Monthly Archives: June 2012

Best Part of S.H.E. Summit Week: Creating a Personal Manifesto

Last week, with the She’s the First Press Committee, I attended a panel entitled “Branding: Yourself, Your Business and Your Causes,”  hosted by Step Up Women’s Network and ClaudiaChan.com as part of S.H.E. Summit Week. The panel consisted of four fantastic women–MTV/Viacom’s Cheryl J. Family, Style for Hire CEO Cindy McLaughlin, Sony’s Carolyn Williams, and @DKNY’s Aliza Licht–and was moderated by style personality Tai Beachamp. It was standing room only and completely inspiring.

The evening’s discussion focused primarily on personal branding, for which I was very grateful as I am currently navigating a career change and trying, on a daily basis, to figure out what my purpose is. The idea of a personal manifesto was mentioned several times. The panel agreed that when it comes to branding yourself it is important to have a clear idea of your own personal mission statement, and to be able to effectively communicate that to your peers/clients/the world. This got me thinking about what my manifesto might be, but before I could figure that out I needed a clearer idea of what a manifesto is…

As defined by Merriam-Webster

Manifesto comes from the latin word “manifest,” meaning “to reveal.” A manifesto reveals your intent. Some famous manifestos include:

  • The Ten Commandments
  • The Declaration of Independence
  • The Communist Manifesto
  • “I Have a Dream” Speech
  • JFK’s “Man on the Moon” Address
  • The Hacker Manifesto

I thought that reading a few others might stir up some inspiration for me to come up with my own…

The Holstee Manifesto

Architect Frank Lloyd Wright's "Fellowship Assets" written to guide his apprentices

The Women in Business Manifesto

Apple's Manifesto, as written by COO Tim Cook in 2009 when Steve Jobs went on medical leave

Lululemon's Manifesto

Continue reading →

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Landslides Occur in Bududa District, Uganda

This morning, we woke up to news of landslides in Bududa district, Uganda, where our partner school Arlington Academy of Hope is located. Right now, sources are confirming around eighteen dead, but the death toll could be as many as 450. Luckily, the school itself was spared; but we (like many) are awaiting details on the many people who lived in the surrounding areas.

We’re working with Arlington Academy of Hope to discuss an emergency relief plan; please check back soon if you’re looking to help them through this crisis.

For up to date information on the landslides, click here.

[Update, 10:18 a.m.] The Wall Street Journal is reporting a confirmed death toll of 30; 250 unaccounted for. If the heavy rain continues, up to 400,000 may be displaced. Story here.

[Update, 10:43 a.m.] The volunteer coordinator at AAH is reporting: “None of the primary school students were killed, injured, or missing to the best of [her] knowledge. The children were at the school for a music festival when the landslide occurred. At this point, with preliminary information only, two children have lost their families. We are not sure about any secondary school students or their families at this time. It is unlikely that any secondary students were involved as they were away at their schools.”

AAH reports they will likely be organizing a drive for donations soon, once they have more information from their team on the ground, as local refugees will need kerosene, food, and tent materials. We will update you on those efforts as soon as possible.

 

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Girls’ Education a Major Challenge in Pakistan & More

 

Girls’ Education a State of Emergency in Rural Pakistan
Girls’ education in rural Pakistan has seen very modest improvements over the past several years. Access to quality education varies significantly throughout the country. with rural areas being particularly bad due to the high demands and restrictions on girls. They’re expected to marry young and have many children. Most girls are raised to serve their families and then go on to serve their husbands. To make matters worse, cultural norms prevent girls from studying alongside boys. According to the World Bank, only 22 percent of girls in rural areas have completed primary school. Even more, just 34 percent of females in rural areas are literate. One woman, Geytee Ara, has made it her mission in life to help educate girls in Pakistan. She opened a school that serves over 60 students, with equal numbers of boys and girls. Read more details here.

Learning Circles in Rwanda Discuss Challenges for Girls
A two-day training was recently held in Rwanda to discuss the efforts needed to tackle the challenges girls are facing in the Nyamagabe and Huye Districts of the Southern Province of Rwanda. The training, referred to as learning circles, was an opportunity for 20 people from a variety of NGOs to come together to share their experiences and find solutions to existing problems. Read more here.

First Saudi Women Will Compete in Olympics
For the first time in history, Saudi women will be allowed to compete in the Olympic Games. Before this landmark decision Saudi Arabia was the only major nation to ban female athletes from its national Olympic team. This marks a rare advancement for women in Saudi Arabia, who are not even allowed to hold a driver’s license. Fortunately one woman, show-jumper Dalma Rushdi Malhas, is trained and ready to compete. Read it here.

