Author Archives: socialink

Our Campus Chapter President of the Year Is…

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Shes the First Team

Becca with fellow She's the First*{UNCA} leaders

Never underestimate the power of a tweet! Becca Wertheim discovered She’s the First through social media two years ago. As a junior, she decided to found a campus chapter of She’s the First at the University of North Carolina- Asheville. Today, we are proud to announce that Becca, who just graduated magna cum laude in UNCA’s Class of 2013, has been named She’s the First Chapter President of the Year!

Jarana B. is a 7-year-old student at Kopila Valley School in Surkhet, Nepal, sponsored by She's the First *{UNC Asheville} and Claxton Elementary School, where Becca student taught.

Becca was nominated by fellow She’s the First*{Campus} chapter leaders across the country. Our judge, The Daily Muse Founder/CEO Kathryn Minshew, selected her as the winner on the basis of her innovative leadership. Becca has not only led the charge to elevate girls’ education in developing countries, but also in her own community.

The UNCA chapter of She’s the First has sponsored the education of three girls in Nepal, Uganda, and Tanzania. Through the iconic tie-dye cupcake bake sales, her chapter has also grown its membership and raised tremendous awareness for girls’ education on the UNCA campus.

With She’s the First, Becca had the opportunity to develop an independent project, GOAL Getters, which was featured at Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) this past April. Yep, she even met Chelsea Clinton!

GOAL Getters (which stands for Global Opportunities, Awareness, & Leadership) is an educational program that teaches elementary school students about global citizenship and social responsibility while guiding them as they take action in their communities. Her motto is “you’re never too young to change the world.” GOAL Getters empowers teachers to teach beyond the standards by creatively integrating citizenship skills into daily lessons. Becca plans to continue expanding the project into the new school year. (P.S.: You’re even going to see information about the project in Simon & Schuster paperbacks at a bookstore near you!)

Becca with her GOAL Getters!

Now here’s where it gets REALLY exciting: As our Chapter President of the Year, Becca will represent She’s the First at Malala Day, a United Nations event organized by A World at School, which promotes education for children around the world. The She’s the First community is proud to recognize Becca as a role model in the She’s the First*{Campus} community. See what some of her peers have to say about her:

“I am completely blown away by her CGI U GOAL Getters program that she created and implemented in a local elementary school. This is an incredible way to get the She’s the First message out in the community, and I think that expanding this program to other communities in the country will be huge for She’s the First. Go Becca!” –Emily Parkinson, University of Wisconsin

“Becca has such an incredible, huge heart for her students and for girls’ everywhere — and it is easy to see just by looking at her smile and light up when she shares the STF message. This young lady has inspired me and continues to inspire me to reach higher and pursue more!” –Meaghan O’Connor, University of Michigan

“As a future educator, I am inspired by the Becca Wertheim! Her stories about teaching the children that she is student teaching about global awareness by starting GOAL getters, her attendance at CGI U 2013, and writing the book Live High on Life™ for Teens are attributes that have helped shape Becca into an incredibly responsible and inspiring person!” --Ariel Adrian, Hofstra University

After Becca was chosen as Campus Chapter President of the Year, we learned she accepted her first job as the newest 2nd grade teacher at Claxton School of Arts & Humanities (her dream school!) in Asheville. She will be teaching in the very same classroom where she student taught and where GOAL Getters was born. Congratulations, Becca!

If you are interested in bringing the GOAL Getters curriculum to an elementary school audience near you, contact Becca here.

Posted in She's the First*{Campus} | Tagged GOAL Getters | Leave a comment

A Day in the Life of Micaela, a Student in Guatemala

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Aishwarya Bhake

She’s the First donors and volunteers have the distinct opportunity to get to know what student and home life is like in other countries. Check out this firsthand account from Micaela, a 7th-grader in Guatemala. This is a direct account as translated by Darcy Struckhoff, Director of Development at Starfish One by One.

Micaela showcases a doll she made at a Starfish art workshop

I get up at 6 am every day. I wash my face, get dressed, and start making tortillas for breakfast. We are a big family (10 brothers and sisters!) so my sisters and I all help get everyone ready. Sometimes we take turns in the morning, who gets breakfast ready or sweeps the house in the morning.

After breakfast, I help out at home for the morning. Most of the time, I weave. My family owns a small shop where we sell table runners and we all need to help. I leave for school at 1:15pm (I am in junior high school in the village) until 6:30 pm. I have two younger sisters so I help them with homework when I get home. Then I do my own homework every night, because I weave in the mornings. If I have a lot of homework, I sometimes have to do it in the mornings.

With such a big family, we all help. Before, we didn’t have enough money even for my school supplies. Now things are better. I hope to be a lawyer one day.

