Michelle Obama is the former first lady of the United States and founder of the Girls Opportunity Alliance. Melinda Gates is co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and author of"The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World." The views expressed here are those of the authors. Read more opinion on CNN.
Today should have been a school day for 15-year-old Fortunate Ayomirwoth. But for the past five months, her school has been closed. Fortunate now spends her days at home in a small suburb of Kampala, Uganda, doing chores, caring for her four younger siblings, and hoping there will be enough food to eat. Since her mother lost her job, money has been tight -- and for Fortunate, her window of opportunity feels like it, too, is getting tighter.
Michelle Obama Melinda Gates "I miss school," she says."I miss my friends and my teachers. Sometimes I want to read at night when I'm free, but we have no electricity at home, and I cannot keep the candle burning throughout the night." Around the world, life is often more difficult for adolescent girls. During a pandemic, it can be downright dangerous.
How girls around the world are educated 01:32We believe that government, philanthropic and grassroots leaders around the world must prioritize adolescent girls in any pandemic response. History tells us that when we neglect the education and wellbeing of girls, we all suffer. Data shows it, too. Because when girls are given the chance to learn and thrive, poverty drops, economies grow, families get stronger and babies are born healthier. The world, by every measure, gets better.
Bolivia cancels school year for 2 million children due to Covid-19 01:51For instance, after the Ebola outbreak, Sierra Leone suspended tuition and testing fees for all students for two academic years. Governments should also look at solutions such as supporting cash transfer programs to reach marginalized girls and their families and enacting programs that reduce the unpaid work that adolescent girls do to take care of their families and homes.
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