Merck Foundation Educating Linda Program

Merck Foundation launched 'Educating Linda' in 2019 to help young girls who are unprivileged but brilliant to continue their education. The spirit of the program is to provide an opportunity to such girls to pursue their dreams and reach their potential through access to education. It has been seen that many girls drop out of school due to lack of necessities such as fees and uniform.

Merck Foundation strongly believes that Education is one of the most critical areas of women empowerment. It is also an area that represents some of the distinct examples of discrimination women suffer. As evident in UNICEF’s declaration that in Africa, among children not attending school there are twice as many girls as boys, and among illiterate adults there are twice as many women as men. Girls’ education is not a luxury.

Studies show that, in areas where there is high poverty and decades of conflict, girls face enormous challenges that limit their ability to get the education they deserve.

A few of these challenges include:

• Girls face pressure to fulfill traditional roles as housekeepers and mothers rather than go to school.
• High bride prices are set for girls who are ‘kept safe’ at home.
• Early and forced marriages increases when poor families need the bride price.
• Limited available money for education is typically invested in boys and men.
• Harmful practices, such as Female Genital Mutilation, are still being practiced in many African countries.
• Schools do not provide proper facilities, including sanitation facilities, for girls.
• Girls are at risk of sexual assault on the way to school, or from male peers or teachers
• Continued rape and assault of girls in areas of armed conflict.

When Girls are educated, their countries become more powerful, stronger & prosperous. There is a need for more support as there are many brilliant girls who are struggling financially and socially to meet their educational needs.

Through Merck Foundation "Educating Linda" program in partnership with African First Ladies, more than 1,500 annual scholarships are awarded to African schoolgirls from 21 countries, covering school fees and other essential educational expenses, including books, uniforms  and transport, enabling them to complete their education and reach their full potential.

The scholarships span several African countries, including Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, among others.

In addition, the program provides essential school supplies to thousands of schoolgirls across several African and Asian countries.

Merck Foundation has also initiated “Educating Lindo” program, inspired by the “Educating Linda” program, to extend scholarships to high-performing but underprivileged schoolboys, enabling them to continue their education, pursue their dreams, and stay away from harmful practices such as drugs. 

Enjoy Reading Storybooks:

EDUCATING LINDA
Read Book English | French | Portuguese

JACKLINE'S RESCUE
Read Book English | French | Portuguese

A RIDE INTO THE FUTURE
Read Book English | French | Portuguese