The Complete Toolkit

So, what is
Let Girls Learn?
Let Girls Learn is a U.S. government initiative launched by the President and First Lady that helps adolescent girls attain a quality

education and enables them to reach their full potential. Educating girls is essential to healthy and thriving communities but, globally,

62 million girls are not in school, and barriers to adolescent girls completing school are particularly significant.

As part of the initiative, the Peace Corps Let Girls Learn Program encourages community-led solutions by empowering local leaders

to put lasting solutions in place. Peace Corps Volunteers who live and work at the grassroots level serve as catalysts of change, and

every American can get involved and make a difference.

As of March 2016, the Peace Corps Let Girls Learn program has expanded to 35 countries, including: Albania, Armenia, Benin,

Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Jamaica,

Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Moldova, Mongolia, Mozambique, Panama, Peru, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa,

Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Vanuatu and Zambia.

Last year, over 85,000 girls and young women around the world participated in youth clubs and camps led by Peace Corps

Volunteers.

More than 2,000 Peace Corps Volunteers led girls’ education and empowerment activities in over 60 countries last year.

In the last two years, 1,400 Peace Corps Volunteers, staff, and host country counterparts have been trained to respond to gender-

based violence that prevents girls from learning in school and, in some cases, from attending school at all.
A Call to Action
How to Help
Are you a student or a teacher? A mom or a dad? You can help.

By hosting an event in your community—through your school, club, house of worship, or just with friends—you can raise funds to

support girls’ education around the world. Remember that 100 percent of your donation goes to support community training and

Volunteer projects, and local communities pave the way by contributing at least 25 percent on their own!

Here are some ideas for individuals, groups, returned Peace Corps Volunteers, and other grassroots fundraisers to get involved and

make a difference. Host one or more of these events in your community, and contribute the proceeds to the Peace Corps Let Girls

Learn Fund to support girls’ education around the world.

Donations can be made at [Link]

 Sample Fundraising Ideas
Hold a silent auction or raffle Start one penny at a time
Ask community members to donate items to be Compete against other classrooms at your school or floors

auctioned or raffled off. Participants can bid on in your office building for a penny challenge. Each team

specific items, or purchase tickets for a chance gets a large container to fill with bills and coins. The lowest

to win. score wins, so fill your own container with pennies and your
competitors’ containers with dollar bills!

Host a bake sale or book sale

Ask friends to help you bake treats or donate their gently Host a talent show, concert
used books, then sell those items to members of your or battle of the bands
community. Invite local musicians, comedians, or other

performers to share the stage and collect

Have a car wash admission fees to support the cause.

A car wash is a low-cost, community event

where all you need is a few volunteers willing to Look who’s coming to dinner
wash their way to making a difference. Host a fundraising dinner where each guest makes a

donation and brings a dish—each dish can represent a

Organize a walkathon or fun run different country around the world.

Participants collect pledges for walking or running a

specific distance. Share your special day

Instead of gifts for a birthday, wedding, or

Lead a triva competition or quiz night other occasion, ask friends and family make a

contribution to Let Girls Learn.

Small teams compete to answer questions, and

make a donation as an entry fee.

How to use this toolkit Contents

This toolkit provides everything you need to host an event in Postcard

support of the Peace Corps Let Girls Learn program. Your hard
work will make a difference for girls around the world.
FAQ Brochure
Event Flier
Wallet Card
Whether you want to raise funds to support girls’ education and empowerment or

raise awareness about this important issue in your community, you can customize this
Name Tags
toolkit to work for you. Event Signage
The toolkit includes a postcard to mail to family and friends, a brochure with more PowerPoint
information about Let Girls Learn, a flier to advertise your event, information cards to Thank-You Cards
share with your guests, templates for name tags and event signs, and thank-you cards

to show your appreciation to those who support Let Girls Learn.

For more information, visit [Link]/letgirlslearn. To make a financial

contribution, please visit [Link]. Thank you for your support of Let

Girls Learn!

