Monthly Archives: July 2012

Fast Company

Listed in “The League of Extraordinary Women” in the July/August issue

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Women’s Independence in South Sudan, Olympic Firsts & More


AU Selects First Female Leader
The African Union has chosen Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as its first-ever female leader. Dlamini-Zuma, who currently serves as South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister, won the spot over Jean Ping of Gabon. The close contest was won in the third round of voting when Dlamini-Zuma received votes from 37 of the 54 members. Read it all here.

Nigeria Swears in First Female Chief of Justice
Nigeria makes history this week as President Goodluck Jonathan swears in the country’s first female Chief of Justice, Aloma Mariam Mukhtar. Mukhtar has a long history of being the first. In fact, she was the first female from Northern Nigeria to become a lawyer and also the first woman to be appointed a justice in the Court of Appeals.  Even more, she was the first female justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Read more here.

Saudi Arabian Women First to Compete in Olympics
Last month Saudi authorities lifted a long time ban on women competing in the Olympic Games. Despite having a limited amount of time to qualify, there are now officially two female athletes heading to London later this month to represent Saudi Arabia for the first time in history. Sarah Attar will compete in the 800m and Wodjan Ali Seraj Abdulrahim Shahrkhani in the judo competition. Read more here.

Women Await Independence from Poverty in South Sudan
This month marked one year since South Sudan celebrated its independence and became the world’s newest nation. Now the country’s women are saying they have not experienced the positive social, economic, and political changes they were hoping for. One particular area that desperately needs attention is maternal health. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the country recorded 2,054 out of every 100,000 women died during childbirth in 2011 and there has been little to no improvement since. Another area greatly in need of attention is education: Only one percent of girls complete primary school and 88 percent of women are illiterate. Read it all here.

Young Girl Becomes Village Head in India
At just 18 years old, Afsana Badi, a Muslim girl from Kankot village in Gujarat, a village in the Rajkot district, has become the youngest sarpanch (village head) in the country. Although new to politics, Afsana intends to focus on improving education for girls and has already pledged to build more schools and classrooms for girls in her village.  Read it here.

Growing Number of Bolivian Women Elected to Office
In a country where women have traditionally been held to domestic roles, a growing number of indigenous women in Bolivia are getting involved in politics and running for office. This movement is largely due to the country’s 2009 constitution that states women must occupy 50 percent of all elected government positions. At present, 43 percent of the mayors and councilpersons in Bolivia’s 327 local governments are women, and 96 percent of them are holding public office for the first time. Read more.

Women’s Development Key to Economic Growth in Nigeria
Speaking at the African Women Economic Summit, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala–Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy–delivered her keynote address ‘Sustaining the African Women Economy: A 20 Million-Dollar Opportunity’. In her speech she stressed the importance of empowering women through education and specialized banks that catered specifically to female entrepreneurs looking to establish small and medium sized ventures. She went on to say one of the key ingredients to economic growth is gender equality. Read it all here.

 

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@ExplorersTYWLS Take On Bryant Park, Part II!


Photo by Richard Scott

It was another great day in the city for the @ExplorersTYWLS girls! Shortly after lunch on July 17th, we rounded up the explorers in Bryant Park to let them in on their latest challenge.

But of course, we couldn’t start the day without checking in to see how our little social media pros have been doing! Seeing almost every girl raise her hand acknowledging her recent use and love of social media was very encouraging to say the least. This was huge progress for all of the girls, especially the ones that in the beginning only had a basic understanding of social media. To drum up a little more motivation, we explained the wonders of Storify.com, and how we’ve been using it here at She’s the First to spotlight the incredible amount of work the campers have been doing!

But we couldn’t forget about our courageous Tumblr Editors! We made sure to check in with them as well, to see how they felt the blog was doing. They’re always busy blogging away, so make sure you check out their Tumblr to stay up to date on the latest @ExplorersTYWLS action!

If you read Kate’s post from July 14th, you are probably familiar with the breakdown of the workshop. On Friday, July 13th, Kate let half the @ExplorersTYWLS loose in Bryant Park to interview people about their own “firsts.” But on July 17th, it was finally my turn!

Before sending them off on their own, we gave them three questions to ask their interviewees:
1. What are you the first to do?
2. What would you like to be the first to do?
3. What inspires you?

