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By Tammy Tibbetts, March 5, 2010 11:16 pm

Sheryl WuDunn and Nicholas Kristof, authors of "Half the Sky," Pulitzer-Prize winning journalists, and world-changing spouses

Thursday night, I attended a showing of “Half the Sky Live,” the one-night-only, nationally screened event that brought the book Half the Sky by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn to life. Half the Sky follows the stories of extraordinary women around the globe as they struggle to overcome oppression. It calls for the education of girls as the solution to the world’s problems. This event, originally taped at NYU in February, featured musical performances, celebrity commentary, and the world premiere of a short film “Woineshet,” co-directed by Marisa Tomei.

As we watched “Half the Sky Live” at the Loews of Union Square, what I most admired was that it didn’t feel like a girl’s club…it was a co-ed show of concern and call for action. That’s exactly what we want for She’s the First. Yes, our name is feminine but the campaign isn’t exclusive to women — the action we encourage needs guys’ support too, because when all are educated, families have higher incomes, healthier children, and greater happiness. Here’s where I think “Half the Sky Live” triumphed in sending this message:

1. Most obviously, the book backing this movement for women and girls was authored by a male, Nicholas Kristof, who’s dedicated his career as a journalist to shedding light on the most neglected women, whose own countrymen have cast them in the shadows.

2. The show opened with a call to action by CARE Ambassador Michael Franti, an American musician. Many high-profile women participated in the event — Marisa Tomei, Sarah, Dutchess of York, Maria Bello, India.Arie — so the choice of a male opener was definitely strategic.

3. In Marisa Tomei and Lisa Leone’s short film “Woineshet,” which reenacted the true story of an Ethiopian teenager who was raped and then protested a forced marriage to her rapist, special emphasis is placed on Woineshet’s father supporting his daughter despite cultural taboos. As The Washington Post had reported, “Woineshet’s father recalled that he felt caught between the draw of the modern world in the capital and the traditions of the village. He said he was offered bribes of cows and cash by local elders to keep quiet. He also endured pressure from some members of his family, who thought that Woineshet should marry her abductor. Ethiopian law absolves abductors of their crime if they marry their victims.”  But because he stood by Woineshet, she was saved and a new law precedent was set, protecting many other victims. Both Woineshet and her father were at the live event and received standing ovations.

She’s the First is incredibly inspired by Half the Sky’s growth since publication last year. Just as the book ignited a whole movement that now incorporates music, film, educated panel discussions, and grassroots book clubs to spread awareness in the mainstream, we hope our small beginnings with a PSA video take on a multiplatform presence in the artistic, political, and online worlds as well. But we need you too, guys! So ladies, send this to your guy friends on Facebook and encourage them to link up to the campaign.

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By Tammy Tibbetts,

We just reached 1,000 Facebook fans!

She’s the First believes social media can create social change, which is why our campaign thrives off of our YouTube PSAs, Twitter feed, and Facebook fan page. For that reason, we are thrilled to announce that our fan page on Facebook has surpassed 1,000 fans! (If you didn’t know we are on Facebook, you can join us now and help us get to the next milestone of 1,500!) We always cross-promote our blog posts and share thoughtful links on the value of girls’ education on Facebook. You can contribute to the cause simply by sharing those links to your own News Feed or posting our videos to your wall.

Thank you all for your tremendous support and interest! Together we are going to drive so many sponsorships  for girls worldwide in 2010.

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By Chelsea Orcutt, February 25, 2010 8:22 am

Syracuse University

Here at Syracuse University, our official mantra is “Scholarship in Action.” Since She’s the First is about giving girls in the developing world the opportunity to become scholars, SU is the perfect place to pilot a program that teaches college students how to take action for the cause.

She’s the First team members (and SU students) Christen Brandt, Rachael Datello, and I are working together to reach out to the media and on-campus student organizations to establish lasting sponsorships for girls’ education.

