many ills, there is a singular solution. We can no longer ignore the fact. In an amazing example of collective thinking, women and girls around the world are standing up and demanding what is rightfully theirs. They are reaching for their dreams and grabbing their futures with both hands. CAI encounters it every day. Marzia’s story is just one example. There are millions of women around the world just like her. Although the tide is changing, women still have a long road to travel