Female Entrepreneurs Propel Growth in Emerging Countries
Women entrepreneurs and small-business owners are being recognized as one of the main drivers of growth in emerging countries. In fact, by the end of 2010 there were 187 million women worldwide who launched and ran businesses. India in particular has seen an incredible amount of economic success over the past several years, much in part to its growing number of female entrepreneurs. To read the stories of three women who started their own business in India go here.

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Help Us Welcome the Girls of the Magic Bus Foundation in Mumbai!

Did you follow Christen and Kate’s journey to Shanti Bhavan, our partner school in India & wish you could travel there, too?

Do you want to find a meaningful way to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Title IX,  the law that ended gender discrimination in U.S. sports?

Here’s what we suggest: Join us on June 25, 30, or July 2nd to meet a group of girls visiting NYC from Mumbai–the city that houses the impoverished slum where Slumdog Millionaire took place, if you saw that movie–with an organization called Magic Bus. They tweeted us a very exciting, free, and inspiring invitation!

 

The Magic Bus Foundation is a non-profit built on mentorship — they empower children and communities to break the poverty cycle by promoting education, health, gender equality, and leadership. Soccer is one way in which they achieve the mission. (We already know this is a smart idea, because of very own  She’s the First*{Notre Dame} star Lindsay Brown‘s project which landed her a spot among Seventeen‘s Pretty Amazing Reader Cover contest finalists).

The U.S. General Manager, Rahul, reached out to @shesthefirst after meeting with our friends over at @10x10act. Social media continues to work magic for us!

Magic Bus is now working in Bangalore, where Shanti Bhavan is located! We can’t wait to see where this partnership will lead, but in the meantime let’s give these girls a NYC visit they will never forget.

Join us and meet the girls (Tickets are FREE!, just RSVP):

  • Monday, June 25th: Meet the girls at a reception in The Fuller Building, 595 Madison Avenue, Suite 900
  • Saturday, June 30th: Cheer the girls on at their soccer game at Pier 40
  • Monday, July 2nd: Help the girls take over the Today Show Plaza & grab Al Roker’s attention on national TV at 30 Rock!

To learn more visit www.magicbus.org and tweet us or @magicbus_usa if you plan on coming!

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She’s the First*{Michigan}

University of Michigan

Meaghan O'Connor & Julia Porth

Location: Ann Arbor, MI

Founded: Spring 2012

@STF_Michigan

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League of Extraordinary Women: Let’s Take Action!

Editor-in-chief Bob Safian wrote a hand-written note! Thank you, @RSafian.

We have some news that will rock your Twitterverse this morning…She’s the First was named to Fast Company‘s League of Extraordinary Women! I am sure you realize that what She’s the First is today is more than I ever initially dreamed it would or could be…and that’s because of YOU, our donors and key players on our volunteer team. Among them, Christen Brandt, Director of International Operations; Cynthia Hellen, co-founder of our GIRLS WHO ROCK fundraiser; our first-ever Chairwoman Karen Karpowich and Board Directors; the founders and directors of our partner schools (my true heroes)…and countless others.

This high-profile recognition of She’s the First pushes me, our first full-time employee as of this May, to work even harder to be worthy of keeping company with Hilary Clinton, Oprah, and First Lady Michelle Obama…and especially the woman who created the Girl Effect, Maria Eitel of Nike, seen on the cover of Fast Company. (Read the bottom of this post to see why this brings us full circle!).

Our listing among Fast Company‘s “Heroic Projects” proves a bunch of ordinary people, including myself, can join forces and together make an impact that is truly extraordinary. Now let’s show what more our Millennial social media muscles can do!

  • Tweet: We can make this issue dedicated to women leaders and girls’ global welfare the best-selling, most-shared story package of the YEAR. Fast Company and editor Bob Safian have asked us to tweet with hashtag #ImWithTheLeague. You, yes YOU, are with the League if you support She’s the First! So get tweeting, because this is what we do best!

 

The @AAHUganda girls in print!

  • Take Action: You will notice that the photo on page 87 of Fast Company is of girls from our partner school in Uganda, the Arlington Academy of Hope. I ask that you contribute to a summer fundraising campaign to sponsor girls at AAH, right here on the From NYC to AAH page started by our teammate Carla Blumenthal. She and her roommates, Taylor and Allison, are taking a self-funded trip to the school on July 20 and want to sponsor 20 girls along the way!