This takes a great deal of careful planning. Here’s how we hope to accomplish this goal at Syracuse:

• Take a grassroots approach. By working with residence halls and student clubs, we’re finding groups of friends who can gather together to support a cause that will enhance their organizations’ missions and provide a rewarding connection with girls in the developing world.
• Use our skills. As students at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, we are learning innovative methods for using various types of media to promote a message. From writing press releases for The Daily Orange (our student newspaper), to using Facebook, Twitter, and e-mail blasts to reach the entire campus, we’re focused on gaining support from anyone and everyone.
• Be accessible. When a student organization expresses interest in sponsoring a girl, we set up a time to meet individually with representatives to go over all of the details of the process. In my role as Campus Outreach Coordinator, it’s my job to ensure that our sponsors are fully informed about our mission and have all of their questions answered.

Most importantly, we’re staying optimistic. SU is a big place, and reaching every student will take some time. However, the challenges we face only make us more devoted to creating the sponsorships that will help girls become “the first” to be anything!

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By Tammy Tibbetts, February 14, 2010 12:03 pm

I first met Alexia Petrocelli last year when she entered a video contest I ran for my day job at Hearst Digital Media. Ali and her best friend won a trip to New York City to attend a concert at a high school prom. Ali, an 18-year-old singer-songwriter, and I have stayed connected on twitter ever since. She is @shesthefirst’s #1 cheerleader. When she wrote and recorded this song for our campaign, I knew it would forever be our anthem.

Ali: Our shared muse, Audrey Hepburn, would be bursting with pride. As the first in your family to study abroad, you’re a shining example of what girls can achieve with an education, and to think your journey is just beginning! You’re the reason I believe in the power of prom dresses.

Others: Leave your comments for Ali below!

Lyrics:
The First

VI

I can’t count all the dreams I hold in my hand
And the truth is I don’t really have a plan
But I’ll keep moving forward one day at a time
‘Till all my goals are in sight and they are mine
They are mine

C

I’m the first
Not the last
Gonna make my dreams last
Steady on
Head strong
I’m not leaving without a fight
This is my life

VII

As far as the stars reach is where I find
Where imagination really lies
So don’t worry now, I’ll be okay
‘Cause when they tell me I can’t I’ll make a way
I’m making my way

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By Elizabeth Stoltz, February 9, 2010 9:09 am

President Laura Chinchilla

Upon hearing that Costa Rica elected its first female president yesterday, She’s the First sought a young woman with ties to Costa Rica to blog about what this historic win means for the women and girls of Latin America. We found Jasmine Pope, a freshman at Haverford College in Pennsylvania, who first visited Costa Rica for service work in 2008 and will return this summer for an internship. Below, her thoughts on the soon-to-be-inaugurated President Laura Chinchilla:

Though I was always infatuated with Latin America, I became actively involved in Costa Rican politics and culture when I visited the country in June 2008.  Upon arrival, I instantly fell in love with the people and the motto “Pura Vida” or Pure Life.

Although we lived on opposite sides of the equator, I was surprised to learn that my experiences and ambitions were very similar to my peers in Costa Rica. Therefore, I guess I missed out on the “culture shock” that many people talk about. Au contraire, las abuelas, or the grandmothers, in my town were like my own in the States. Like my own mother, mothers in Costa Rica shared the similar desire to live a fulfilled life outside the home while caring for and raising their children.

These commonalities among women across the globe highlight the significant achievement of Laura Chinchilla. In Costa Rica, gender roles are more rigid than those in the United States.  This intensifies the difficulty that women experience in rejecting traditional domestic roles.  One of my Costa Rican friends revealed to me that her family initially disapproved of her when she decided to pursue higher education at the local university.

Following the progressive and prosperous years of outgoing President Oscar Arias-Sanchez, Costa Rica will continue to advance with the inauguration of Laura Chinchilla. Chinchilla is the protege of President Arias, the Nobel Peace Prize recipient and international pro-activist against Central American violence and guerrilla warfare. As an advocate of standardized Costa Rican education based on the concept that “every town will have a school” and economic trade with US and China, Arias exemplifies a charismatic and well-liked figure. These ideologies served the best interest of Chinchilla.

Revolutionary sentiments that swept through the United States in our past presidential election have influenced the Costa Rican elections.  Supporters are hopeful that Chinchilla’s political influence will continue the progressive change that has already begun with Arias. Meanwhile, Chinchilla, as a strong social conservative and devoted mother, gives hope to women across Latin America who seek to live fulfilling lives outside of the traditional place in the home while still maintaining their motherhood.

