Joelle O’Reilly-Hyland supports educational opportunities for women. Living in the United States, it is easy to take for granted the educational freedoms and opportunities available to girls and women. Joelle O’Reilly-Hyland knows it is a mistake to believe these rights and freedoms are universal. There are many countries and impoverished communities where girls’ education is limited or non-existent.

Joelle O’Reilly-Hyland is a proud supporter of Educate Girls Globally. “I am passionate about increasing the educational opportunities for girls and women. I am an activist for women’s equality and educated women are the best agents of social change,” says Joelle O’Reilly-Hyland.

The mission of Educate Girls Globally is to provide educational opportunities for girls so they can reach their full potential. The organization works to increase enrollment and retention of female students. “It is not uncommon for girls to be educated for so many years but then as a teenager be pulled out of school by their families to work or marry or simply because there are no girls bathrooms once menstruation begins,” says Joelle O’Reilly-Hyland.

A part of improving girls’ access to education involves leveraging government resources. “Our goal at Educate Girls Globally is to make government schools work and ensure girls are able to attend and organize for themselves,” says Joelle O’Reilly-Hyland. Educate Girls Globally has opened a new program in India.

Unfortunately, there are many rural communities in India where girls go uneducated or under educated. “I see all the research about how education improves the lives of girls and their communities. Girls who are educated can improve the lives of their families, drive positive social change, and become productive members of society, often getting jobs and increasing the value of their communities and national GDP,” says Joelle O’Reilly-Hyland.

Educate Girls Globally continues to focus on the education of girls and women in India and Africa. Many of these rural communities suffer from poor health, high birthrates and early pregnancies and child mortality, and domestic abuse and extreme views and biases on women and gender role. Joelle O’Reilly-Hyland hopes educating women will drive positive social change and improve the lives of women.