Posted in Starfish One by One | Tagged Darcy Struckhoff, Day in the Life, girls' education, Guatemala, Starfish One by One | Leave a comment

Students Return to New Classrooms in South Sudan

Posted on June 11, 2013 by MaryBeth Bognar

At Ayak Anguei in South Sudan, the girls have just returned to school from break to some new scenery! The classrooms and desks have been rebuilt and freshly stuccoed. They are now ready for the students to use creating a nicer atmosphere for their studies. This project was possible thanks to help from Project Education South Sudan and UKAID after they had been destroyed by storms earlier in the year. Here’s a look at them being prepared:

New desks make their way into the classroom!

Interns from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver have been completing the girls leadership HIV/AIDS education and feminine hygiene pad vocational program which was highlighted in our previous PESS post. We are looking forward to hearing updates on how the girls are doing with this new project, what they have learned, and what they have to share. After recent conflict in the area, it is finally safe for the girls to return to school and resume their education. Fortunately for them they have much to look forward to upon their return!

Posted in Project Education Sudan | Tagged AIDS, girls' education, HIV, leadership, Project Education South Sudan, She's the First, South Sudan, UKAID | Leave a comment

While Awaiting Grades, AAH Girls Have A Few Messages for You

Posted on June 4, 2013 by MaryBeth Bognar

At Arlington Academy of Hope (AAH) in Uganda, the girls are anxiously awaiting their final first-term grades and exam results. In the past, 100% of the girls at AAH have passed their exams, which they must pass before they can move onto secondary school. This is a very unique aspect of AAH, as very few primary schools in Uganda have such a high success rate! Generally, this is attributed to the quality of teachers and teacher training in Uganda. At AAH, the teachers at the school are all Ugandan, and they often receive additional training from U.S. volunteers. The graduating class will move away to boarding schools throughout the country for secondary school. Though acceptance rates can be very competitive (since there aren’t many secondary schools), all AAH students thus far have moved on to these schools. They are often even picked by schools in their top three picks.

While on break, these girls made it clear that they were anxious to be back in the classroom. They have happily returned now, but here are a few messages that they wanted to share while they waited for school to start once again.

Tabitha is thankful for her opportunities at AAH!

“Hello She’s the First. I am working hard in class and I am preparing for end-of-term exams next week. During my holidays I will wash dishes and sweep the compound at home. I will play netball with my sister and our friends. I like netball very much. At home, I have three brothers and one sister. Thank you for paying my school fees.”-Tabitha

“Thank you for paying my school fees. I am happy because you are sparing your time and money to pay my school fees. May God Bless you so much and live on earth forever. My parents and I are happy. They also thank you, too. I love to learn.”
-Betty

“Thank you for paying my school fees and supporting me. I am happy because we are breaking off for holidays next week on Thursday. I am happy because I am going to live with my dear parents even though I am going to learn.”-Justine

“Thank you for your support you give me. I am fine. My family is also fine. I wrote to you a letter, hoping you have read.” -Bess

Posted in Arlington Academy of Hope | Tagged Arlington Academy of Home, Exams, girls' education, Secondary School, She's the First, Uganda | Leave a comment

Expanding Girls’ Ed in Niger, Ugandan Chess Prodigy & more

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Lauren Berke

Support for Girls’ Education in Niger Yields Impressive Results
Niger’s rate of enrollment for girls rose from 29 percent to 63 percent between 2001 and 2011. This dramatic improvement is the result of the combined efforts of administrative authorities, teachers, parents, and civil society. UNICEF’s efforts to provide incentives to teachers and parents have also helped raise the enrollment rate. Read more here.

Rise of Child Marriages Among Syrian Refugees
Among Syrian refugee girls, child marriages are on the rise. The high threats of sexual violence and extreme poverty that girls face in refugee communities have led to an increase in early marriage. Girls marry older men because they believe it will lead to economic security and protection from sexual assault. Learn more here.

Girl Rises from Slums to Become a Chess Champion
Phiona Mutesi, 17, was recently named Woman Candidate Master by the World Chess Federation. Just 8 years ago, she lived in the slums in Uganda. She began to learn chess because of the free food offered at the lessons, but she soon took to the game and began to win tournaments. “I was only thinking how can I manage to get something to eat. But now I’ve got hope of becoming a grandmaster, a doctor, even building an orphanage for slum kids.” Learn more about her inspiring story here.

Filling India’s Need for Better Vocational Training
An increasing number of private vocational schools in India fills the gap left by the often inadequate and outdated government vocational institutes. These schools offer short, practical, non-degree programs that provide students with tools to succeed in modern India. Learn more about these programs here.

Students Challenge Thailand’s Militaristic Education System
In Thailand, militaristic discipline and deference pervade the education system. Some students are beginning to challenge the system’s focus on unquestioned obedience. Read more about their efforts here.