…and then they were off!

Photo by Richard Scott

Photo by Richard Scott

A Notebook Designed by a TYWLS Explorer: Photo by Richard Scott

The campers certainly hit the ground running! When I checked up on the girls to see how they were doing, each girl had at least a page full of answers. This would soon prove to be useful for the writing portion of the challenge.

After 30 minutes of interviewing, the girls were instructed to meet back at the steps for a group photo, and start to draft their Tumblr blog posts about their interview challenge. Our budding journalists were certainly hard at work today, and have already started to post to Tumblr their inspiring answers.

Make sure you check out the rest of the @ExplorersTYWLS inspirational posts by visiting their Tumblr blog!

Photo by Richard Scott

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Free Ice Cream Parties! (These Chapters Earned It!)

2012 has been a groundbreaking year for She’s the First*{Campus}, thanks to all of our amazing chapters across the country. We know you all work hard to support STF’s mission, and we’re so grateful!

We’re please to announce the second-ever She’s the First*{Campus} Awards winners. These chapters are chosen based on the information they submit on their campus surveys, judged on Most Social (Media), Most Creative, and Most Financially Successful.

Our all-stars from the Spring 2012 semester were (drumroll please!) … She’s the First*{UNC Asheville}, She’s the First*{Bryn Mawr} and She’s the First*{Hofstra}! All of you will get a FREE BEN & JERRY’S ICE CREAM PARTY for your hard work. Congrats!

Most Social: She’s the First*{UNC Ashville}, led by Becca Wetheim, maximized social media to support Lindsay Brown with an original and inspiring #ManicureMonday push. They painted their nails in STF colors, took photos and tweeted them at Seventeen to show their support. Unique, social and effective!

 

Most Creative: She’s the First*{Bryn Mawr}, led by Amanda Kennedy, held a Poetry Night in conjunction with the #VoiceYourVerse campaign. Students read poems from the Voice Your Verse anthology, and even poems they wrote themselves! Both Tammy Tibbetts and Azure Antoinette were in attendance, and the audience was lucky enough to hear Azure share some of her own poetry. Chapter members sold cupcakes, as well as donated cupcake pins and necklaces, and raised $585 in total!

Most Financially Successful: She’s the First*{Hofstra} raised the most money out of any chapter this semester — $1200!!! And how’d they do it? With a dance-a-thon! Led by Chelsea Tirrell, the group decided to try something new and get their groove on with fellow classmates on behalf of STF. Fantastic, fun and profitable!

Thanks to all of our second-ever Campus Award winners. All three of these chapters will receive honorary logos to decorate their social media pages, as well as an ice cream party thanks to Ben & Jerry’s! Be sure to look out for the next round of winners in the winter!

Interested in creating a chapter of She’s the First at your school? Fill out our application here.

Questions? Contact campus@shesthefirst.org.

Posted in Bryn Mawr, Hofstra University, She's the First*{Campus}, UNC Asheville | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Meet Our New Tumblr Editor!

Our Tumblr blog got a mini-makeover this summer! We last used Tumblr as part of April’s Voice Your Verse campaign, to inspire our If the World Were My Classroom… poets. Under the leadership of our new editor, Mileva Brunson, who is the founding president of our She’s the First*{St. Mary’s} chapter, the blog is more refreshing than ever in these hot summer months! I was able to ask Mileva a few questions about herself and her vision for the blog.

Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself. Also, where do you attend school and what are you studying?
A: My name is Mileva Brunson and I am originally from Hammond, Indiana, which is 20 minutes outside Chicago. I am a rising junior at Saint Mary’s College in South Bend, Indiana. Saint Mary’s is actually right across the street from the University of Notre Dame, where Lindsay Brown attends, and home of the tie-dye cupcake craze! I am a communications major with minors in public relations and women’s studies (and maybe intercultural studies – who knows!). I love my school and love being involved; I am working on founding a chapter of She’s the First at Saint Mary’s, and I am also the advertising co-editor for the campus magazine, Bellezine, and an Admissions Office volunteer.

Q: What are some of your interests?
A: I enjoy traveling, baking, and blogging. I also started some DIY projects this summer and have fallen in love with it (thanks, Pinterest!). I am an avid coffee drinker, and obsessed with all things television and film — which is evident by my ever-growing DVD collection and stacks of Entertainment Weekly!