 

I’m enthralled looking ahead to the future of She’s the First! But I couldn’t help but look back to the past: I dug up the very first time I ever put She’s the First in writing, to Christen Brandt in a Facebook message, dated May 13, 2009, when I was 23-years-old. Christen, thank you for not being overwhelmed. :)

At the MCF Academy we’re building in Liberia, I want to launch a program that teaches everything you described should be stressed. I had the idea of creating a campaign – so it could be applied globally, like the Girl Effect (thegirleffect.org) – called She’s the First. Fitting to launch in Liberia, since it’s the nation of Africa’s first female president. I outlined the mission of it below, if you’re interested in learning more…now I’m just figuring out how to create a video PSA that could virally get the awareness out there…I want to put a dream team of young people (like you!) together to create this…

..oh my gosh, just got an idea!! I’m going to flesh it out then can we talk soon? i would love to include you in this…and other NYWICI girls I’ve met recently who speak to the same goals/beliefs. Where are you living now? p.s. I’ve never been to DC and would love to visit you there this summer on a weekend!

ok, here’s the She’s the First thoughts (I bought shesthefirst.org too!) hope this isn’t too overwhelming!

Mission:

Empower girls from third world and underserved communities to break cultural and economic barriers. Give them the skills, awareness, and education to realize a dream, even if it has never been done before in their family or world history. Inspire girls to give back to younger “sisters,” so that as the first to achieve something, they also are not the last.

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Educated Girls Mean Better Families in Sierra Leone & More

 

 

 

More Girls in School Means Better Families and Communities in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone’s president Earnest Bai Koroma recently reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to education at the official launching of the first national school census report in Freetown. He said that quality and affordable education is among the top five priorities for his government, especially when it comes to girls. He acknowledged that the dropout rate among girls is a big challenge, but one that must be overcome. “Let us all continue to raise the awareness that more girls in schools mean better families, better communities and a better nation.” Read more here.

Progress Still Needed for the Health of Women and Children

The number of maternal and child deaths in developing countries has declined over the past several years, but a recent report shows much more must be done in order to save lives. Despite the fact that more than 95 percent of child and maternal deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa, there are countries in the region that have made progress. Malawi, Rwanda, and Tanzania have all seen a rate of decline that was on average 5 percent or more each year between 2000 and 2010. Much more work must be done in order to support women’s and children’s health, including greater access to contraceptives, more trained midwives, prevention of infectious diseases and stronger education. Read more here.

China Sends First Woman into Space

China has just launched a rocket into space carrying its first ever female astronaut. Thirty-three year old Liu Yang will join two men as they work toward building a large, permanent space station by 2020. Read all the details here.

Disabled Children Face Education Barriers in Southern Africa

A five nation study on the state of special needs education in southern African shows a grim situation for children with disabilities. The study shows the region is a long way from being able to provide decent education of any sort for most children with special needs. One of the problems centers around the lack of adequately trained teachers, especially those that are trained to deal with the stigma and negative attitude toward children with disabilities. Unfortunately, disabled children are still viewed as a curse on the family and community in many places, so many are denied an education. Read more about this here.

 

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STF in India: Answering Your Questions!

We promised we’d get around to answering some of the questions you left here on the blog, so here we go! I recruited Jancy to poll the other students and take over answering your Qs.

Sarah B asks:

I guess the first thing I’d like to know is what the girls enjoy most about school? And what are their favorite subjects? Can’t wait to see more posts!

Answer: We love almost everything about our school! But, we enjoy living and growing up together the most. Prathibha loves Chemistry while Maheshwari loves Biology. Some of the other favorite subjects are Economics, Accounts, and Literature. Apart from academics, everyone loves sports.

Rahul asks:

I want to know what motivates the girls to go to school ? Is it shelter, Food, Security ?

Answer: Shanti Bhavan is a boarding school but we do understand the  importance of education. We know education is the key to the many doors we want to open in life! [Ed. Note: That is an actual quote.]

Claire Biggs says:

I’d love to know what the students are interested in and what – if anything – we can do to encourage them in their studies.

Answer: See above for our favorite subjects, but some of our hobbies are: dancing, singing, listening to Top 40s music, drawing, and doing henna on Christen (or maybe that’s just me). We love getting your comments — and writing to penpals!

Randy Ross says:

My interest is in the food in India with emphasis on bread / sweet goods – let us know what is a special bread in India.

