the She's the First blog

Write a Poem, Win $500 for You, $500 for Jancy!

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Hannah Brencher

A guest post from the president of She’s the First*{Bryn Mawr}, Amanda Kennedy:

Follow Amanda at @msamandakennedy

My love of stories bloomed from reading to writing them when I was in kindergarten: I wrote and illustrated a book about my family, scrawled in vibrant markers and simple sentences. It was the most elementary of stories, but it told a story nevertheless, and sparked a desire to write more, about flower friends, Jewel Rider (my girl power Super Hero I made up at age 7), and a play-by-play of my Aunt and Uncle’s wedding.

Every girl has a story. Here is one of the most beautiful things about She’s the First: the stories of girls around the world can be continued and brightened through the education that She’s the First sponsors.

So what better way to tell a story than through poetry? Join She’s the First “Voice Your Verse Campaign” by writing poetry about girls education on the She’s the First web site, and you might make your dreams come true by becoming a published author – She’s the First will compile an anthology of promising poems, “If the World Were My Classroom.” Of course, 100-percent of proceeds will directly sponsor girls’ education in Tanzania, Ethiopia, Nepal, and India. Anyone can submit!

Students should submit their poetry to Zinch.com to be entered to win a $500 scholarship! By promoting the importance of educating girls, one person with the best poem will receive the gift of giving back from She’s the First to fund your own education.

And what’s more –Chegg for Good will match that with a $500 scholarship for Jancy, a student in India who is very much part of She’s the First’s story and has an amazing story of her own to tell. A senior at the Shanti Bhavan School, Jancy was the judge for She’s the First’s Cupcake T-shirt Design contest and is well on her way to making a difference in her community.

Education is

A way of sitting on a
Wonderful star and

Lighting up the world.

I entered a poem for the Voice Your Verse campaign through Zinch. Now, it’s your turn. Help to make the stories of girls come to life.

Posted in Voice Your Verse | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Education is the Key to Peace and Development

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Sarah Vandiver

Girls at the Ayak Anguei Girls’ Primary Boarding School in South Sudan

Here at She’s the First, our top priority is to help girls in developing countries become the first in their families to graduate. We’re all about creating a world with strong, well-educated female leaders that can not only win today’s fight against poverty and injustice, but also inspire future generations to do the same. But what about using education to support world peace?

One recent study suggests the benefits of education extend beyond what we already know (a delay in marriage & childbirth, decreased vulnerability to HIV/AIDs, higher earning potential, etc.) and may actually play a more important role than previously thought in the peacebuilding process in conflict-affected countries.

The report, put out by the Education and Emergencies and Post-Crisis Transition (EEPCT) program – a partnership between UNICEF, the Government of the Netherlands and the European Commission, discusses the fact that the majority of the world’s out-of-school children are located in conflict zones. We all know access to quality education is not always possible in the midst of conflict, but this study suggests more focus should be paid to how and when education is reintroducted in post-conflict societies:

“Education is deeply implicated in processes of socialization and identity formation, is vital for economic growth and individual and national advancement, and can act as an important vehicle for social cohesion and reconciliation…we need to ensure that it is delivered effectively and equitably and is a driver of peace rather than war.”

The report goes on to suggest that education play a more prominent role in all stages of the peacebuilding process, even throughout the conflict itself and especially in the immediate post-war period. Even more, it is argued that education has the power to serve as vehicle for change in society, providing children with values and attitudes that not only combat conflict, but also create a more productive and developed economy.

We told you that educating a girl could change the world!

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Growing Violence in Sudan, Elections Delayed in Egypt & More

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Sarah Vandiver

Afghan Girls Punished for Elders’ Misdeeds
In Afghanistan, a harmful, although largely hidden, tradition punishes young girls for the misdeeds of their elders. The practice known as baad, or baadi, involves giving away a young woman, often a child, into slavery and forced marriage as “payment” for crimes a family elder committed, such as murder or adultery. Traded girls often endure cruel treatment and even torture. A 2010 United Nations report says the practice is “still pervasive” in rural areas. Read more here.

Another Darfur in Sudan?
The border of Sudan and South Sudan has been home to increasing violence and conflict. In a a recent report, Nicholas Kristof says people in the Nuba Mountains are living with bombings, ground attacks and sexual violence that closely resembles what happened in Darfur. The report claims that Sudanese uniformed soldiers are targeting Nubans, both for their darker skin and Christian faith, but also because many Nubans supported an armed uprising against decades of Sudanese misrule. Thousands of Nubans have fled the area to refugee camps. Read Kristof’s entire story here.

Egypt’s Presidential Election Date Delayed
The resignation of Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak following last year’s protests and demonstrations left a vacancy in the president’s seat for the first time in 30 years. Although it has been over a year now, Egyptian election officials have yet to determine a date for the country’s first presidential election following Mubarak’s departure. The Supreme Council of Armed Forces, the ruling military power in Egypt, is now being pressured to bring the election by May 2012. Read the details here.

