Investing in the education of girls is an investment in the future. Making it possible for bright, ambitious young women to attend secondary school is the key to positive change. But there are many obstacles. One girl in Tanzania wrote, “Totally my family is against education. My father is forcing me to get married while I am young. I will cry upon the government to fight against ignorance. I shall educate and encourage my fellow to fight against ignorance through education. If I could have this chance then my family, especially my father would once change his mind toward my brothers.” Another said, “I like studies but my parents have refused to help totally because I am a girl.” And still another, "I am deaf and dumb and my father will not send me to Secondary school… I want to become a teacher so that other disabled girls will see that they can do the same…"
Global Partners, through the Marlene Assell Scholarship Program, makes it possible for many young women to continue their education who otherwise would drop out and find themselves married and mothers at 14, or ill-paid and overworked manual laborers on plantations or in factories, or out on the streets risking infection with HIV/AIDS to make a living. When a person agrees to sponsor a girl, they work a small miracle in that girl’s life. Starting in 2001 with 20 girls, the Scholarship program has grown steadily each year. Besides providing a girl’s school expenses, the program also offers additional tutoring and mentoring to give girls every chance of success. Recently, the program began building dormitories so the girls do not have to walk miles and miles every day to attend school.

Since the Marlene Assell Scholarship Program began, the number of girls in the program has grown tremendously. There are 146 girls today; our goal is at least 100 new girls in 2005. The yearly stipend covers all the girl’s expenses, including health, dental, and eyeglasses. As our experience with the program progressed, we found that the girls needed such things as eyeglasses and reading lights to make studying possible. We have built two dormitories on site with plans for others in progress. Being able to live near the school not only keeps the girls from having to make the long daily walk to and from school, but also provides the girls with an atmosphere in which learning is encouraged. Girls who need assistance can be tutored, extra classes can be held during the summer, and the women who serve as dormitory matrons become real and vital mentors for the girls.