Q: What are your visions/goals for the Tumblr blog?
A: I hope to make it an interactive place for She’s the First supporters to come to for inspiration, updates, and information on all things She’s the First. Tumblr is an amazing platform that really allows us to show our creativity and passion and to reach young people in a whole new way, and I am so excited to be a part of that.

Q: What has been your biggest “first”?
A: I would say traveling by myself for the first time. This past semester, I spent the semester abroad in Rome, Italy. That was such a life changing experience for me. It made me much more independent, self-sufficient, and ready to take on all of life’s adventures. Getting on the plane to Rome was my first time on plane and I remember feeling so unsure about myself. But in my three months abroad, I saw myself grow in so many ways and experience such amazing things that I can’t wait to see where life will take me next!

Q: What are you the first in your family to do?
A: Well, neither of my parents attended college — my dad went back to school about 6 years ago and is currently working on his masters. But that was a huge first in my family. And all of the experiences I am having in college — from studying abroad, to starting my own club with She’s the First, to even attending a Notre Dame football game! — have been amazing first’s that I know they are so happy to see me accomplish.

Q: What tips would you give to other non-profits to engage their younger audience better?
A: I would say to get creative! With social media, your appearance on the Internet is everything and making your platforms not only be interactive but aesthetically appealing is a huge plus and will really draw people in to see what you are all about. So making your internet presence stylish and sleek is a great way to grab attention.

Also, I think to not be afraid to new social media platforms. Sites and apps like Instagram and Pinterest have become very popular recently and are definitely a fresh, original way to reach young people for non-profits. Just look at Elizabeth Arden’s #PinItToGiveIt campaign and our board to support Lindsay Brown and the Seventeen Magazine Pretty Amazing Contest!

Stay up to date on the latest She’s the First action by visiting our Tumblr!

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Mileva Brunson

SMC junior studying PR. Founder/President of @STF_SaintMarys. Lover of coffee, film, animation, comedy, and all things blogging.
When I’m not on shesthefirst.org, I’m surfing: Tumblr, Pinterest, and theeverygirl.com!
Trailblazer I’d Like to Meet: Amy Poehler – brilliant woman who is inspiring young girls everywhere with Smart Girls At The Party!
My First: Attending college, studying abroad in Italy, and learning a second language.
Mileva@shesthefirst.org, @MilevaB

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We Need Your Vote to Win the Oscar of the Non-Profit World!

News flash! We recently found out that we’re in the running to receive the “Most Creative Fundraiser by a Charity” Classy Award — and we need your vote (select the Eastern region) before July 26th! We received the nomination for our Tie-Dye Cupcake Campaign, which will be in full force again this November. Tie-dye cupcakes have made such an impact, in such a short amount of time — the campaign not only sponsored 48 girls in 8 developing world countries, but it has also inspired hundreds of students in the U.S. to be leaders and advocates for universal education. Over the next couple of weeks, the public will be encouraged to place votes in all categories. We have a couple suggestions for you!

In the East: She’s the First (Most Creative Fundraiser By A Charity), The Adventure Project (Best New Charity, Disaster Relief And International Aid)

Midwest: Bright Pink (Most Creative Fundraiser By A Charity)

West: Mama Hope (Most Effective Awareness Campaign By A Charity), KickStart International (Hunger and Poverty Relief)

Winners will be determined half by the number of votes their organization receives and half by an esteemed judging panel. The regional winners are revealed on July 31st (once again, we are the EAST!).

A Classy Award would be a huge honor for She’s the First to receive and undoubtedly attract more donors for girls’ sponsorships! There’s a very prestigious group of people lined up on the Leadership Council overseeing the Awards, so this recognition truly means a lot. People like Adam Braun (Founder and Executive Director of Pencils of Promise), Adam Garone (CEO & Co-Founder of Movember), and Jim Moriarty (CEO of Surfrider Foundation).

But I’m sure you’re wondering now…what happens next?!

Well, if we are chosen as a Regional Winner, we will then move onto the National Judging round. (August 1-September 20) In this round, the Leadership Council will work together to determine 16 national winners. Then on September 22nd, comes the most anticipated moment of all time… the announcing of the winners at the Classy Awards in San Diego, California!