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A First at Starfish One by One in Guatemala

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Maisy Page

Jeronima, the first Starfish One by One mentor to have graduated from the program!

Jeronima, a former Starfish One by One student, is a lady of many firsts. She is the first in her family and the first in her entire community in rural Guatemala to graduate high school. She was a member of the first generation of Starfish One by One graduates. Now, she is the first Starfish “organic produce.” Jeronima is now the mentor for the newest group of adolescent girls in Starfish. The “Triumphant Ants” will have the support of Jeronima as their mentor for at least the next three years. She will be able to provide them with support and having been through the program herself, relate to what her students are going through. Felicitaciones Jeronima and we wish you the best of luck in your new Starfish role!

 

Jeronima with her mentorship group

Jeronima with her mentorship group, the "Triumphant Ants"

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Drought Brings Dry Spells to Classrooms

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Elizabeth Stoltz

 

A young boy's toes go unprotected as he carries river water back to his classroom in East Africa. Tony Karumba/AFP - Getty Images

As an elementary school student (okay, and as a high school student too), snow days were among the happiest days of the year.  I never thought twice about feeling anything other then joyful when school was cancelled because of weather. But for students in Ethiopia, climate has presented a huge educational obstacle to overcome. In January, UNICEF reported that over 450,000 young children in Ethiopia have seen their schooling opportunities threatened by natural disasters and conflict. It seems that droughts leave more than just the land barren; classrooms are taking a hit too. Torn between drought, flooding and windstorms, some regions in Ethiopia suffered a 50 percent dropout rate in just one month this summer. Unfortunately, these dropout rates have become the norm.

Each day that passes of a child not attending school increases the likelihood that the child will not return. To mitigate the devestation, several steps are being taken to get kids back in school before it’s too late. An article published by “IRIN” highlighted the effectiveness of school feeding programs and flexible calendar scheduling. The World Food Programme in partnership with other organizations is spearheading a “food for education” program. Serving a meal or snack during the school day has proven to be a great incentive for parents to send their children to school. Plus, the extra nourishment helps the young students focus on their studies, rather than on their rumbling stomach. A more flexible school calendar allows the children of pastoralists or nomadic populations to migrate when drought hits without the consequence of missing school. The school calendar would be designed so that class didn’t meet during the driest seasons.

Currently, the WFP is still seeking funds to provide assistance to children in Ethiopia in need of food and educational aid. To learn more about how drought can impact a child’s schooling, click here to watch a UNICEF video from 2007 when the same desperate circumstances arose in Ethiopia.

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Meet the #SMWMagic Speakers!

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Tammy Tibbetts

Before you attend Thursday’s Social Media Week event presented by She’s the First — The New Face of Social Good: How Make Your Own Social Media Magic! — get to know our #SMWMagic speakers!

We’re thrilled Social Media Week gave us the 6pm, Feb 16th, slot inside the Social & Environmental Change Hub at Thomas Reuters, 3 Times Square! If you can’t join us at the crossroads of the world, then tune into our Livestream…you’ll just miss the cupcakes (thanks, @sprinkles!) And remember to tweet with hash tag #SMWMagic, because @thethinkcloud is matching mentions with a $1 donation, till we sponsor Eli’s final year of high school in Tanzania!

Special Introduction by ALEK WEK, @TheRealAlekWek

Elle magazine took a risk by featuring dark-skinned, Sudanese model, Alek Wek, on the cover of their November 1997 issue. However, the result was a monumental number of reader responses and letters-to-the-editor from both women and men who were ecstatic to see different standards of beauty in the fashion industry. Oprah later commented to Alek on her show, “If you’d been on the cover of a magazine when I was growing up, I would have had a different concept of who I was.”

Alek was born in Southern Sudan and raised as a part of the Dinka tribe. At fourteen, she was forced to flee to London to escape the civil war. Alek was soon discovered at a London street fair. She quickly rose to the top of the modeling industry. She has walked the runway for top fashion houses–Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, Christian Dior, Gucci, and Chanel–just to name a few.

Alek’s influence extends far beyond the fashion world and societal concepts of beauty. She has also served on the advisory board for the U.S. Committee for Refugees. She speaks in New York area schools to bring attention to the famine in Southern Sudan and to educate children on the importance of nourishment.

Moderated by EMILY BANKS, @emjbanks, of Mashable

Emily is responsible for assigning and editing news coverage, organizing editorial schedules and overseeing Mashable‘s editorial ethics guidelines and style guide. Previously, Emily was assistant news editor. She joined Mashable‘s New York team in October 2010 as copy editor. Emily also has experience working in newspaper, television and corporate communications. She has reported for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, community newspapers in Wisconsin and Georgia, and Georgia Public Broadcasting TV. She also worked for a small communications firm in Minneapolis with Fortune 500 clients. While in college she was the co-publisher and editor in chief of The Minnesota Daily, one of the largest student-run daily newspapers in the country.