Donations can be made at [Link]

Postcard

Description & Usage Printing & Trimming

This postcard is an overview of the Let Girls Learn program. Print the postcard in color, double-sided. Then cut along the

Use it as a handout or a leave-behind at an event to dotted lines. Or have your local printer or copy shop print

spread the word to your friends and family. It’s also a great and trim them!

reference to look over to be able to answer questions and

start discussions about Let Girls Learn!

Educating and Empowering Girls Educating and Empowering Girls
The White House The White House
and the Peace Corps have come and the Peace Corps have come
together to launch Let Girls Learn, an initiative that together to launch Let Girls Learn, an initiative that
empowers girls and addresses barriers to girls’ education empowers girls and addresses barriers to girls’ education
around the world. The goal is to increase girls’ enrollment around the world. The goal is to increase girls’ enrollment
in school in targeted countries, and help them stay in in school in targeted countries, and help them stay in
school. school.
When a girl receives an education, she is more likely to When a girl receives an education, she is more likely to
earn a viable living, raise a healthy family, and improve the earn a viable living, raise a healthy family, and improve the
quality of life for herself, her family, and her community. Yet, quality of life for herself, her family, and her community. Yet,
62 million girls worldwide are not in school; half of those 62 million girls worldwide are not in school; half of those
not in school are adolescent girls. not in school are adolescent girls.
For more information, visit [Link]/letgirlslearn For more information, visit [Link]/letgirlslearn
 Peace Corps Volunteers, who live and work at the grassroots Peace Corps Volunteers, who live and work at the grassroots
level, are catalysts for community-led change. They work level, are catalysts for community-led change. They work
closely with local leaders and change-makers in their closely with local leaders and change-makers in their
communities to implement long-lasting grassroots projects communities to implement long-lasting grassroots projects
that meet local needs. that meet local needs.
Here’s what the Peace Corps Here’s what the Peace Corps
is doing to advance girls’ education: is doing to advance girls’ education:
1. Training Volunteers and local community 1. Training Volunteers and local community
leaders to be champions of girls’ education leaders to be champions of girls’ education
2. Building support among Americans for community- 2. Building support among Americans for community-
based solutions abroad through the Peace Corps based solutions abroad through the Peace Corps
Partnership Program and the Let Girls Learn Fund Partnership Program and the Let Girls Learn Fund
3. Expanding the number of Volunteers focused 3. Expanding the number of Volunteers focused
on advancing girls’ education and empowerment on advancing girls’ education and empowerment
For more information, visit [Link]/letgirlslearn For more information, visit [Link]/letgirlslearn
FAQ Brochure

Description & Usage Printing & Trimming

This brochure answers frequently asked questions about Print the brochure in color, double-sided. No trimming

the Let Girls Learn initiative. Use it as a handout or a leave- needed, just fold along the dotted lines to create your tri-

behind at an event to give your friends and family more fold brochure.

information. It’s also a great reference to look over to be able

to answer questions and start discussions about Let Girls

Learn!

