PLAN is a great charity for that. They do things like give girls food to take home from school. It made it so the family would be better off sending their girl to school. Efficient and effective!
PLAN has low overhead, too. They don't spend fortunes on marketing. A high percentage of donations (~90% IIRC) goes to the people in need.
I learned this from PLAN Canada, but I'm sure it is the same elsewhere. I have no relation, just a fan of their work.
Nothing against educating girls, but this is probably the wrong conclusion. Economic situation determines whether girls can get an education or not, so educated girls correlate with a good economic situation. Not the other way round (educated girls causing a good economic situation).
Personally, I think this focus on girls only is sexist and I take care to never donate to charities that only want to help girls.
I think in areas with more traditional cultures, educating girls DOES improve the situation over a longer time horizon.
Those girls will become mothers, and their education will translate to providing better opportunities and a more sophisticated outlook for their children.
I agree it seems sexist to only help girls, but helping anyone is good.
PLAN has low overhead, too. They don't spend fortunes on marketing. A high percentage of donations (~90% IIRC) goes to the people in need.
I learned this from PLAN Canada, but I'm sure it is the same elsewhere. I have no relation, just a fan of their work.