ADAM BRAUN, @adambraun
Founder & Executive Director of Pencils of Promise, one of the world’s most impactful new nonprofits as recognized by Nobel peace prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Barbara Walters, Katie Couric, and active supporter Justin Bieber.

As a college student traveling across the globe, Adam asked a small boy begging on the streets of India what he wanted most in the world. The answer: A pencil. The promise that came in handing out that first pencil led to the sharing of thousands while backpacking through 50+ countries, learning from locals about the need for a nonprofit that built schools based on a model of community ownership and empowerment.

Pencils of Promise was founded in October 2008 with a mere $25 in hopes of building
one school in Laos. Today, that dream has manifested into more than 40 schools in Laos, Nicaragua and Guatemala and over 1 million education hours delivered. In creating the largest social media following out of any nonprofit started in the last four years, PoP has become a leader in social media engagement, sustainable development, youth empowerment and digital innovation.

Adam graduated magna cum laude and played varsity basketball for Brown University,
previously worked at leading consulting firm Bain & Company, and now spends half the year traveling on behalf of PoP and half the year at our global headquarters in New York City.

SUSAN MCPHERSON, @susanmcph1
Susan McPherson was just recently promoted to the first-ever Director of Global Marketing at Fenton, the nation’s leading public interest communications firm, where she focuses on corporate responsibility programs. She regularly writes and speaks on sustainability communications and the value of public/private partnerships.

She has more than 20 years experience in marketing, public relations, CSR communications and business development. Prior to joining Fenton, McPherson was vice president, CSR services at PR Newswire. Earlier roles with the company included assisting in development of the firm’s first bureaus in China (Beijing and Shanghai) and the launch of MediaSense, a media measurement tool. Prior to her career at PR Newswire, she worked in both the editorial and marketing departments of USA Today.

She serves on the board of Bpeace, an organization dedicated to assisting women in regions of conflict and post-conflict start businesses. She also is a member of Echoing Green’s Social Investment Council, Social Media Week’s New York Advisory Council and the New York Leadership team for 85Broads. She serves as an adviser to Plant A Fish, She’s the First, The Adventure Project and The OpEd Project.

MICHAEL RADPARVAR, @michaelrad
Michael Radparvar is the co-founder of Holstee a lifestyle goods company committed to design with with a conscience. At Holstee Mike is the chief storyteller, sharing the story of Holstee and their innovative approach to materials, design and production with the world. Mike’s unique approaches to press, marketing and outreach led to the viral spreading of the Holstee Manifesto, a message that has since been shared over 500,000 times and viewed over 60 million times online, and was prominently featured in this February’s issue of Inc magazine.

TAMMY TIBBETTS, @tammytibbetts
Tammy is the founder and president of She’s the First, a social-media driven and rapidly growing non-profit organization that sponsors girls’ education in developing world countries, so that they can be the first in their families to graduate from high school. In 2011, She’s the First sponsored 161 girls across eight countries, through creative campaigns that included tie-dye cupcake bake sales, the GIRLS WHO ROCK concert during Internet Week, and the efforts of college students who have started more than 20 She’s the First chapters across the country. Tammy graduated as a journalist from The College of New Jersey, and started her career as the youngest web editor in Hearst Digital Media. For the past 14 months, she has been the social media editor of Seventeen, which she led to have the fastest growing Twitter presence in the magazine industry in 2011, and will soon be leading She’s the First full-time.

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Traditional Indian Art at Shanti Bhavan

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Aishwarya Bhake

[Editor's Note: This is the second installment from guest blogger Isabel Rutherfurd, who is a volunteer teacher at Shanti Bhavan.]

Students at Shanti Bhavan work together to create traditional Rangoli designs

Traditional Indian art made its way to center stage this week at Shanti Bhavan. I had the pleasure of leading the fourth and fifth grade classes in the creation of a customized rangoli in the school’s courtyard. Rangoli is a traditional folk art made from colored sand or rice flour and is thought to bring good luck. Shanti Bhavan students learned some of these symmetrical patterns and put their skills to good use, creating the largest rangoli the school has ever seen.

A student methodically working on a Rangoli design

Each rangoli design is brightly colored and usually located in doorways, courtyards, and other sacred areas. Because of the good energy these designs bring a household, rangoli designs are essential to the presentation of any household. Each rangoli pattern is passed down from mother to daughter and drawn each morning, just after the sun rises. While students at Shanti Bhavan learned these designs from their teachers, their designs maintain authenticity and bring excitement and color to the campus!

Note from Aishwarya: I’m very impressed with how elaborate and intricate these designs are! I remember making rangoli designs for Diwali with my mother when I was a kid. (Re-purposing leftover sand from my Sand Art kits, the American version of rangoli!) The students at Shanti Bhavan did a great job, don’t you think?