• NY Times: Costa Rica Elects First Female President

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By Tammy Tibbetts, January 30, 2010 7:27 pm

Blogger and She's the First supporter, Allison Rapson

Earlier this month, I felt so energized after talking about She’s the First to Allison Rapson, a friend who’s developing new ways for women to change the world on a Web 2.0 platform, starting with her blog, Women Rising (wearewomenrising.com). The idea: interview women who believe in helping females worldwide rise above oppression and pursue incredible opportunities. Ask them the same questions, and showcase the unique responses of each — illustrating how we each offer a fresh perspective to a shared challenge. Allison’s signature questions are,”What does it mean to be a woman?” and “What do you know that women rising need to know?”

the avatar of 'Women Rising' on twitter is this coffee cup - great conversations happen over coffee, and red lipstick (style) doesn't exclude substance!

After talking to Allison about what it means to be a “first” — i.e. recognizing what you’ve been the first to achieve, thanks to your education, reminds you to pay it forward and help another girl succeed — she began asking her subjects a third question: “How have you been the first?”

We’re thrilled that our spirit of celebrating and enabling “firsts” is a part of the conversation for Women Rising. Below, check out how Allison’s accomplished interviewees have answered the question, and be sure to read the rest of their inspiring words on her blog.

• Janera Soerel, the Founder and Chief Curator of JANERA: “I am the first in my family to have a university degree. I am from a small Caribbean Island, so I am sure that I am the first at many of the things that I am doing. I believe, too, that I am the first to try and curate a global conversation to bring people who are globally minded together at the same time.”
• Alexis Wolfer, Founder of The Beauty Bean: “I am the first female entrepreneur in my family and the first in my family to have worked abroad.
• Gabrielle Bernstein, Author of Add More ~ing to Your Life: A Hip Guide to Happiness: “I am the first motivational speaker in my family.”

And here is Allison’s spotlight on She’s the First, where it all began. So, how would you answer the million-dollar question: “How have you been the first?”

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By Tammy Tibbetts, January 18, 2010 12:20 pm

second graders at the Shanti Bhavan school in India

To anyone who invests a huge part of their life — emotionally, financially, and sometimes professionally — into strengthening a very poor country, it’s a conflicting feeling when an uncontrollable catastrophe strikes another third-world nation. You want to help the relief efforts (this case, in Haiti) but so many of your resources are already committed to the country that your non-profit supports (in my case, that’s children in Liberia, since I’m Director of Operations of the MacDella Cooper Foundation). But what I realized this past week is that no donation is too small. Even $10 helps, or you can drop off spare supplies to the charity : water office. On Saturday, when I received this email from the founder of the Shanti Bhavan school in India, part of the She’s the First network, I saw how special a small gesture can be.

Dear Friends of Shanti Bhavan,

As you all know, the people of Haiti are now suffering terribly as a result of the earthquake just three days ago. Many countries, organizations and individuals are trying to help these desperate people in different ways. We too must do what we can at this critical juncture.

Shanti Bhavan was founded 15 years ago on the simple principle of universal humanity – that we are all part of one large family – and we must come to the aid of others in times of need. It is only consistent with the teachings of some of India’s great figures such as Ashoka the Great as early as 250 BC, Rabindranath Tagore, Swami Vivekananta and Mahatma Gandhi, as well as numerous Western philosophers.

Shanti Bhavan has considerable experience in caring for orphans and children of single parent families who have been victims of social and economic disadvantage. We know the importance of a loving home, personal attention and quality education to realize the full potential of each child. Our commitment is not constrained by race, gender, social background or nationality.

After consulting with some of you, Shanti Bhavan has decided to open its doors to the children of Haiti who have been orphaned as a result of destruction and deaths. We are offering free admission to 12 Haitian children between the ages of 4 and 6 as soon as we can obtain the necessary permission from relatives and governments. While this would only be a small gesture, I hope it would motivate other institutions to do the same to save many more precious lives.

I realize the difficulties we will face to make this happen due to governmental regulations.  We will need the consent and approval of relatives and governments. I am hopeful that we can persuade all parties that what we are striving to do is in the best interest of the children. We will commit to bringing up the children without government financial support all through school and college until they are in a position to seek employment.