So, if we win, what are some of the prizes? We’d get some of these pretty cool fundraising benefits and the recognition will definitely help us attract more donors/sponsors for girls’ education! We’re crossing our fingers for this huge opportunity!

Remember to vote She’s the First for the “Most Creative Fundraiser by a Charity” category! You can also show your support by tweeting about our nomination, and letting everyone know to vote.

Copy & Paste this to Twitter! Take a look: @shesthefirst is nominated for a #ClassyAward in “Most Creative Fundraiser By A Charity” category! Vote: http://ow.ly/clXFF

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We’re Looking for Fall Interns!

I’m not ready to let the fabulous She’s the First Summer interns go! But alas, it’s time to start looking for the superstar interns to fill their shoes come September…could it be YOU? Take a look at the descriptions below, and submit your information to us by August 15th!

3 Positions:

  • 2 Operations Interns (General Support)

  • 1 Campaign Intern (specialization in social media and/or graphic design preferred; you will be working specifically on the Tie-Dye Cupcake Bake-Off, our largest grassroots campaign which has taken to epic proportions this year with Seventeen and Simon & Shuster’s support)

Our interns will serve as primary aides to the Founder/President and also support the volunteer teams & committees within the organization. This is a proactive internship where your work and ideas have a direct, visible impact.

ESSENTIAL QUALITIES

  • Creativity: You enjoy participating in brainstorming sessions (and take great notes!)
  • Energy: It radiates from you and shines through everywhere, in blog posts, on video, in social media updates, emails, etc.
  • Organization: You maintain up-to-date records & schedules in Google Docs (Yep, that spells CEO – you know how to take charge!)

This also means you:

  • Have a smart & spunky personality. Professional and personable.
  • Focus on goals & tasks at hand while also able to think big, long-term, & multitask.
  • Excellent MS Office, e-mail, and social media skills — Google Docs WHIZ.
  • Entrepreneurial spirit. You have the discipline and the drive to thrive in a start-up environment. No task is too small for you, no challenge too intimidating.
  • Strong follow-up. You keep projects on track with effective to-do lists & deadlines.
  • You work well both independently and as part of a team.
  • Social media evangelist: You believe in the power of networks, online & offline, to turn simple, small ideas into big, groundbreaking movements & shape educational models that will have a life impact on someone.

Responsibilities:

You will be helping the President with the “front end” of She’s the First. Your special focus will be on all projects and campaigns related to the STF*{Campus} Chapters & the high school outreach programs of She’s the First, which in the fall include, but are not limited to, the XX Summit (an “un-conference” for teenage girls, October 11) and the Tie-Dye Cupcake Bake-Off.

Our goal is to provide US-based student groups with even stronger resources to maximize their fundraising power for girls’ sponsorships, to support their storytelling & communication with sponsored girls, and to help them develop the skills to achieve their own personal firsts, too. You’ll work closely with our Committee members and Campus Coordinators on the STF Leadership Team as well.

Duties include:

  • Managing media partner relationships
  • Creating effective educational materials for campus chapters & high school enrichment programs in the U.S. (graphic design skills a plus here!)
  • Blogging & social media support
  • Stepping in to support the community of students & Millennials hosting independent fundraisers for STF when necessary
  • Helping author guidebooks & templates for campus chapters to download
  • Liaising with college media partners
  • Increasing engagement with the evolving Penpal Program of She’s the First
  • Being an excellent brand ambassador
  • Event planning assistance

Your Strengths:

- Writing, Event Planning, Team Leadership, Social Networking & Web

Relevant Majors:

Communications, Journalism, Public Relations

REQUIREMENTS

Time: We’ll need you for 15-20 hours a week, at least three days a week.

Location: 116 W 23rd St.

Education:

Applicants are preferred to have a minimum of two years of college experience.

Compensation:

This is an unpaid internship (we’ll work with your college & university to make sure you receive college credit) with a $250 stipend. Perks of the job include: Free entry to events that we host and the chance to represent She’s the First at exclusive events or conferences we are invited to, and to sit in on meetings with our awesome partners, volunteers, and donors. Opportunity to strengthen your social media skill sets and leadership qualities. Free lunch and coffee from time to time!