Students hard at work

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Girls in Uganda Outshine Boys, Changes in Kenya & More

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Sarah Vandiver

Food Shortages Force Children to Drop Out of School in Niger
The food crisis across the Sahel region of Africa is having devastating health effects on millions of children, especially those under the age of five. However, food shortages have also created a ripple effect that is causing countless children to stay home, too weak to attend school. Niger has been hit especially hard by the crisis, where 66 percent of the population lives below the poverty line and educational indicators are already among the lowest in the world. Read more here.

Girls in Tororo, Uganda Outshine Boys in Final Exams
Girls in Tororo District, Uganda have a big reason to celebrate: For the fourth year in a row, girls in this region have outshone their male counterparts in Primary Leaving Examinations. Way to go girls! Read the details here.

Major Changes Possible For Kenya School System
Kenya will have four different types of secondary schools if a new proposal on education reforms is adopted. Unlike the current system, the proposal allows students to pursue either general, technical, talent or vocational education from specialized institutions. The changes would bring new curriculum and textbooks and would also require students to take two years in pre-school, six in primary, three in junior secondary, three in senior secondary and three at university. If accepted, the changes will take place in September 2013. Read more here.

Mexico Appoints First Female Chief of Federal Police
For the first time ever, Mexico has appointed its first woman to head the federal police. Maribel Cervantes, 41, has a degree in communication sciences and is experienced in military training and intelligence. The past year has seen a number of firsts for women in Mexico. Marisela Morales became the first female attorney general of Mexico in March, and last weekend Josefina Vazquez Mota of Calderon’s conservative National Action Party (PAN) won her party’s presidential nomination for the July 1 election. Read more.

 

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Q+A with Designer of STF’s New Cupcake Necklace!

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Tammy Tibbetts

Inspired by our Tie-Dye Cupcake Bake-Off, shesthefirst.org/cupcakes

Have you seen the brand-new She’s the First cupcake necklaces on Etsy, inspired by last November’s Tie-Dye Cupcake Bake-Off? The made-with-love necklaces are $20 and donate 75% back to girls’ sponsorships!

In addition to the cuteness and the cause, there’s also a fun story behind their creation that proves the power of the press. Read our interview with the designer, Ashley Osgood, and then tweet us (@shesthefirst) & her (@TheAshTree) pics of you wearing your necklace! Use it as a conversation starter to tell people about how a cupcake really can change the world.

Ashley Osgood (tweet @TheAshTree)

STF: Tell us a little about yourself.

Ashley: I’m an artist and businesswoman. I graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and a minor in Entrepreneurial Leadership from Tufts University. I currently run an online and retail store that sells my handmade jewelry, and I also have a wedding calligraphy side business. Right now, I’m working hard in online marketing to pay off my education while living my life as creatively as possible!

STF: How did you learn about She’s the First?

The newspaper article that started it all!

Ashley: I take a train and a bus to work every day and read the Boston Metro on the way to work. I read an article featuring She’s the First, and was so inspired by their message and what they are trying to do. I looked them up when I got to work and, as I usually do with things move me, began sketching out design ideas.

STF: What drew you to She’s the First?

Ashley: I think the big sister in me (my little sister is now 16) was what responded to She’s the First. I thought, how great is this organization that cares about girls specifically, who are often denied the right to education because of their gender or living conditions. I’m a big believer also in education and the opportunities it brings.

STF: What made you decide to take action to help support She’s the First?

Ashley: After reading about She’s the First, it looked like they raised money primarily through bake sales in colleges or even middle, junior, and high schools. Being a college grad working full time without access to a school to help contribute at said bake sales, I thought I’d try something else that I could do and was good at: creative handmade jewelry.

STF: How did you come up with the idea for the cupcake necklace?

Ashley: I didn’t act on the idea right away. I found myself browsing Etsy to research and see what kind of cupcake jewelry was out there, and if there was already a design that I had a vision for. When nothing really struck me, I began to come up with my own design: a clay necklace with bright colors and fabulous rhinestone crystals. It took a few prototypes to nail the final design, but I’m so happy with how they’ve turned out!

STF: What is the process for making the cupcake necklace?

a cupcake necklace under construction

Ashley: Starting with the three clay colors — magenta, teal and white — I begin by creating the frosting and cups using silicone molds. I mix, but don’t blend, the magenta and teal to get the tie-dye look of the cupcake cup, then make a simple white “frosting” using a different mold. I press the two together, inserting a eye-loop to string the charm on a necklace. I then individually press in Swarovski rhinestones in assorted colors and shapes into the soft white “frosting.” After making a batch, I “bake” in the oven, then spray with a shiny finish to seal everything together. Then I string the cupcake on a simple silver chain necklace, and they are ready to go!

STF: How can people purchase the cupcake necklace?

Ashley: You can visit my etsy website, Ash Tree Creations, and in the “cupcake pendants” section, visit the She’s the First cupcake listing here. They are available in bulk orders, if you and your “cupcake team” all want to unite and support a cause. All cupcakes ship the same day, so you’ll be sure to get it right away!