Answer: There are so many! Chappati is made from wheat and we eat it at lunch and dinner; dosas are made from rice flour and we have them for breakfast with chutni. In the North, they eat naan, which is a thicker flat bread. Then there’s rotti, which is similar to chappati but a little harder. None of them are very sweet though…we like our food spicy here!

Emily F. asks:

Did u see any tigers? Another question is how old are the girls when they go to school? What do their homes look like?

Answer: Christen hasn’t seen any yet! And she probably won’t. They’re located mostly in the zoos and in the North! We come to Shanti Bhavan when we are four, from all kinds of homes. Some of us come from the city and others live in villages — it depends on the girl!

Aishwarya writes:

The one thing I want to know about the Shanti Bhavan students is if THEY have any questions for US! We’ve gotten to know a few of them really well through the She’s the First blog, but is there anything about us they’d like to ask or know more about?

Answer: We’ve been asking Kate and Christen tons of questions since they got here. We’re so glad we’re getting to know STF better!

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She’s the First*{Notre Dame} Star Will be in Seventeen!

SOCCER STAR PUTS SHE’S THE FIRST IN NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT:
Student Lindsay Brown Named a Seventeen Cover Contest Finalist

The tie-dye cupcake bake sale fundraiser that launched a movement for girls’ education worldwide will reach millions of teen girls through the Pretty Amazing Contest, sponsored by Neutrogena

New York (June  07, 2012)–Seventeen, the leading teen magazine reaching 13 million girls, announced on Friday that Lindsay Brown, a rising senior at the University of Notre Dame and a founding member of the campus’s chapter of non-profit She’s the First, is a Top 5 finalist in its Pretty Amazing cover model contest. Her boundless energy and commitment to She’s the First’s cause—funding girls’ education in the developing world, not to mention starting her own empowering soccer program—helped her stand out among applicants. If she wins, she will receive a $20,000 scholarship from Neutrogena Wave for Change and appear on the cover of the October 2012 issue of Seventeen.

This contest means more than a personal achievement for Lindsay—it will also bring momentum to the 2nd Annual She’s the First Tie-Dye Cupcake Bake-Off fundraising campaign, which Lindsay inspired. In September and October, students nationwide will join Lindsay in changing the game for girls’ education by signing up to host bake sales on campus. From November 12-18, their classmates will purchase the eye-catching tie-dye treats. In the process, they’ll sponsor girls at the eight developing world partner schools of She’s the First, located  in countries like Nepal, Tanzania, Guatemala, and India, where four out of five girls don’t graduate from high school. Last year’s inaugural Tie-Dye Cupcake Bake-Off raised $22,800 to sponsor 48 girls in just eight days with the participation of 100 teams across the nation.

“With Seventeen’s spotlight on Lindsay and the cupcake fundraising campaign, we expect young men and women here in the U.S. to connect with the mission of She’s the First on a never-before-seen level,” said Tammy Tibbetts, founder and president of She’s the First. “Internationally, the money we raise will enable girls who were condemned to a life of poverty to be the first in their families to graduate high school. This is an inspiring message for teens in the U.S., teaching them empathy along with valuable entrepreneurial, leadership, and social media skills.”

The tie-dye cupcake craze started in Fall 2010, after Lindsay, then a soccer player, and Maddie Fox, the goalkeeper, led the NCAA-winning Notre Dame women’s soccer players in organizing a campus bake sale of special tie-dyed cupcakes. The women raised $900, enough to sponsor three girls at the Kopila Valley School in Surkhet, Nepal. Meanwhile, Lindsay shared the recipe with shesthefirst.org; it quickly went viral among supporters. That summer, Lindsay traveled to Nepal to meet the girls she sponsored, and she formed the first girls’ soccer team in the region, teaching the young athletes confidence on the field and in the classroom.

The winner of the Pretty Amazing contest is chosen through public voting and by a distinguished panel of judges, including actress Emma Roberts, Seventeen editor-in-chief Ann Shoket, and celebrity blogger Jared Eng.

To support Lindsay and She’s the First, vote at seventeen.com/prettyamazing; share her story through social media (watch her impressive finalist video at http://ow.ly/bplpW); sign up on shesthefirst.org/cupcakes to host a tie-dye cupcake fundraiser of your own; or contribute to a girl’s sponsorship at shesthefirst.org/donate.

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#STFSummer: We’re Going to Camp!

What is She’s the First summer camp, you ask? Allow me to explain…

The Young Women’s Leadership Network (TYWLS) runs Summer Explorers, an experiential learning summer camp for girls to enhance their connections to the world.