APPLY

To apply for either of the positions below, please send a resume and short cover letter OR video message to the She’s the First inbox, info@shesthefirst.org, by August 15th. Of all the amazing opportunities and non-profits out there, why do you want to work with She’s the First?

 

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Look What @ExplorersTYWLS Did in Bryant Park!

Since camp began five days ago, the @ExplorersTYWLS have been tweeting away (check out our Storify to see how great they’re doing!) So for today’s workshop, we decided to give them a  little break from pure social media and let them brush up on their offline reporting skills, which they’ll then post to their Tumblr. We armed them with these basic questions…

  • What are you the first to do?
  • What would you like to be the first to do?
  • What inspires you?

…and then we set them loose in Bryant Park!

We all gathered on the steps of The New York Public Library to regroup and talk about their experiences (and, of course, for a photo opp!)

I was particularly proud of the Explorers today because they stepped outside of their comfort zones to connect with people from all walks of life. In-person interviews can be very intimidating, especially when approaching people on the street. The girls were nervous, but not one of them backed down; no one said “I can’t” or “I’m too scared.” They worked through their fears and had incredible success, interviewing tons of people. That, my friends, is courage.

Look out for the articles that the Explorers will be posting about their interviewing experiences on the Tumblr blog: ExplorersTYWLS.tumblr.com.

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@ExplorersTYWLS Camp: Tumblr Training with Nanette Lepore!

On day two of @ExplorersTYWLS camp, we invited the 15 campers who had volunteered to be editors for the Tumblr Blog to come to She’s the First HQ for an hour long training session.

Tammy gets the Explorers excited about editing the Tumblr blog! Photo by Justice Ami

Tammy taught the Explorers how important it is to have their own “Editorial Voice.” They brainstormed about what they want the voice of their blog to be, and together they came up with the words, “adventure, exploration, and inspiring.”

The girls brainstorm together to come up with the "voice" of their blog. Photo by Justice Ami.

Next, Tammy handed the girls over to two very special guest speakers from Nanette Lepore- Jimmy Lepore Hagan (Social Media Strategist) and Nicole Loher (Social Media Blogger and summer intern). Jimmy and Nicole taught the girls about real life application for their blogging skills, and how they can turn Social Media into a career.

Jimmy Lepore Hagan (social media strategist) and Nicole Loher (social media blogger and summer intern) from Nanette Lepore. Photo by Justice Ami.

Nicole and Jimmy teach the girls how to turn their social media skills into an exciting career. Photo by Justice Ami.

The girls left feeling VERY excited about their new skills, or as we are calling them, their new superpowers!

Our favorite tweet about the training session: “We had two awesome speakers from @Nanettelepore today! It was beyond epic (: #MyImpact“ –@IsraKhaled

We are extremely proud of the girls so far,  join the @ExplorersTYWLS for the rest of their summer adventures by following their Tumblr Blog:  ExplorersTYWLS.tumblr.com.

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What Happened on Our First Day at @ExplorersTYWLS Camp!

Photo by Kate Lord

Flash back! It seemed as if I were back at school for the first day all over again. As nervous and excited girls crowded the elevator, we had already started off on the right note as one of our youngest campers pointed out that being packed so closely together was instantly creating a “bonding experience” among the rest of us. When the elevator finally reached the 7th floor, I could feel the excitement just pouring out of the gym.

As I poked my head inside the gym to simply get a taste of the energy that had clearly taken over the atmosphere, my adrenaline had already started soaring at the thought of working with these 140 excited and energetic girls.

Within about 20 minutes, our first group of girls started to file in and sit down in anticipation for the start of our workshop. Attentive, engaged faces were all we needed to see in order to recognize that class was now in session.

Photo by Kate Lord

A warm welcome seemed to be the only thing that was needed for the girls to feel comfortable and ready to learn. We then introduced ourselves and began to break down what exactly it means to be “a first.” When we opened up discussion with the girls, I can say on behalf of all of us, we were thoroughly impressed with their answers. Girls saying that they wanted to be the first in their families to be journalists, judges, doctors, and even attend graduate school. The depth and complexity of their answers were not only impressive, but also empowering to us and the rest of the girls sitting in the room.