STF: What have you learned from your involvement with She’s the First?

Ashley: Anything’s possible if you have passion and dedication. I care about this cause, as does She’s the First, and living in a world that is so connected (i.e., online and social media) makes it that much easier to connect with like-minded individuals and help make a difference.

STF: What are you the first in your family to do?

Ashley: Coming from a long family of artists, I was the first to go to Art school. My grandmother, an amazing painter, married when she was 17 and had five children. My father became a mechanic, and explored his creativity through customizing cars and motorcycles. I was the first to say, I love this and it’s what I’m passionate about — and I’m going to go for it.

STF: What advice do you have for other people that are looking to take action with She’s the First?

Ashley: She’s the First has great information about how to take action right on their website: Get a group of friends together and support one of the listings in their directory of locations. You’ll find you’ll learn a lot about each other and what you’re capable of when you’re dedicated to making a difference. I know that I did!

Interview by Rachel Molomut

Posted in Gifts That Give Back | Leave a comment

US Ambassador Visits Kibera School for Girls

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Elizabeth Stoltz
Ribbon Cutting 

 

Ribbon cutting for the new Kibera School for Girls with Margaret Patricelli, Judy Gration, Bob Forrester, Jessica Posner, Kennedy Odede, and Ambassador Scott Gration (from left)

As we welcomed in the new year, the Kibera School for Girls welcomed an ambassador! Earlier this month, the school celebrated the arrival of Scott Gration, US Ambassador to Kenya, and his wife Mrs. Judy Gration.  The Ambassador and his wife joined Kibera’s students in honoring Newman’s Own Foundation, a major supporter of the school since 2009.  The Newman’s Own Foundation is instrumental in funding Kibera’s school, clinic, bio-latrine, and Clean Water Project.  Bob Forrestor, the foundation’s president, joined the Ambassador and Mrs. Gration in cutting the ribbon for Kibera’s newest clean water tower and school building.  Katherine Kitfield Bascom, Shining Hope’s Associate Managing Director, reported, “Our new school building is providing our students the space they need: larger classrooms, art studios, a hall for performances and parent meetings, and more. The clean water tower kiosk has started selling water, and we are thrilled to report that it’s been quite busy every day!”

Judging by what I read about the girls on Kibera’s Meet the Students page, I had a feeling they’d have no trouble impressing the US Ambassador and his wife with their bright personalities.  The 2nd and 3rd grade classes shined on stage as they performed their play, “Lack of Education.”  The story chronicles two parents who feel education has no place in their lives.  Everything changes when they meet a student from the Kibera School for Girls who kindly offers to read a letter for them.  They’re amazed by what this young girl can do and need no further convincing to enroll in Kibera’s Parent Education classes.  Bascom commented, “The girls are amazing actresses – loud voices with very exaggerated character development.”

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Updates from Eli and Glory in Tanzania

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Christen Brandt


In October, Val Martin of The Uplifting Project (and a great friend of STF!) traveled to Tanzania, and stopped in to say hello to some of the girls we sponsor there. She met with Eli and Glory, two girls in their first of two years at The Kisa Project, where they’re learning computer, leadership, and life skills. We sent along a photo album of our favorite places in NYC (which you can check out here!), and Val talked to them about their future plans. Doesn’t Eli look great in her I ❤ NY tee?

 

And guess what? Next week, we’re holding an event here in New York during Social Media Week — and no matter where you are, you can take part by helping us to sponsor Eli’s last year of school! Just watch for the #SMWMagic hashtag next Thursday, February 16th. For every time it’s used, The Think Cloud will donate $1 toward her sponsorship — and I know you guys can make it happen.

Have a message for Eli or Glory? Leave it in the comments and we’ll make sure it gets to her! Plus, check out more photos from Val’s trip below:

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

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NYU’s Stern School of Business Visits Shanti Bhavan

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Aishwarya Bhake

[Editor's Note: This is the first post by guest blogger Isabel Rutherford, who is a volunteer teacher at Shanti Bhavan.]

Stern MBA's meet Shanti Bhavan students

Shanti Bhavan’s campus buzzed with excitement this past weekend as 55 students from Stern’s Executive MBA program came to visit the school. Ryutaro, director of marketing at UNICEF, and Donna Drasher, finance manager at Johnson & Johnson addressed the students with words of encouragement and positive reflections. Mizuno told the school, “The most powerful and important tool we have is education,” and encouraged them to “dream of a world only your heart can build.”

A Stern/Shanti Bhavan musical collaboration!

Members of the Stern program got a tour of the school building, dorms, and athletic field by the school’s foremost experts—the students! After familiarizing themselves with campus, the visitors joined the students and faculty for the morning assembly. Four members from the 11th and 12th grades presented the morning news and the choir performed “Vellai Pokol,” a melodious tune sung in Tamil. Both Shanti Bhavan and Stern showed off their musical talent on the piano with a mix of Beethoven, Bach, and Schubert. After the assembly, the Shanti Bhavan students had a chance to talk with the Stern visitors to ask them about their lives and careers!

