Still today, half a billion of the worlds illiterate adults are women. This trend has not changed in 20 years. We know that during conflict, girls are 2.5 times more likely to drop out of school than boys are and 48% of girls who are out-of-school today are unlikely to ever enroll in school.

I enrolled into university as a mature age student because I had difficulty getting employed. Since completing an undergraduate degree as well as finalizing my Doctorate, I have found that education is the answer to freedom.

It is my experience that women and girls struggle to seek educational opportunity for various reasons, be that social, political, economic, however for me education has set me free, and I now live the life that I want, on my own terms, and in my own way. I am passionate about education, particularly for women and girls.

I encourage all women and girls to take the opportunities that education offers in delivering a future that provides freedom of choice to live their best lives in the way that they choose.

The money raised here will go towards The UN Women's Second Chance Education Program.

I will participate in Trek for Rights 2024 for this fund raising venture.