Folded flier
Q: What is Let Girls Learn? girls and young women around the world participated related projects through the Peace Corps Partnership
in youth clubs and camps led by Peace Corps Program, and support for training to help Volunteers
A: Let Girls Learn is a program that addresses barriers
Volunteers. More than 1,400 Peace Corps Volunteers, address the challenges girls face in their communities
to girls’ education around the world by seeking to
staff, and host country counterparts were trained and other Let Girls Learn priorities.
increase girls’ enrollment in and completion of school.
to respond to gender-based violence that prevents
girls from learning in school and, in some cases,
Q: What is the Peace Corps
Q: Why does this matter? from attending school at all. Through Let Girls Learn,
Partnership Program?
the impact and reach of Peace Corps Volunteers is
A: When a girl receives an education, she is more A: The Peace Corps Partnership Program connects
continuing to grow.
likely to earn a viable living, raise a healthy family, and Volunteers and their communities with members of
improve the quality of life for herself, her family, and the public and private sector in the U.S. and around
her community. Yet, 62 million girls worldwide are the world to fund community-initiated, sustainable
not in school, and half of them are adolescent girls. grassroots projects.
Countries with higher levels of female secondary-
Volunteers submit proposals to the Partnership
school enrollment have lower maternal mortality rates,
Program to obtain financial assistance for community
lower infant mortality rates, lower birth rates, lower
projects. To receive funding, the local community must
rates of HIV/AIDS, and better child nutrition. Every
make a 25 percent contribution to the project, which
year of schooling increases a girl’s individual earning
helps ensure community ownership and promotes
power by 10–20 percent. Each extra year of a mother’s
long-term sustainability. As of June 2016, the Let
secondary schooling reduces the probability of infant
Girls Learn Fund has supported over 200 projects in
mortality by 5–10 percent.
Q: If I donate money as an 35 countries, touching the lives of X millions people
individual or an organization, around the world.
Q: Why the Peace Corps? where will it go?
A: Peace Corps Volunteers, who live and work at
A: Individuals, groups, and organizations who want to
the grassroots level, have served as catalysts of
community-led change in the countries where they
support the Peace Corps Let Girls Learn efforts can do Q: How else can I help?
so at [Link]. Donors can contribute
serve for more than half a century. And when it A: Visit [Link]/letgirlslearn to learn more
to the Peace Corps Let Girls Learn Fund, and can
comes to girls’ education and empowerment, they about girls’ education and get involved.
also browse specific Volunteer projects by country
have an established track record as a driving force for Email letgirlslearn@[Link] for more
and subject area. Donations to the Peace Corps Let
progress. information.
Girls Learn Fund support Volunteers working to break
In the past year, more than 2,000 Peace Corps down barriers to girls’ education in the communities
Volunteers led girls’ education and empowerment they serve, including support of specific Volunteers
activities in over 60 countries, and more than 85,000 working side-by-side with local leaders on gender-
Join Us
We invite you to donate to the Peace Corps Let Girls
Learn Fund in support of this exciting effort. Contact the
Peace Corps Office of Gifts and Grants Management to
learn more about how your gift will impact girls’ education
worldwide: 202.692.2170 or donate@[Link].
Further Resources
Browse the links below to find out
more about how we’re all working
together to Let Girls Learn
Donate Now
[Link]
Learn more about
Peace Corps’ Program:
[Link]/letgirlslearn
Learn more about
FAQs
the U.S. government initiative:
[Link]
Check out the answers to some of the most frequently
asked questions about the Let Girls Learn program.
Event Flier

Description & Usage Printing & Trimming

Use this flier to promote your event. Hand it out or post Print the flier in color, double-sided. Cut it down the middle

it on corkboards, at community centers, or places where dotted line, and you’ll have two fliers per page. It can also be

interested people might see it. printed blank and filled in by hand.

Example flier
Place info about the event here Place info about the event here
Place a brief descripition Place a brief descripition
of the event here of the event here
Place Location Info Here Place Location Info Here
Place Date and time Info Here Place Date and time Info Here
Place Contact Info Here Place Contact Info Here
Wallet Cards

Description & Usage Printing & Trimming

These small handouts are simple, direct, and easy to carry Print the cards in color, double-sided. They are designed

in a wallet. They inform people where they can go to to work with standard business card templates available at

contribute or to learn more about Let Girls Learn. office supply stores. If you don’t have perforated business

card paper, just print and trim along the dotted lines.
LEARN
MORE
at [Link]/letgirlslearn
GIVE
at [Link]

LEARN
MORE
at [Link]/letgirlslearn
GIVE
at [Link]

LEARN
MORE
at [Link]/letgirlslearn
GIVE
at [Link]

LEARN
MORE
at [Link]/letgirlslearn
GIVE
at [Link]
Name Tags

Description & Usage Printing & Trimming

Name tags make it easy for people to introduce themselves Print name tags in color, single-sided. They will fit standard

and recognize the people helping with the event. Be sure to name tag templates available at office supply stores, or just

encourage everyone involved to wear one! print and trim along the dotted line. (They fit into standard

name tag holders, but could also be printed on stickers, or

pinned on a shirt.)
HELLO
my name is
HELLO
my name is

HELLO
my name is
HELLO
my name is

HELLO
my name is
HELLO
my name is
 Event Signage

Description & Usage Printing & Trimming

Signs help direct event-goers to your correct location. There are two sign options: horizontal and vertical. Feel free

The sign template has an empty field for you to fill in. For to fill in as needed, and print in color, single-sided.

example, you could write “Registration” to use on or near a

table where people register. Other examples are “Snacks,”

“Beverages,” “Raffle,” or whatever is appropriate for your

event.

