Around the world, women and girls are stuck in poverty because of gender biases. And one of the biggest biases is in education. But thanks to Holt donors and sponsors, girls around the world are going to school, breaking down barriers and being empowered to pursue their dreams.

In honor of International Women's Day, let's celebrate these girls who are working to #BreakTheBias and go to school.

Nigat's Foundation of Education

Seven-year-old Nigat reads numbers off a chalkboard with ease – a task she could not do before Holt donors made it possible for her to attend an early childhood care and development program in rural Ethiopia. This program provides preschool education to orphaned and vulnerable children, developing readiness for school. Now a first-grader, Nigat quickly reads words in English, confidently performs basic math skills and loves to answer questions. One day, she hopes to become a teacher.