Students and supporters around the world are getting creative to turn passion into action for girls’ education — and you can too.
At a time of year when our attention is pulled towards endless shopping and gift wishlists, Giving Tuesday offers a moment for us to pause, reflect and support the causes that matter to us.
Fundraising can sometimes feel overwhelming. It’s not always clear which methods will work best for your community. The good news? Students and supporters around the world are proving there’s no single “right” way to fundraise. With creativity and passion, they’re finding fresh approaches to support girls’ education.
Here are five inspiring ideas you can borrow:
1. Use your art
Why not turn your creativity into action? Theatre groups, painters and performers alike have used their talents to spark change. In the U.K., the Young Oxted Players staged “Blue Stockings” — a play written by Jessica Swale, dedicated to Malala and focused on women’s access to education — and raised £1,000 for Malala Fund by collecting donations after each show.
2. Create crafts for change
Handmade goods don’t just bring joy — they can also raise funds. After learning about the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals and the gender gap in education access, American student Ella Ross, who lives in Tianjin, China, founded her social enterprise MMiRi at age 12. MMiRi sells handmade, eco-friendly products like all-natural lip balms and soaps. Now 17, Ella partners with Malala Fund and has raised more than 5,000 RMB for girls’ education, proving that even small-scale projects can have a big impact.
3. Organise a community run (or walk!)
Movement brings people together — and people can move mountains for a cause. Every year, students at the Institut d’optique Graduate School in France organise a Cross Solidaire run. This year, students Jeanne Duboeuf and Nora Longeville led the planning and raised more than €1,000 for Malala Fund. Their effort also spotlighted gender inequality in STEM, showing how sports and solidarity go hand-in-hand.
4. Turn a school project into a community tradition
What starts as homework can spark lasting change. For her eighth grade civics project, 14-year-old Massachusetts student Emmalyn Pereira hosted “She Did It, You Can Too,” a community event with local vendors, guest speakers and raffles. She raised nearly $800 for Malala Fund and is already planning to make it an annual fundraiser. When asked why Malala Fund, Emmalyn said that it’s important for her to support education, particularly in regions where girls’ access to school is limited.
5. Take on a physical challenge
If you’re up for a big adventure, why not dedicate it to an issue you care about? Friends Sanne Simons and Anke Van Esch pushed themselves through the gruelling seven-day, 250 km Marathon des Sables Ultramarathon in the Sahara Desert. With every step, they rallied friends and family to give, raising over €7,000 for girls’ education. What’s more — they placed top 20 amongst female finishers.
When asked about what inspired them, Sanne and Anke highlighted the impact education had on them — “Education gave us a foundation to build on, opening up opportunities and granting us meaningful independence.”
When students take action to support the causes they care about, they’re actively building a better world.
These student and women-led fundraisers for Malala Fund remind us that meaningful change often starts with people — like you — using the platforms and resources you have to make a difference. We hope these real-life fundraisers inspire you to find creative ways to raise money for causes you care about on Giving Tuesday. But as impressive as the students we shared about are, you don’t need to run an ultramarathon or put on a play to make an impact. Simple ideas can work too! For example, you could use any platform you have — whether that’s a social media account, school club or podcast — to share stories, raise awareness and invite donations.
Start small, use what you love and invite your community to join you. Together, your creativity can help create a world where girls everywhere can learn, without restrictions.
👉 Ready to get started? Reach out to us at giving@malalafund.org to learn more.