The Young Women's Leadership Schools Crest

She’s the First is joining TYWLS this year as their social media partner. We will teach the students how to use social media to support their professional ambitions, to establish community (both locally and globally), and to share the world through their own eyes.

TYWLS students writing at camp in 2011.

STF’s “social media mentors” will give the girls specific challenges relating to the different types of social media (i.e. an Instagram scavenger hunt, Twitter contests, and writing to their past/present/future selves through a Tumblr blog). The girls will also be writing poetry with Azure Antoinette each day, culminating in an anthology that will be published at the end!

"You Should Know This About Me," TYWLS Explorers 2011 Anthology

And of course, we are going to find a creative way to tie in a girl’s sponsorship- we will help the girls hold a fundraiser with crafts that they have made (if you have any fun DIY craft ideas please share!). Towards the end of camp we will even connect the students with some of the girls we sponsor via Skype!

At the end of camp, our goal is for the girls to understand and believe these three things:

  • My voice is powerful
  • My point of view matters
  • Social media can make social change

2011 campers on stage with their anthology - just look at that pride!

You can show your support by following and interacting with the TYWLS Explorers through their Twitter and Tumblr pages, launching in July:

  • @TYWLSExplorers
  • Hash Tag: #MyImpact
  • TYWLSExplorers.Tumblr.com

Through this type of support you can help us show these girls that what they have to say IS being read, heard, and considered.

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#STFSummer: Intro to My Summer Internship

For many of us, that long-awaited summer break is just around the corner! Beaches, bathing suits, barbecues…what’s not to be excited about?

Finals couldn’t come and go soon enough! On May 9th at 7:30A.M. I had two finals left to conquer. But knowing that I had a Summer Internship with She’s the First waiting for me at the end of the finish line was all it took to pack my things and race out of my dorm.

My name is Brooke Sassman, and I’m a rising sophomore studying Journalism & Media Studies at Rutgers University. On campus I work at the Rutgers University Television Station as the Creative Services Supervisor, and serve as the President of my sophomore class. In my opinion, videos are very powerful pieces of art. I got my first video camera around the age of ten, and I haven’t been able to put it down since. So, using the skills that I’ve been building at school, I’m happy to say that throughout the summer I will be blogging and posting little videos of my experiences as a summer intern for She’s the First!

I know that Kate (the other STF Summer Intern) and I are beyond excited to be spending our summer at the official She’s the First headquarters! Lucky for us, we’re also both in the office on Thursdays. So as a nice little way for Kate, Tammy & I to get out and creatively brainstorm, we’ve decided to take little adventures on Thursdays!

In celebration of #STFSummer, and a summer of firsts, it was only right for us to start at the Shake Shack! I had no idea what I was in for, but when I saw the line wrapped around Madison Square Park, I knew it had to be something good.

Over a lovely lunch in Madison Square Park, Tammy, Kate & I sat and brainstormed plans for our involvement in The Young Women’s Leadership Network Schools Summer Camp. During the month of July we will be teaching workshops on social media, and giving the girls little challenges along the way. We sure had a table full of excitement, and enough energy to fill the entire park. We discussed our individual challenge plans, ways to motivate and inspire the girls, ideas for prizes, and our goals at large for what we hope the girls will take away from our workshops. Kate will be responsible for Tumblr challenges, Tammy will be providing Instagram challenges, and I will be responsible for the Video challenge! So you’re probably asking yourself…hmm, what’s a video challenge? Well… here’s my challenge to the campers:

“Impact. I’m Not Too Young to Make One.”

Your Challenge: In a 1-2 minute video PSA, show us how social media can help you make an impact on the world. It’s your chance to make a powerful statement, and remember; just one tweet can change the world!

Personally, I couldn’t be more excited to see what the girls come up with. I really feel like this summer has the potential to be a groundbreaking one. In so many ways, we’re encouraging the girls to think outside of the box and raise their own voices. It’s about teaching them to never underestimate the power of their own social media impact, and showing them that social media does matter.

But whether you’re eating a burger for the first time, or happen to be the first in your family to graduate, it should all be celebrated because ‘firsts’ are moments in time that only happen once.

Don’t forget to use the #STFSummer hashtag in your own tweets whenever you’re doing something for the first time, or doing something to make a difference in your community.

Kate & I with our first Shake Shack burgers ever! #STFSummer

 

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STF in India: This One’s for the Foodies!

