LONDON, November 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Plan UK today marks the launch of its major Christmas campaign, Girls Without Voices (http://www.girlswithoutvoices.org), with new research finding that British women wish they'd taken more advantage of what the UK education system has to offer.

Further findings have also revealed that women in the UK believe their schooling has a direct link to how they are valued in society with almost three in five saying it is the key to earning respect. A further two thirds suggested that education is the defining factor in gender equality when climbing the career ladder. A huge proportion of the country (88 per cent) also cites that a good education ultimately will lead you to a happier life.

Plan's UK research launches Girls Without Voices - a campaign to encourage people to Sponsor a Girl (http://planukpromotions.org/sponsor-a-girl.html) in some of the world's poorest countries, to raise their status in their communities and to give them a better chance of going to school.

The research highlights that what is an undervalued right here in the UK, is still a dream for many young girls in the developing world. In some of the world's poorest countries, there are 43 million girls out of education.

Celebrities including Kathy Lette and Beverley Knight are keen to back this awareness campaign.

Kathy Lette, bestselling author, commented: "We need to get educated on the importance of education. It's time girls were not imminent but eminent intellectuals."

She added: "The leading cause of death for girls between 15 and 19 in the developing world is pregnancy. How to break the cycle - the menstrual cycle? Education. Education means women get treated as equals instead of sequels."

An extra year of education can increase a girls earning capacity by 10 - 20% per annum. Plan has also revealed that in Kenya alone, GBP2 billion could be added to the economy if the country educated its girls to secondary school level.

Plan UK's Chief Executive, Marie Staunton, says: "We sometimes forget how lucky we are in this country. We take it as a given that we will go to school and receive a full education. In the developing world, girls in particular, are not this lucky. By sponsoring a girl (http://www.plan-uk.org/becauseiamagirl/sponsoragirl/) in the developing world you can help remove them from a life on the sidelines, a life of missed opportunities."

Beverley Knight, singer, added: "As a nation, we need to sit up and take notice of the challenges and discriminations girls face in the developing world.

"As a Plan UK sponsor myself, I urge people to support Plan's fight for a girl's right to an education, just as hard as someone once fought for ours."

As part of the wider Because I am a Girl initiative, Plan is now calling for a global 10-point action plan which includes providing girls with a full education, better jobs, access to property and leadership opportunities.

You can show your support for the Girls Without Voices campaign by uploading a video or photo to http://www.girlswithoutvoices.org**

    
    * This survey was conducted by Opinion Matters on behalf of Plan UK. The
      sample size was 2,435 people from across the UK

    **Plan is asking you to upload a video or picture that answers the
      question 'What has your education given you?' These images and videos
      will be used to demonstrate the importance and impact of an education.

About Plan UK

Founded over 70 years ago, Plan is one of the oldest and largest children's development organisations in the world. We work in 48 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas to promote child rights and lift millions of children out of poverty. Plan works with more than 3,500,000 families and their communities each year and is independent, with no religious, political or governmental affiliations.

Plan's vision is of a world in which all children realise their full potential in societies that respect people's rights and dignity. Our work is made possible thanks to nearly 1,100,000 people in 18 donor countries who support us by sponsoring a child. An average 80% of donations go directly to support programmes benefiting children and families. Plan works in eight key areas: education, health, clean water and sanitation, child protection, economic security, emergencies, sexual health (including HIV) and child participation. http://www.plan-uk.org

About SPAG

By sponsoring a girl with Plan, you can help put a stop to child discrimination. You can help get girls into school, into a classroom where their enormous potential won't go to waste. You'll help give them a voice, ensuring they aren't condemned to a life of poverty, but have a better chance of a brighter future. Sponsoring a girl, will not only help whole communities from projects that are funded but forge a unique personal connection with her, encouraging her to work towards a better future. You can help break the cycle of discrimination and maltreatment by sponsoring a girl with Plan. You can help a child believe in a future defined by her skills and ambitions, not her sex. For more information visit http://www.sponsoragirl.org

For more information, case studies, quotes and images contact Sophie Brown or Eyndia Gopal at Chocolate Communications on +44(0)208-322-1922 / +44(0)7966-503-592 or email planuk@chocolatecom.co.uk