After drought destroyed Layla’s family livelihood and forced them to leave home, Layla struggled to access education. Layla never stopped dreaming of going to school. When neighbours told the family about a nearby school where she could enrol through a free scholarship programme for girls, she seized the opportunity. For families facing financial hardship, scholarships can make the difference between girls staying at home and entering the classroom. Scholarships alone cannot remove every barrier to girls’ education. The GPE-funded programme takes a comprehensive approach, combining scholarships with capitation grants for public schools, menstrual hygiene management, new school construction, improved water and sanitation facilities, and community engagement.