A Stern MBA with his new friends

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Female Leaders Impact Girls Ed in India & More

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Sarah Vandiver

UN Says Somali Famine ‘Over’
The United Nations has officially declared the Somali famine over as the number of people in the area needing humanitarian assistance has dropped from 4 million to 2.3 million. Although the severe drought that plagued the Horn of Africa is improving, the UN warns that continued efforts must be made in order to restore food security and help people resume normal lives. Two million starving people seems like quite a few, so “continued efforts needed” sounds like a bit of an understatement to us. Read more here.

Study Shows Female Leaders Impacts Girls’ School Exams in India
A recent study found that Indian girls raised in villages with a female leader (called a Pradhan) serving on the village council were more likely to score higher in school exams that girls from other villages, while test scores for boys remained roughly the same. The results show that the role model effect “reaches beyond the realm of aspirations into the concrete, with real education and time-use impacts.” Read more here.

UNDP Starts First Program in South Sudan
South Sudan now has its first ever United Nations Development plan, a two-year program created to support the government as it build its own capacity, develops pro-poor policy and improves on health systems. The UNDP is also working in the country to improve community security by supporting the training of police officers and handing over 54 posts to the police service. Read the full story here.

Malaria Deaths Hugely Underestimated?
A recent study funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation suggests that worldwide malaria deaths may be almost twice as high as previously estimated. The study found that 1.24 million people died from malaria in 2010, which is much greater than the World Health Organization’s previous estimate of 655,000 deaths for the same year. Although high, these number have declined in recent years. The discrepancy in numbers may be due to the fact that the new study involved a variety of measures and used improved mathematical models, along with additional data sets, to calculate global death rates. Read the full story here.

Uganda to Teach Swahili in Schools
Many schools in Uganda previously avoided teaching Kiswahili as a compulsory subject due to limited materials in and teachers of Swahili, but now the language will become a compulsory requirement in primary and secondary schools throughout the country. Uganda joins Rwanda in the list of regional countries to promote the language as they seek to advance opportunities in the integrated East African Community, where English and Swahili are the main languages of communication. Read the full story here.

Sudan Denies Bombing of U.S.-Built School
After a school built by a North Carolina aid group was destroyed in the Nuba mountains, Sudanese officials are denying targeting the area. Read more here.

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Submit to “If the World Were My Classroom” Poetry Anthology!

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Hannah Brencher

Hey all you poetry lovers out there!

Do you have a knack for written verse? Are you the go-to one in your group of friends when it comes to scripting a clever rhyme? How would you like the opportunity to have your work published beside some great poets and some of the awesome young ladies we sponsor through She’s the First?

We’re proud to introduce our first She’s the First poetry anthology, “If the World Were My Classroom.” This is guaranteed to be a keepsake packed full with impactful poetry from around the globe.

We’ve come up with the prompts but now we need you to voice your verse! We are accepting submissions for the anthology through February 29th on shesthefirst.org & on zinch.com.

What does it mean to Voice Your Verse? Our poetry host, Azure Antoinette, will tell you:


Editors @hannahkatyb, @azureantoinette, and @oysterconcept cannot wait to dig into all the great pieces that roll in and pick the top notch verses to be published in our anthology, coming out just in time for National Poetry Month in April (copies will be available in paperback and digital download)!

But we haven’t even said the best part of this campaign yet… 100% of proceeds for the book and will go towards  girls’ education! Your verses will give other girls the opportunity to go to school and be bright shiners within their own communities.

Students in the U.S., this is a special bonus for you! Be sure to submit via the Zinch contest!

TAKE NOTE! If you’re a student, submit your entry via Zinch.com -- they’re awarding one of you with a $500 scholarship for the best poem, and Chegg for Good is MATCHING that with a $500 scholarship for Jancy, the student we sponsor in India!

It doesn’t matter if you are a spoken word poet or someone who has never stitched a rhyme together before, we want you to get involved! Make your mark and inspire others with what you have to say today.

Be sure to check out more details here!

Happy Scripting!

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Meet the #VoiceYourVerse Team!

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Hannah Brencher

We knew couldn’t move a step further into our #VoiceYourVerse Campaign without introducing you to the leaders of the pack. Without further ado, meet the ones who are pinning their hearts & poems to girls’ education now through April’s National Poetry Month. Want to join them? Visit shesthefirst.org/anthology to submit!