The question Kate and I seem to get most often from our friends stuck at home in the U.S. is “So how’s the food?” Our answer? Awesome. Really freaking awesome. Here, a small sampling:

Dinner: Chappati, lemon rice with lady's finger, and a tiny bit of (really spicy) mango pickle

(All photos by the [currently ravenous] Kate Lord.)

Dinner: Chappati, chicken in a mystery sauce, beets, and a pea curry

Breakfast: Masala dosa with chutni. Every time this is served, everyone does a dance. It's filled with potatoes and spices.

Breakfast: Idli (the white things) with coconut chutni and vada (the doughnut thing that does not remotely taste like a doughnut)

Puri (yum!) with chickpea curry and green things. Puri is fried in oil, making it the best bread-thing.

Breakfast: Upma with curry, a hardboiled egg, and tea

Lunch: Chappati, rice with dahl, and cabbage.

All meals, all hours: Tea!

All meals: Adorable.

 

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STF in India: Guest Post by Jancy & Saritha

[Editor's Note: This post was written and photographed by Jancy, Saritha, and Chaithra, three Shanti Bhavan graduates.]

Yesterday the four of us (Jancy, Maheshwari, Shilpa, and Saritha) went to visit Jyoti Nivas College, where we are going to study. It was the first time we traveled by bus alone to Bangalore. It was an interesting experience. A few SB alumni, Chaithra, Kavitha, and Lilly, helped us to fill in the forms for paying the fees for the courses we are going to take.

Here is our photo journal of the day:

This is a picture of us sitting in front of the auditorium.

This is a picture of us sitting in front of the auditorium.

Tada! This is the entrance to the Jyoti Nivas College.

Tada! This is the entrance to the Jyoti Nivas College.

"Yay! This is the auditorium of my college!" says Maheshwari.

"Yay! This is the auditorium of my college!" says Maheshwari.

This is the gigantic auditorium of our college. Saritha can't wait to play the piano while Jancy will sing in the choir.

This is the gigantic auditorium of our college. Saritha can't wait to play the piano while Jancy will sing in the choir.

The building in front of Maheshwari and Shilpa is where we are going to have our classes.

The building in front of Maheshwari and Shilpa is where we are going to have our classes.

Yummy yummy in my tummy tummy.

Yummy yummy in my tummy tummy.

This is a cafeteria of the college.

This is a cafeteria of the college.

This is what we had for lunch in the cafeteria. The waiter gave us four options of dishes for 15 rupees each: rice, poori, plain dosa, and chappati. The picture shows a meal with rice, curry, chutni, yogurt, vegetable salad, and boti (the cylindrical colored things, which are Maheshwari's favorite).

Actually...Jancy doesn't even like coffee.

Actually...Jancy doesn't even like coffee.

Three of us, Saritha, Shilpa and Jancy, sit outside the gates of the college.

Three of us, Saritha, Shilpa and Jancy, sit outside the gates of the college.

Yippeeeeeee...

Yippeeeeeee...

Jancy makes jumping pics seem easy.

Jancy makes jumping pics seem easy.

This is us traveling...alone!

This is us traveling...alone!

To finish things off, here’s a quick video of Jancy and Maheshwari on campus:

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STF in India: Let’s Play with Henna!

If Kate and I had more time, there are many, many things we’d want to do while in India. For example, I’ve always wanted to attend a gigantic Indian wedding, we both want to try out an Indian fortune teller, and we’ve talked a lot about the pros and cons of renting a motorbike for the day (like an awesome adventure v. imminent death). But one thing we were absolutely going to do before heading home? Play with henna!

Henna has been used for centuries — apparently even Cleopatra used it (according to Wikipedia, at least). It’s derived from a plant and used everywhere as a hair and clothing dye, but it’s probably best known for its use as a temporary tattoo, especially on special occasions. The henna is basically a dark goo when applied, and you peel it off piece by piece when it’s dry. Tradition says that the darker the henna stains on a bride’s wedding day, the happier she’ll be in her marriage. We might not be there yet, but we were definitely looking forward to doing it for fun. Luckily, the girls here are incredibly talented at henna art. Preetha and Jancy went to town on Kate and me, and I think the results speak for themselves. Check it out:

This is actually the second of three sessions Jancy and I had throughout the day!

(By now you know: All photos by the quick-handed Kate Lord.)

The hardest part of this whole process? Keeping my hand still while she drew on my fingers!

Preetha created a design down the front of Kate' arm

She actually used maroon henna, so it would be shades of red after peeling.