@KateSchwarzNYC - Photo by Kate Lord

After getting down on their level and really diving into their goals for their own futures, we then went ahead and passed out a survey. The survey would include questions about social media, and their usage or feelings on it. For handing in the survey the girls were rewarded with a lovely She’s the First sticker, and a handout that mapped out the instructional information of the challenges we would present to them in weeks to come. After Kate went through the handout, together with the girls we creatively brainstormed a Social Media Code of Conduct, and discussed the do’s and dont’s of their tremendous new superpowers.

 

Photo by Kate Lord

@BrookeSassman - Photo by Kate Lord

In the coming weeks, the girls will be hard at work creating Tweets, submitting content for the Tumblr blog (ExplorersTYWLS.tumblr.com), and taking pictures to post to Instagram. They’ll learn not only how to harness their creative energy, but to use it for good as their strongest superhero power. With that being said, it couldn’t have been more perfect than to leave the girls with a special quote from the Spiderman movie. Kate closed the workshop by leaving the girls with this powerful statement: “…with great power comes great responsibility.”

Stay tuned for our upcoming blog posts as we continue our journey with the @ExplorerTYWLS girls!

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Poison Mystery for Afghanistan School Girls, Pregnancy Policy in Libera & More

With Girls’ Education a Priority, Women Flourish in Bangladesh
Throughout the past 30 years, women of Bangladesh have made incredible strides in social, economic and political fields. In fact, women are responsible for bringing in $23 million–roughly 80 percent–of the country’s total export earnings. Additionally, women now comprise nearly 60 percent of the primary teachers in the country. Much of the country’s success is due to its commitment to educating and empowering girls and women. Read it here.

No Policy for Pregnant Schoolgirls in Liberia
Schoolgirls in Liberia are being expelled for being pregnant, while the nation’s education policy is silent on the matter. Despite the work of the country’s first female president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, issues like poverty, teenage pregnancy, illiteracy and rape are limiting girls’ access to quality education–and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better. Patricia Kollie, a pregnant student at St. Mark Lutheran High School in the city of Gbarnga, Bong County, was recently expelled despite having paid program fees. Kollie will have to re-enroll after delivering her baby and begin the year over. Read more here.

Who is Poisoning Afghanistan’s Girls?
The debate rages on about who is responsible for poisoning Afghanistan’s schoolgirls. Over the past few months, several incidents have taken place: On April 17, 150 girls reported feelings of dizziness, nausea, and headaches. They were transported from their school in the Afghan province of Takhar to a hospital–some fainted, and some were vomiting when they arrived. In the same province a month later, 120 more girls and 3 teachers complained of the same symptoms and were again taken in. The next week, 160 girls in Taluquan, the capital of Takhar province, reported being ill. While the Afghan government is convinced the Taliban is to blame, the World Health Organization is now saying all samples turned up negative for poisoning. The organization is now blaming Mass Psychological Illness for the symptoms, saying that many of the girls were likely suffering from trauma cased by years of conflict. However, many Afghans don’t believe mass hysteria is the cause and are demanding the government take action against the Taliban. Read all the details here.

Ugandan Women Fight Against Cervical Cancer
The UN World Health Organization reports that 3,577 Ugandan women die of cervical cancer every year, making it the most common form of cancer affecting women in the country. With little information available to the public and limited government funds to fight the disease, many worry the number of cases will continue to increase. Read more here.

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#STFSummer: Introducing You to @ExplorersTYWLS

Hi friends! How’s your #STFSummer going? I’m excited to tell you about a special part of ours and introduce a new Twitter handle you should know: @ExplorersTYWLS. It’ll be powered by 140 teen girls from NYC who are going to make an impact on the world, right before our very eyes.

At She’s the First, we are always looking for ways to reach students globally and locally with our mission. We fundraise for girls’ sponsorships in our 8 partner countries (253 girls and counting!), and we’re innovating new ways to inspire girls around us to break barriers, too. The latest experiment: Bringing a three-week social media enrichment program to the Young Women’s Leadership Schools’ summer camp in NYC.

I’m going to answer some FAQs you might have below, and then I invite you to keep the convo going with us on Twitter! (@shesthefirst, @ExplorersTYWLS, and camp hashtag is #MyImpact)

Where are the Young Women’s Leadership Network Schools?

Referred to as “TYWLS,” (like “twills”), these public schools are based in Queens, Brooklyn, East Harlem, and soon, the Bronx. They empower low-income students to break the cycle of poverty through education. Nearly all will be accepted into college and 80% will become first-generation college students. Even Oprah’s inspired by them!