I am reaching out to those of you who can help us accomplish this difficult task of facilitating the transfer of 12 orphan children from Haiti to Shanti Bhavan in India. There are many steps to this process which require influential contacts with governments and coordination with relief agencies. Shanti Bhavan does not have the institutional capability to accomplish that. If you are in a position to contribute to this noble effort, please email us at shantibhavanchildren@gmail.com describing how you can be helpful; we will try to put those organizations and individuals together, where appropriate.

This is an important moment in our history. We owe our fellow humanity all our support and help at this time of great anguish and sorrow. Please help Shanti Bhavan help the children of Haiti.

Thank you for your consideration.

Abraham M. George
Founder, Shanti Bhavan

This is how it should be. If we’re raising children to be global citizens, why do we have to choose between two needy, worthy causes? We can join forces, even in small ways. That’s what being a network is all about, and we’re so grateful to Shanti Bhavan for reminding us of that.

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By Tammy Tibbetts, January 16, 2010 8:10 am

The Haiti Blog

The She’s the First network includes an education sponsorship program in Haiti, supported by the Haiti Outreach Program. This past Christmas, six girls were sponsored in Haiti as part of our holiday gift giving campaign. Katie Riley, who is a remarkable volunteer leader in the organization (as she’s also a busy college student), sent us an update last night:

To our friends at She’s the First,

I know you all have been very concerned about the students in Haiti after Tuesday’s earthquake news. I’m sorry I haven’t been able to update you sooner, but as I’m sure you can imagine its just been a crazy week!

I am so thankful to be able to say that despite what has happened in surrounding areas, Boucan Carre is virtually unharmed. They have reported a crack in the second floor ceiling of our clinic, but no other major structural damage in the community. Even more amazing, they have not reported a single casualty in the town. This means that all of our students are safe and sound =) I’m not sure if school is in session at the moment, but I imagine everything is at a bit of a standstill right now. We have not had the communication yet to follow up with specific students, but I’ve been assured that everyone is well.

With the exception of one or two, all of our doctors and nurses in Boucan Carre have gone to Port au Prince to provide emergency medical care there. Many other members of the BC community have also gone to Port au Prince to help in any way that they can. The HOP is currently focusing its efforts on financially supporting Partners in Health and their emergency relief fund.

I suppose this is all the information I have to offer at the moment, I just wanted to let you know that your students are safe and sound. The dress sale fundraiser for the secondary school is still moving forward according to schedule – I know you would be proud to hear our response to “Why are you raising money for the school and not changing it to emergency relief?” – We can send all of the “urgent” care we want to Haiti in a crisis – but supporting their education is giving them the tools to respond to a crisis without our help.

As always thank you so much for your support – I am so so grateful for this partnership! I hope to have more updates for you soon =)

Katie

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By Tammy Tibbetts, January 10, 2010 9:55 pm

Stones into Schools, by Greg Mortsensen

I was cruising through the middle of Stones into Schools, when page 231 stopped me in my tracks — I found the heart of She’s the First! Stones into Schools is the follow-up book to Three Cups of Tea — The New York Times bestseller about Montana mountaineer Greg Mortensen, who unexpectedly devoted his life to building schools in the most remote, conservative areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan. I encourage you to read the entire book, but here is an excerpt of the paragraph that completely riveted me. From my pink highlighter to your screen:

Aside from becoming a teacher, there are almost no jobs available for rural women outside the home [even if they receive a basic education - because in conservative Islamic culture, they can't interact with men outside their family or move to the city to find a job]. This, we discovered, has several consequences. First, it gives rise to a cycle of students becoming teachers who educate their own students to become teachers, and so on. Second, the first wave of educated women to emerge in a community have no role models or support network whatsoever to help them pursue higher education and eventually move into the workforce as doctors, lawyers, engineers, and a range of other professions through which women can, if they wish, build wealth and attain greater control of their lives. In short, we began to realize that not only the institutions we built, but also the people passing through them, would require intensive follow-up, broad support, and long-term commitment in order to eventually become self-sustaining. For poor people in poor countries, very little simply falls into place.”

She’s the First was created for this very reason. First, we’re helping girls get sponsors for tuition, but ultimately, we’re evolving into a support system of role models for the first wave of educated women. We’ll be able to funnel this support from “famous firsts,” and firsts like you and me, into programs for students belonging to our network, so that once they are given this access, they can aspire to reach a broader range of post-grad options.

Let me know what other books belong on the She’s the First bookshelf!