The Challenge
Girls born into extreme poverty lack access to education, severely limiting their futures and the development of their countries.
Our Vision
10,000 girls in school every year, learning and thriving, ultimately forming a network of highly-educated female leaders advocating for positive change in their homelands.
The Impact
Educated young women lift up themselves, their families and their communities, breaking cycles of poverty and paving the way for gender equity.
The Harsh Reality for Girls Born into Extreme Poverty
96% of girls in South Sudan never have access to high school
In regions of extreme poverty, girls face severe barriers to education: civil unrest, armed conflict, political instability, hunger, domestic violence, human trafficking, and entrenched cultural norms that marginalize females. Girls are often forced into early marriage or kept out of school to handle household chores. These interconnected obstacles create a relentless cycle of disadvantage, denying girls the opportunity to learn and grow, and trapping them in a lifetime of poverty and oppression.
A Proven Model for Real Change
Mercy Beyond Borders invests in the potential of women and girls born into extreme poverty. Since 2008, Mercy Beyond Borders has supported marginalized South Sudanese, Malawian & Haitian women and girls through primary education, high school and university scholarships, leadership training, and community volunteering. Our case management model includes home visits, skills development, counseling, and tutoring. This holistic approach strengthens our Scholars as they overcome challenges and rise up from extreme poverty.
Educating Girls Creates a Better Future for Everyone
An educated girl understands nutrition and healthcare, leading to healthier families. A child born to a literate mother is 50% more likely to survive past the age of five. She marries later, has fewer children, and will do everything in her power to put all of her children in school. Educated women are much more likely to join the workforce, and each additional year of schooling increases their earning potential by as much as 20%, driving economic growth and breaking the cycles of intergenerational poverty.
But the impact doesn't stop there. Problems in impoverished regions don't stay “over there”—they ripple across the globe. Lack of education perpetuates instability, conflict, violent extremism, outmigration, global health crises, and enduring economic disparities. Investing in girls' education isn't just a moral imperative; it's a strategic necessity for global peace, stability and prosperity. In fact, educating girls can unlock an estimated $15 to $30 trillion in economic growth for the global economy.
Mercy Beyond Borders’ graduation rates show the success of our model:
70% High School Graduation rate
Ccompared to 16% national average for girls in Haiti, 13% in Uganda, and 3% in South Sudan.
94% University graduation rate
Compared to 10% national average for girls in Haiti, 17% in Uganda, South Sudan is unknown, but certainly very very low.
Stella, MBB university graduate and civil engineer works to improve sanitation practices in her refugee settlement.
Increasing Our Impact 4X by 2035
Together, we are building a sustainable education pipeline for South Sudanese, Malawian and Haitian women & girls in East Africa, Malawi and Haiti, from primary through university. This Growth Campaign will quadruple the number of enrolled girls and enhance support services that not only keep them in school but prepare them for success.
We will replicate our effective Haitian Learning Center model in South Sudan. We will establish peer networks of highly educated alumnae advocating for positive change in their communities. A successful growth campaign means 10,000 girls in school, every year, forever, and continually increasing impact from our graduates as they promote equity for women and girls.
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Partner with 11 additional primary schools to establish a robust Scholar pipeline.
Lay the groundwork for the alumnae advocacy program in S.Sudan
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Quadruple the # of high school scholarships we award.
Open a Learning Center in South Sudan.
Establish alumnae advocacy networks in East Africa, Haiti & Malawi.
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Quadruple the # of university scholarships awarded.
Continue strengthening the alumnae advocacy program
Supported by MBB from primary school through university, Margaret became the first in her family to go beyond primary school. Today, she is a community leader, advocate against gender-based violence, and mentor to our Scholars.
Building Organizational Capacity for Strong Programs Overseas
By 2035:
A $3.7 million operating budget from diverse sources: corporations, foundations, individuals, grants, investments and estate planning.
Strong organizational capacity and effectiveness in Fiscal, Development, HR, and administration, plus annual professional development opportunities for staff globally, with continuously improving operational platforms and efficiencies.
We will have implemented our succession plan by hiring a highly-qualified Executive Director who is passionate about our mission, so that our Founder, Sr. Marilyn, can spend more time with our wonderful supporters.
A Campaign to raise $8.5 million
Education & Case-management: $6,050,000 71%
Empowering Women Change Makers: $1,250,000 15%
Organizational Development & Sustainability: $1,200,000 14%
Campaign Working Goal: $8,500,000
With your help, we’ll empower thousands of girls to stay in school, develop their leadership skills, and become the next generation of advocates for gender equity and human rights.
Will you join us in making this vision a reality? Let’s keep the conversation going!
Sr. Marilyn Lacey, Founder & Executive Director, (650) 815-1554, mlacey@mercybeyondborders.org
Lizzie Dalton, Director of Development, (575) 644-3891, lhancock@mercybeyondborders.org
Founder & Executive Director
Sr. Marilyn Lacey, RSM
Honored in-person by the Dalai Lama as an “Unsung Hero of Compassion”
Global winner of $1m Opus Prize
Author of “This Flowing Toward Me”
National Purpose Prize Fellow, AARP
Recipient of multiple honorary doctorates
Director of Development
Lizzie Dalton
BA in Communications
Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE)
Dedicated to helping girls move beyond difficult circumstances, as others have done the same for her.