Hannah Brencher, Director

A heart that beats fierce for poetry and all its forms, Hannah is excited to lead She’s the First through its Voice Your Verse Poetry Campaign for the second year in a row. She is the founder of The World Needs More Love Letters (@moreloveletters), a social media-drive organization that writes and mails love letters to people in need across the world and a proud partner with the #VoiceYourVerse Campaign. Hannah has been on the She’s the First team since September 2010 and is also the Communications Associate at Save the Children, a leading international organization for children. She is also a member of the UNICEF Working Group for Girls and previously worked for a human rights NGO at the United Nations. She’s the first in her family to train for a Tough Mudder. hannah@shesthefirst.org, @hannahkatyb

Azure Antoinette, Host

Azure Antoinette is a poet/spoken word artist, freelance photographer, and youth literacy advocate. She recently formed Studio: Alchemy, launching this spring, to house her inspiring projects. As a poet/writer, Azure Antoinette has been commissioned to write for the First Lady of California – Maria Shriver (Minerva Convention), Tuskegee Airmen Col. Lee Archer, American Cancer Society just to name a few. An Oprah-approved poet, Azure teamed up with She’s the First in April 2011–all because of a tweet! @azureantoinette

Samantha Neugebauer, Associate Editor

Samantha works at Educational Housing Services, a non-profit in New York City, writes poetry and stories, and contributes book reviews to The Cool Ship. In 2011, she graduated with a masters degree in Higher Education from the University of Pennsylvania with a focus on international students and college access. Samantha is also a graduate of NYU where she developed a concentration on the American Dream and Creative Writing at the Gallatin School of Individualized Study. She has worked in marketing, launched social media campaigns, and participated in poetry readings in New York and Philadelphia. She’s the first in her family to attend college. samantha@shesthefirst.org, @oysterconcept

VIDEOS

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A Refresher Course in Programs at Starfish One By One!

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Maisy Page

A mentorship session at Starfish One by One

Every now and then it’s good to have a refresher course. As a researchers at She’s the First, we can get inundated with information and statistics. So, today, I sat down with one of my recent quarterly reports from Starfish One by One and thought I’d share with you all of the great programs they run for girls in Guatemala!

  1. The POWER Program (7-9th grade) identifies young women who would otherwise discontinue their schooling beyond the 6th grade. These young women are provided with partial scholarships to ensure their access to secondary school. Participants are then welcomed into a positive peer support group of 14 other girls. A community-based mentor facilitates this group on a weekly basis and also monitors the academic and familial situation of each girl. In addition to receiving academic and emotional support, young women receive training in reproductive health, financial literacy, computer literacy, environmental stewardship, social responsibility and critical thinking.
  2. The BRIDGE Program (10-12th grade) takes graduates of the POWER program and ensures that each is fully prepared to apply her unique skills and talents in the professional realm. Via the same peer-support space and mentor, each young woman defines her interest areas to develop a life plan, acquires the professional skills to achieve that goal, and gets practical experience to make informed decisions.
  3. Rippling the “Girl Effect”, Starfish launched its Technical Support Program in August 2011. This program helps other organizations replicate the successful mentorship model. This program is currently being piloted in the remote Ixil area of Guatemala, where with Starfish One by One accompaniment, a local organization is launching a program that serves 30 extremely marginalized girls.

These programs are helping to transform the communities served by Starfish One by One in the Lake Atitlan area of Guatemala. Through education and empowerment programs Starfish One by One is providing these young women with the tools needed to succeed and make a positive change in their communities. To find out more about Starfish One by One, visit their page in our She’s the First Directory!

 

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Cupcake Tees and Totes at Shanti Bhavan

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Aishwarya Bhake

Hello World!

My name is Aishwarya and I’ll be the new Shanti Bhavan researcher, reporting on all the great things happening at our partner school in India. I was born in India but raised in the U.S., making me a first generation Indian American. I graduated from the Huntsman Program for International Studies and Business at the University of Pennsylvania and I currently live and work in New York City. Ensuring that females in the developing world have access to education is a cause that is very important to me and I am extremely excited to be joining the She’s the First team!

The proud judge with volunteers Ashley Monroe and Isabel Rutherford

Today I bring back an old friend of ours: Remember Jancy? Jancy is a senior at Shanti Bhavan and was chosen to judge the Cupcake T-Shirt Design contest this past Fall. Being the top art student at Shanti Bhavan made her well qualified for the task. Someday, she hopes to be a fashion designer and wants to take business courses in college so she can start her own fashion company. Given how savvy she already is, I wouldn’t be surprised if she were one day running her own fashion empire!

Well it took a while, but here Jancy is receiving her favorite t-shirt pick (designed by Kelsey Thorn, Skidmore College Senior) and tote bag (designed by Krista Firkins, Emerson College Senior).

Jancy receives her "Make a Change Bake a Cupcake" t-shirt designed by Kelsey Thorn of Skidmore College

Jancy's "I'm a Baker, Not a Fighter" Tote by Krista Firkins, an Emerson College Senior

Did any of you pick the same tee? Isn’t it cool to know that all the way in India, Jancy is wearing the same thing?

I look forward to becoming a regular on the She’s the First blog and getting to know you all!