Posted in News Bursts | Tagged chess, child marriages, girls' education, India, News Bursts, NIger, Syria, Thailand, Uganda, vocational training | Leave a comment

Why You Should Put the Charity Miles App on Your Phone Today!

Posted on May 27, 2013 by Meaghan OConnor

She's the First is the FIRST partner that Charity Miles is adding in its 2nd year of amazing existence!

With just over a month left in our RUN THE WORLD campaign, we have an exciting announcement that is sure to re-energize your training efforts and motivate you to log a few extra miles!

Starting on May 29th, you’ll be able to earn money for #RunSTF every time you walk, run, or bike outside—just by downloading and using the Charity Miles app on your smartphone.

The BEST part about this new partnership is that it’s super easy, completely FREE, and never-ending—meaning you can continue to log miles and raise money even after our #RunSTF campaign ends!

What impact will your exercise have?
The app’s GPS tracks your distance. For every mile you walk, 25 cents will be donated to She’s the First. Each quarter will fund 25 minutes of education. Essentially, every penny you earn is one minute of education for a girl She’s the First sponsors!

Follow these super simple steps to get comfortable using the app in no time!

HOW TO USE THE CHARITY MILES APP:

Using a smartphone (Android or iPhone), download the FREE Charity Miles app from the App Store.
Once the app is downloaded, you can either log in with Facebook (the easier option), or enter create a profile by selecting “Sign Up.” (Allow Facebook permission to use the app so that you can share your workouts! Don’t worry, it won’t post anything without your approval.).
Once you’re logged in, swipe until you see the She’s the First logo. For the time of launch, we’ll be first.
Select “Walk,” “Run,” or “Bike,” on the top of the screen.
Click “Start” on the bottom of the screen.

THEN, RUN/WALK/BIKE!

Once you’re done with your workout, click “Stop” on the bottom of the screen.
To complete, click “Finish” and post your workout details to Facebook and Twitter by clicking on the social media icons on the bottom of the screen.
From there, you’ll get to see how many minutes of education your workout sponsored!

Congratulations, you did it! (Now catch your breath!)

Run with your phone and use the Charity Miles app, as seen above!

To show you how confident we are in your training abilities, we’re challenging you to log at least 13 miles every week! Just think about how accomplished you’ll feel (and how many minutes of education you’ll sponsor in a year!) Stay tuned to our Facebook and Twitter for announcements of the top runners and even prizes for those who log the most miles for STF every month.

Not a runner? No big deal! This app is a great way to get involved with the #RunSTF campaign. Daily summer exercise, such as strolling through a park with friends or taking your dog for a walk, can be just as beneficial and raise just as much money as long runs.

Posted in Run the World | Leave a comment

Guest Post: Why I’m Dancing for Graduation

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Shes the First Team

Anoushka

My name is Anoushka Parthasarathi and I’m currently a senior at South Brunswick High School in New Jersey. I’m graduating in a month and I couldn’t be more excited. With graduation comes tons of new opportunities and new memories to make and I’m so eager to get out into the world and seize those.

Earlier this year, when I was thinking about what to do to celebrate my graduation, I said to myself, “It’s just high school, everybody graduates. It’s not that big a deal. Maybe I’ll just throw a small party with some close friends.”

The next day, I went to school and saw flyers around for a fundraiser for She’s the First. I had heard the name before, but I didn’t really know what it was about. I went home and looked at the website, and what I saw was absolutely alarming. Only one in every five girls in the developing world finishes primary school!! Yet, less than two cents of every development dollar goes to girls!!

Upon seeing this, I was shocked. I was shocked at how much I take for granted, how much we take for granted, every single day. We get the privilege of going to a good school and learning in a safe environment 5 times a week. We never think twice about it because going to school is the norm here, and we’re lucky that it is. Agreed, it’s difficult getting up at 6 AM every day and catching a bus an hour later (I’ve given up all hope on trying to wake up that early), but we’re so fortunate that we have that problem.

Everyone should be entitled to an education. In fact, education should be a right, not a privilege. Girls like Malala remind me just how hard it is for girls around the world and it should never be like that. Thinking about this, I felt so frustrated and helpless and confused. I felt restless. I felt like I needed to do something. That’s when it clicked. I could use my graduation as a way to help these girls who so desperately need it. I could use it to raise awareness about this issue. I decided to do a fundraiser while doing something I love, aka dance.

I’ve been dancing for as long as I can remember and I love it more than anything in the world. It’s an outlet for me. Whether I’m sad, happy, mad, frustrated, I just dance and I feel incredible. I feel magic. Pure magic. I thought about it and realized that I could put on a show and make that a fundraiser.

Suddenly, everything started to come together. My dance teacher was excited to help organize the show. Phone calls were made, emails were sent, discussions were happening; it was all such a blur. I came home from school one day and my mom said, “You’re doing the show!” I got so excited and couldn’t wait to prepare.