Example signs

Sign-In
Booth Snack
Table
PowerPoint

Description & Usage Link

Use this PowerPoint file to create a presentation for your [Link]

event. Click on the link at right, download the file to your Powerpoint_05212015_sm.[Link]

computer, then add information about your event. Use it

during your event for a polished presentation.

Thank-You Cards

Description & Usage Printing & Trimming

Thank-you cards can be given to contributors at any level. Print the cards in color, single-sided. Then trim along the

The front message thanks them for helping the Let Girls dotted lines. (The back will be blank for a personal touch!)

Learn mission, and the blank back allows you to write a

personal note specifying how they helped!

Thank you for making a difference for girls around the world! Thank you for making a difference for girls around the world!
Thank you for making a difference for girls around the world! Thank you for making a difference for girls around the world!
The Peace Corps
Let Girls Learn Program
Three Pillars

Empowering Leaders

Working Hand in Hand

with Communities

Increasing the Impact of

Peace Corps Volunteers
 Empowering Leaders
The Peace Corps Let Girls Learn program will help promote girls’ empowerment and
increase gender awareness by delivering targeted trainings to thousands of Volunteers
and tens of thousands of community leaders over the next five years to be champions of
girls’ education.

Peace Corps Volunteer Sam Ginty couldn’t help but notice

that the girls in his community in Benin dropped out of school

at a higher rate than the boys. An Education Volunteer in

a secondary school, Sam saw that girls sometimes faced

harassment in the classroom and felt discouraged from learning.

But he also saw their interest in learning and their potential

and wanted to make sure the girls felt empowered to stay in

school and continue learning. There were other teachers in his

community who wanted to make a difference for girls, too.

As a first step, Sam and his community members designed

a teacher training focused on student-centered learning and

gender equality, with funding from the Peace Corps Partnership

Program. This intensive two-day training would give teachers a chance to learn lesson planning and classroom management

techniques that would help all students feel more engaged. It would also provide specific ways that teachers could help increase

gender equality and prevent gender-based harassment in their classrooms. With these new concepts, teachers could help make sure
the girls in their classrooms felt welcome and inspired to stay in school.

When the first day of the training arrived, Sam and the organizers were overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of the 18 teachers who

attended. They were engaged throughout the two days, participating in hands-on activities and thoughtful discussions. And the

teachers felt energized by the opportunity to focus on their own professional development. Since the training, the teachers said they

have applied what they learned in their own classrooms and have shared techniques with fellow teachers in their schools who could

not attend.

“An important lesson learned is that teachers are very interested in attending trainings but are not often given the opportunity,” Sam

said. Projects like this help give teachers the tools they need to make their classrooms safe spaces for girls and ensure they have the

same chance as boys to learn and stay in school.

With increased focus on breaking down barriers to girls’ education and training local leadership in gender equality, Peace Corps

Volunteers like Sam will be able to make an even bigger, more sustainable difference in the lives of young women around the world.
 Working Hand in Hand
with Communities
Thousands of Peace Corps Volunteers work side by side with local leaders to achieve
community-based solutions through the Peace Corps Partnership Program, which
connects Peace Corps Volunteers and their communities with the private sector
in the U.S. to fund small, sustainable, grassroots projects. From a school library to
a technology camp for girls, Peace Corps Volunteers working on gender-related
projects can now apply for support through the Let Girls Learn Fund.

When Peace Corps Volunteer Jennifer Jiggetts began teaching

at a primary school in Lesotho, her fellow educators noted how

the students, many of whom were orphans, had to trek half a

mile up the mountain to get water from the springs. Instead

of studying, they spent hours to get water. Because getting

water is considered women’s work in Lesotho, the girls’ trek

directly impacted their learning. If they had a water pump by the

school where they could fill their water bottles, they’d be able to

dedicate more time to their studies.