And the finished results?

Pretty incredible, right?

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STF in India: Graduation Day Bonus!

If you follow the blog regularly, you probably know Jancy by now. And as you’ve put together from my last post, she graduated this week! So here’s a quick clip of something I think you’ll all find pretty awesome:

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World Day Against Child Labour: A Spotlight on Girls

Photo from the International Labour Organization

Hundreds of millions of children throughout the world are involved in work that deprives them of adequate education, health, and their fundamental human rights. Today marks the tenth annual World Day Against Child Labour, an occasion meant to highlight the lives of these children.

Currently the International Labour Organization, the organization that first launched this event in 2002, estimates that 215 million children worldwide are involved in child labour. While the majority work in agriculture, there are still many who are forced into its worst forms: prostitution, armed conflict and slavery.  For obvious reasons, this has a devastating effect on a child’s future.

This year’s theme, Human Rights and Social Justice, is about more than just protecting children from child labour. It’s about helping the world’s youth fulfill their true potential. There are nearly 90 million girls between 5 and 17 years old involved in child labor across the globe today. That’s 90 million girls who are working instead of attending school.

Girls who are harvesting sugar cane instead of reading.

Girls who are breaking rocks instead of practicing their arithmetic.

Girls who are busy providing for their family instead of dreaming about their future.

The truth is that child labour is intrinsically tied to our work here at She’s the First and it’s an obstacle that cannot be overlooked in our fight for universal education. Research shows the more a child works, the less time she will spend in school–making her chances of graduating nearly impossible. Unfortunately this only perpetuates the problem, helping the cycle of poverty reach into future generations.  As a global community, we must work together to find real solutions to this growing crisis. Solutions that keep our kids in the classroom, so they can go on to find honorable jobs that pay a fair wage.

Today is about the millions of boys and girls, each uniquely full of hope and promise, out there working right now. They deserve better. Join us as we stand for them today and everyday.

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STF in India: Graduation Day!

After days of preparation and celebration, graduation day finally came bright and early — we headed over to the girls’ dorm at six in the morning to help them get ready! The aunties tied saris while the volunteers handled hair and makeup. Despite the early hour, we had music pumping and everyone’s spirits were up. Ashley and Lizzy even pulled off some dance moves while curling Jancy’s hair (not recommended for those of you at home:

(Of course, all photos by the ceaselessly-talented Kate Lord)

Each sari was tied just so. You think you put a lot of work into your graduation-day look? These girls had all hands on deck ensuring every pleat was in place:Someone decided it was OK for me to work on hair (ha), but luckily I didn’t ruin anything. Finally, all the girls were ready and headed over to the school building to meet up with the boys. After an hour of  parents watching anxiously and many congratulatory speeches, the graduates finally took to the stage, one by one, and received their high school diplomas: Finally graduated, the class stands for a photo with Dr. Abraham George, Mariam George, and Ajit George:Afterward, the graduates mingled with their families and had a special lunch, but then most had to pack; half of them started college this week! The goodbye was long and heart-wrenching, with more tears than smiles — but in the end, everyone knew the graduates were off to start the rest of their lives.

(Yes, their van is a converted ambulance. You wish you were this cool.)

 

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A Celebration of Firsts from the Kibera School for Girls

Kennedy Odede and Jessica Posner, now newlyweds, walk with students in Kibera, Kenya

Kennedy Odede and Jessica Posner walk with students in Kibera, Kenya

I feel like my fingers can hardly keep up with the exciting news I have to share with you, She’s the First readers!  Jessica Posner and Kennedy Odede, co-founders of our partner school, the Kibera School for Girls, and nonprofit Shining Hope for Communities, recently tied the knot! Can you think of another couple that radiates such goodness in this world? On behalf of everyone at She’s the First, we send our deepest congratulations to a world-shaking, life-changing couple.

The newlyweds met when Jessica Posner, a student at Wesleyan University, packed up and moved to the Kibera Slum in Kenya. At the time, Jessica was one of the first outsiders to live in Kibera, a region of Kenya suffering from extreme poverty and Africa’s largest slum. Before her arrival, Kennedy had earned the reputation of “mayor” in Kibera because of his work in establishing a community-run organization that offered AIDS education, female empowerment, health and sanitation, soccer, microfinance and theatre programs. As fate would have it, the two crossed paths and co-founded Shining Hope for Communities as Kennedy pursued his dreams of earning a degree at Wesleyan University himself. (This leads me to an entirely new first for Kennedy, but I’ll keep you in suspense until the end of this post!)

