Educate Girls Now was founded in 2013 as a response to the dire needs of Afghanistan girls, as demonstrated in the documentary film Girl Rising, which tells the stories of nine extraordinary girls from developing countries. The documentary shares the true story of Ameena, a young girl from Afghanistan forced into marriage when she was only eleven, giving birth to her first child at twelve.

To ensure the film’s authenticity,  director Ramaa Mosley worked closely with  Zarghuna Kargar, a BBC journalist who, after escaping Afghanistan, authored Dear Zari: The Secret Lives of the Women of Afghanistan. She also wrote Ameena’s story for the documentary.

Deeply moved by the film, Marilyn Mosley Gordanier, world renowned educator and founder of Laurel Springs School, began working with her daughter and Zarghuna Kargar  to establish a program that would provide resources to Afghan families, enabling them to keep their daughters in school and thereby prevent child marriages. Together, they created Educate Girls Now, a wonderful grass roots program to educate Afghan children.

Since its inception, Educate Girls Now has ensured that 304 children receive an education and saved 54 girls from an early marriage. We have rescued 12 war widows from a life of extreme deprivation by ensuring they receive funds to feed their children and send them to school.

Educate Girls Now has been expanding to accommodate the needs of additional Afghan families and enable girls to receive an education, healthy food, and a safe and secure childhood.

Educate Girls Now is a registered 501(c)(3) under Global 500 Environmental Forum.