With this incentive and Jennifer’s background in craftmaking, she and her students created a jewelry-making business to raise

money to purchase a pump. Their contributions helped buy the pump, which was funded with additional support from the Peace

Corps Partnership Program, a program where anyone can support grassroots projects designed and implemented by Peace Corps

Volunteers and members of their communities.

Her students made beads from clay, then made bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and bookmarks, as well as jewelry from other locally

available resources, including safety pins and seshoeshoe—Lesotho’s national fabric. Together, Jennifer, fellow teachers, and her

students used social media and the Internet to promote and sell the jewelry, as well as selling it at local markets.

In addition to learning a craft, Jennifer’s students learned to start and run a business: how to write a business plan, open a bank

account, balance a budget, and market and sell products. They learned to set goals, apply for a grant, and design and manage a

project. More than that, they learned to use the skills and tools they already had to develop new skills, building their self-confidence

to take their futures in their own hands.

After almost two years, the students raised enough to install the water pump. Their next goal? They’d like to raise money to build a

better classroom.

With access to funding specifically dedicated to girls’ education and empowerment projects through the Peace Corps Partnership

Program, Peace Corps Volunteers like Jennifer will be able to make an even bigger, more sustainable difference in the lives of young

women around the world.

 Increasing the Impact
of the Peace Corps Volunteers
A major component of the program will support Peace Corps Volunteers working
to break down barriers to girls’ education in the communities they serve. Under
Let Girls Learn, the Peace Corps will expand the number of Volunteers focused on
advancing girls’ education and empowerment, and will engage returned Peace Corps
Voluneers in support of this program.

When Peace Corps Volunteer Danielle Carrillo took a group of

students to a girls’ leadership camp last year in her province in

Cambodia, they came home with a challenge: to implement a

project in their community. Their idea? To address a local public

health problem by building a bathroom for the local primary

school, which didn’t have one.

The girls, who attended a Girls Leading Our World—GLOW—

Camp, got to work quickly. Danielle helped the girls write a

grant proposal, using the Peace Corps Partnership Program,

and the girls committed themselves to asking community

members for contributions and to each lead two hand-washing

and hygiene lessons for their fellow students.

After construction on the bathroom finished, and the girls worked steadily to deliver their message of hand-washing and hygiene,

using glitter to demonstrate how germs are spread and how to use soap to wash “germs” off.

For her part, Danielle is organizing this year’s Camp GLOW in her province, and plans to lead sessions on gender roles, life skills, and

leadership.

“I think that Camp GLOW truly empowers the girls who attend,” Danielle said. “Since camp last year, I have seen real changes in their

attitudes toward themselves and in their perspective of their futures. Their confidence has been boosted and they are so much more

excited for the possibilities life has to offer. My community members and students are very excited to do it again this year.”

At the end of the camp, Danielle, her community members, and the girls will bring their new skills and knowledge back

to their villages and empower even more young women. With increased focus on girls’ education, Peace Corps Volunteers like

Danielle will be able to make an even bigger, more sustainable difference in the lives of young women around the world.

Donations can be made at [Link]

Thank You for
Your Support! Further Resources

Browse the links below to

The Let Girls Learn program needs the support of Americans from all walks of life
find out more about how
who share the belief that every girl’s education matters. The Let Girls Learn Fund
will support Peace Corps Volunteers working alongside local leaders to break down
we’re all working together
barriers to education in their communities. If you join us by making a donation to to Let Girls Learn
the Let Girls Learn Fund, your contribution will reach those in need and make a
difference. Most importantly, 100 percent of your donation to the Let Girls Learn
Fund directly supports Volunteer projects and community training around the world.
Donate Now
[Link]

Please tell us how you used this toolkit by emailing

Learn more about
letgirlslearn@[Link].
Peace Corps’ Program:
[Link]/letgirlslearn

Learn more about

the U.S. government
initiative:
[Link]

For more information, visit [Link]/letgirlslearn