So much has been done in preparation for this performance and I’m so excited for the day to finally come. I have had regular dance rehearsals at 7 am on Sunday mornings, 3.30 pm on some weekdays soon after school, besides my weekly dance classes and the class I teach early Saturday mornings. I practically camp out at my dance school! I prepared for two other programs while preparing for this one and also took 3 AP exams. I skipped opportunities to hang out with my friends who I may never see after graduation. I have worked really hard for this fundraiser and I urge you all to please come out and support this incredible cause.

High school graduation IS a BIG deal and I cannot think of a better way to celebrate it than by helping other girls around the world graduate. If you would like to support my fundraiser, please donate here.

Posted in Fundraising Ideas, Guest Posts | Leave a comment

The Importance of Mentors at Starfish One by One

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Aishwarya Bhake

Jeronima Sulugui, mentor to Starfish One by One students

Many powerful females have repeated quoted the importance of mentors. Mentors are there to guide, give advice, change your perspective and push you to succeed. And mentors aren’t just limited to the professional world; their influence can be useful in all aspects of life. This is why Starfish One by One, our partner school in Guatemala, has adopted the mentorship model to guide young women through their education.

Starfish mentors meet with their mentee group weekly and not only provide academic support, but also to encourage students to develop leadership skills. Mentors also equip students with life skills such as management of personal finances and social and environmental responsibility. The mentors ensure that each Starfish student receives a well-rounded education so that she is ready to lead her family and community.

As an added bonus, Starfish mentors are unique in that they come from the same community as their mentees, can understand the obstacles they face from their families and society, and are themselves shining examples of the power of education. We asked Jeronima, mentor to our very own Ana Teresa, to tell us what she thought the biggest obstacles to education for Mayan girls were. This is what she shared with us:

“Well, in most Mayan families there is the lack of economic resources to be able to send all their children to school. It’s not just the money that families have to pay for classes and materials, but it’s also the loss of income that the families would experience if their daughters studied instead of worked. Apart from the economic strain on families, a lot of parents don’t believe it is worth the investment to send their daughters to school. If it’s for their sons, yes, because they believe that the money he will earn in the future will most likely come back to the family, but if their daughter marries, the money she earns will most likely go to her husband’s family. Many Mayan people also lack experience in participating in groups or in educational settings, especially women, so it can be a bit intimidating for the girls to feel confident at school or really get involved.”

Jeronima continues to be a source of hope and an example in her community of how educating women can benefit families and communities. As a Starfish mentor, she helps girls face these obstacles and achieve their ultimate goal of getting an education.

Thank you, Jeronima! If only we could all be so fortunate to find such a great mentor.

Posted in Starfish One by One | Tagged girls' education, Guatemala, Jeronima, Starfish One by One | Leave a comment

Stevie’s Race on Memorial Day is Extra Sweet–Here’s Why

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Nicki Brooks

Volunteer Stephanie Florence offered to interview another one of the Trailblazers participating in this spring’s RUN THE WORLD campaign. Wait till you hear how sweet Stephanie W.’s race is… and not just because she’s running it to help sponsor a girl in Tanzania.

Stephanie (but you can call her Stevie) Walker is a PR professional by day and world-changer by night. In true She’s the First fashion, we had to share what Stevie is the first to do — she’s the first in her family to live and work in New York City AND the first to work in PR. Check out her fundraising page; she’s running the Memorial Day Ice Cream Social 10k race around Roosevelt Island. Yes, you heard that right. The race ends with ice cream!

Name: Stephanie (Stevie) Walker
City: New York
Age: 23
Alma Mater: Gordon College
Profession: PR Professional
Tweet her: @BittyLeigh
Donate to her #RunSTF page

What are you the first to do? Or, what do you want to be the first to do?

I’m the first in my family to live and work in New York City, and the first to work in PR.

How are you helping girls to run the world?

I’m working with She’s the First to raise awareness of the program and I’ll be running a 10k in Roosevelt Island on Memorial Day this year!

What is your fundraising goal?

I set my goal at $500.

What’s a training tip or fitness that you’ve learned in the process of being part of the campaign?

The first step is always the hardest, but it’s always, always worth it.

Best piece of support/feedback/encouragement that you’ve received?

“You’re going to run further today than you did yesterday.” I tell myself that every morning.

Your power song?

I’m shameless – anything by Mika will do it.

Tell us about a girl sponsored by She’s the First who motivates you.

Eli from Tanzania inspires me – she isn’t afraid to give a voice to her dreams, and I love that! Check out a video from Eli and her friend, Glory, recorded when a friend of She’s the First went to visit them:

Posted in Run the World | Tagged Trailblazer | 1 Comment

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