What happens at summer camp?

The Young Women’s Leadership Network runs Summer Explorers, a three-week experiential learning summer camp for girls to enhance their connections to the wider world beyond the school year and a summer bridge program for incoming 6th graders.

What is She’s the First doing?

We’re mentoring the girls on social media use, giving them “challenge assignments” for their Twitter (@ExplorersTYWLS) and Tumblr (ExplorersTYWLS.tumblr.com).

What are your goals?

  • Teach students how to build a community during the summer, to last into the new school year.
  • Challenge students to be perceptive of the world around them.
  • Enable students to build a conversation with girls globally and compare their daily lives; guide them in creating an arts & crafts fundraiser for a girl’s sponsorship.
  • Establish guidelines for social media etiquette that will support students’ professional ambitions in the future.
  • Empower students to share the world through their eyes–what it is like to be a teen girl living, loving, and learning during the summer–with fellow New Yorkers.

 

How will you know if STF succeeded?

The social media will speak for itself, and we’ll be doing pre-and post-surveys with the girls, to measure success with data. The girls will also give us feedback, which we’ll share with you!

Who at She’s the First is involved?

To name a few, during the day, our summer crew, @KateSchwarzNYC and @BrookeSassman, are in the drivers’ seats! They’ll blog each day after camp to keep you informed. The talented @KateLordPhoto and @beeebro (Brittany Brothers) will also be popping in to capture photo and video. @GoGenny (Genevieve Tabios) made the graphic designs. @AzureAntoinette, the acclaimed poet we worked with on #VoiceYourVerse (and share office space with now!), works for the Young Women’s Leadership Schools and she’s hosting the Explorers camp along with an extraordinary league of camp counselors. YOU can be involved, too. (Keep on reading!)

How will we make a global impact?

In the third week of camp, the girls are going to dedicate their time to an arts ‘n crafts activity–making magazine bead necklaces and bracelets, similar to these that women in Uganda are known for–and then in August, they’ll sell them, hoping to raise $360 to sponsor a girl in Uganda at the Arlington Academy of Hope. (Want them to sell at YOUR office? Email me! tammy@shesthefirst.org)

What can I do to help?

Follow the campers’ Twitter (@ExplorersTYWLS) & Tumblr and leave comments and feedback so that they know you are listening…and their voices matter!

This program would not have been possible without the incredible support and forward-thinking staff of the Young Women’s Leadership Network. It’s a brave project–the Department of Ed has never done something like this before and you can imagine the ways it could backfire. But we’ve never been about those negative “what if’s” here at She’s the First. We’re about the “I can” and “I will.” Breaking barriers. This is their world. Let’s give them the tools and watch them shape it.

What do you think? Talk to us! Comment below, or tweet me or @shesthefirst!

Message to the Explorers:

     

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Afghanistan’s Future & Women, Strike in Swaziland & More

 


 

 

Swazi Students Suffer as Teacher Strike Escalates

Swaziland’s largest teacher’s union recently called a strike in response to the government’s refusal to offer a salary increase and improve school facilities.  The conflict has spread across the country and government spokesman Percy Simelane says all teachers who taking part in the strike will be fired. Teachers claim the students are the real victims, who have inadequate learning environments. Although principals have been ordered by the government to keep school doors open, many students are joining their teachers in the strike.  Read more here.

Madagascar Launches Online Research Network
Earlier this month Madagascar launched an online research network that promotes discussion among worldwide researchers, students and policymakers. The project will provide new opportunities for Madagascar’s six state universities and three higher institutes of technology to connect and share knowledge as well as improve learning and research activities. Read it here.

Kenya Government Determines Funds for Sanitary Towels
The Kenya Treasury allocated Sh300 million for the 2012/2013 financial year that will help girls from poor families have access to free sanitary towels–but the towels will only benefit those in primary school. Read it here.

Afghanistan’s Future Depends on Women
As foreign troops leave Afghanistan, the future of the country is uncertain. However, their success or failure will largely depend on whether or not Afghans, especially women, are given their basic needs. In order to tackle big problems–such as one of the highest female illiteracy rates in the world–civilian protection must be a top priority for the government. Read all the details here.

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