Under their guidance and leadership, Shining Hope for Communities has grown to offer the Kibera School for Girls, The Johanna Justin-Jinich Community Clinic, Shining Hope Community Center, and multiple other community services and women’s empowerment programs.  To learn more about the incredible work of Shining Hope, visit here.

As for the other incredible “first” from Shining Hope for Communities, Kennedy became the first person from Kibera to move his graduation tassel from one side to the other.  In honor of overcoming significant challenges, filling others with Hope, and being a mentor and leader to all in his home community, Kennedy delivered the Senior Class Welcome during Wesleyan University’s 180th Commencement Ceremony on May 27. A graduate of the Class of 2012, Kennedy shared his message of hope as he addressed his fellow graduates.  In his speech, he declared his wish to return to Wesleyan 13 years from now to watch his young students at the Kibera School for Girls walk across the stage and receive their own Wesleyan diplomas. In closing, he asked his peers to join him in saying,

“Today I promise to use my Wesleyan education to champion hope throughout the world.”

How will you join Kennedy in this vision? How do you use education to champion hope? Share your thoughts and congratulations with the newlyweds on Twitter or in the comment section below!

For a full transcript of Kennedy’s Senior Class Welcome, click here.

Kennedy Odede delivers Senior Class Welcome to the Class of 2012 at Wesleyan University

Kennedy Odede delivers Senior Class Welcome to the Class of 2012 at Wesleyan University

 

 

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Higher Ed Numbers Increase for Women in Pakistan & More

Lack of Female Teachers Keeping Girls from School in Afghanistan

Local education officials in Afghanistan’s Takhar province say a lack of female teachers is one of the many factors preventing families from sending their daughters to school. Abdul Ghafar Saripuli, head of the education department in Takhar, says that social and cultural beliefs cause parents to keep their daughters home from school as male teachers are teaching the majority of classes. Read it here.

Higher Education Numbers Up for Women in Pakistan

The future looks bright for girls and women in Pakistan as the number of females in higher education continues to rise. In fact, the total number of women in universities for the 2009-2010 school year was 391,000, up from just 96,000 in 2004. This increase is in part thanks to the growing number of women universities throughout Pakistan–there are currently seven. Even more impressive, girls are even outnumbering boys at major coed universities such as the University of Karachi. Read it all here.

East African Legislative Assembly Gets First Female Speaker

For the first time in history the East African Legislative Assembly has a female speaker. Margaret Nantongo Zziwa, who won the position just last week, is described as a strong-willed and confident woman who has been a strong advocate for education. In addition to her long political career, she holds two master’s degrees. In her new role Zziwa will be a key player in the East African political community and will be consulting closely with the region’s presidents throughout her five year term.  Read more here.

More Participation and Creativity Needed to Educate Girls

In the world today there are still 35 million girls who are not in school. While the benefits of educating girls are well-known–educated women marry later in life, have fewer children, invest in their children’s education, earn more income and are less vulnerable to disease–the task of keeping girls in school remains difficult. In order to create significant change and increase learning opportunities, more active and creative participation is needed on behalf of governments, non-governmental organizations and the private sector. Read more here.

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STF in India: Prepping for Graduation

This past weekend was graduation weekend at Shanti Bhavan and in true Indian style, the celebration was almost a week long, including parties, competitions, and performances. It’s why we haven’t been blogging much!

The students were in charge of everything, and created roughly a million committees to ensure everything happened on time. Jancy directed the art for the stage, of course:

(As per usual, all photos by the magnanimous Kate Lord)

The sports competitions drew the whole school out (at 6:30 a.m., no less!) to watch the current students compete against SB alum. The cheers consisted of chants like, “East or West, SB is the best!” Which is technically true, because SB would win either way. The students really are crazy-talented at the sports they played. Here are some soccer shots:

That generous spirit may have ended when we got to tug of war, though. We all put on our game faces when it came time for us to play the graduates:

They also put on two nights of performances (remember that dance practice we posted about?), and everyone participated. Here’s Vyshali, one of the girls we sponsor (second from right), performing with her classmates:

And Prathibha, center:

And finally Jancy, performing the waltz with her partner Praveen:

At the end of the night, we had barbeque chicken and went to a party hosted by the school’s founder–where everyone would break into choreographed dance for every other song (not even joking). At the end of the night, before everyone headed to bed, we snagged this picture of the graduating girls; all will be the first in their families to graduate!

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