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Education Means Independence for Rwandan Refugee & More

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Sarah Vandiver

No Justice for Somali Girls and Women?
The famine and mass displacement that has taken over Somalia has opened up a new terror for girls and women: mass rape and an increase in sexual violence. The Shabab militant group, which presents itself as a morally righteous rebel force and the defender of pure Islam, is gang-raping and abusing girls and women at alarming rates. But it isn’t just the Shabab; reports from the area say there has been a free-for-all of armed men, even government soldiers, preying on young girls and women displaced by the famine and desperate for food. In addition, more and more forced marriages are happening as Shabab soldiers raid villages in search of young wives. Unfortunately, very little is being done to protect the girls and women of this country, most of whom are illiterate and relegated to their homes. Read it for yourself here.

Education Provides Independence, Says Rwandan Refugee
Have you ever visited the UNHCR’s YouTube channel? It’s a great place to hear stories of strength, hope, and survival from refugees around the world. One story in particular shows Shadia Mbabazi, 22, who was born in Rwanda but fled with her family after the genocide in 1994. They eventually settled at a refugee camp in Botswana, where Shadia dedicated herself to her studies and, with the help of a scholarship, was able to complete her degree in Community Development. In the video Shadia explains why her education is so important to her, saying,  “I don’t like depending on people, so I felt with my education I can be able to provide for myself and for my family without asking or begging from people.” Watch her video here and watch more at “storytellingunhcr” on YouTube.

Deadly Attack Mars Elections in Manipur
The north-eastern Indian region of Manipur is the first of five states to hold local elections, which will serve as a test for India’s governing Congress party. At least four people are dead after suspected rebels, thought to be members of the National Socialists Council of Nagaland, attacked a polling station in Manipur. Elections will continue in neighboring throughout the next several weeks. Read more here.

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Announcing the First Ever Campus Award Winners!

Posted on January 28, 2012 by Monica Townsend

This year was bigger and better than ever for She’s the First*{Campus} as we ushered in many new chapters, increasing our total number of campus chapters to 21 and getting our name out to colleges and high schools across the country. We were blown away by the creativity, dedication, and enthusiasm that our campus chapters demonstrated during the Fall 2011 semester, particularly during the National Tie-Dye Cupcake Bake-Off. To honor their accomplishments, the new Campus Leadership team for She’s the First voted on the recipients of the first ever Campus Awards. And the winners are….

Northwood High made cards for sponsored girls!

Most Creative: Northwood High, from Irvine, CA, led by Chapter President Maryam Khan. She’s the First*{Northwood High} held an event where club members signed Holiday cards to send to the sponsored girls at She’s the First partner schools with a matching bracelet connecting them to their “sister” in the U.S. that has one too! The chapter also sold “cake pops” as a spin off the signature STF tie-dye cupcake bake sales.

Most Social: Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY, led by Chapter President Chelsea Tirrell. She’s the First*{Hofstra} used social media in creative ways to increase awareness in the student body about She’s the First and the activities Hofstra hosted. Nowhere was this more evident than during the Tie-Dye Cupcake Bake-Off when She’s the First*{Hofstra} Tweeted a countdown of the number of cupcakes that still needed to be sold to sponsor a girl at Kopila Valley School in Nepal.  They reached their goal…and then doubled it, sending TWO girls to school!

Most Financially Successful: University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN, led by Casey Kraft, Monica Townsend and Lindsay Brown. She’s the First*{Notre Dame} raised $1092 this year to renew their sponsorship of three girls at Kopila Valley School in Nepal. The remaining funds were donated to Shanti Bhavan in India in collaboration with other groups from the Tie-Dye Cupcake Bake-Off. The money was raised through many tie-dye cupcake bake sales, cupcake “grams” that students could have delivered to a friend’s dorm room, and even a cupcake eating contest!

Events like this cupcake eating contest helped She's the First*{Notre Dame} raise over $1000 and win Most Financially Successful!

So there you have it, from New York to Indiana to California, our campus chapters are spreading STF all over the country, one cupcake at a time. The winners will receive honorary logos stating their award to decorate their social media pages as well as a pizza party for the members of their chapter. We can’t wait to see what the Spring 2012 semester will bring—look for the next round of Campus Award Winners in June!

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

Questions? Contact campus@shesthefirst.org

 

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Rwanda Shows Improvements in Girls Ed, Micro-Credit in Zambia & More

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Sarah Vandiver

Efforts to Support Girls’ Education Paying Off in Rwanda
The 2011 final examination results were recently released in Rwanda and show that girls’ school performance is improving. Results show that five out of the ten best students countrywide are girls, which proves that the country’s efforts to support girls’ education are paying off. The results also show that girls’ secondary schools are performing exceptionally well, while rural schools are still posting better results than those located in urban areas. Although the examination results look promising, there is still a lot of work to be done for girls and women in Rwanda. Read it all here.

Education for Women is Paramount, says Kristof
Nicholas Kristof, one of our favorite advocates for girls’ education, recently spoke at Stanford University on the profound importance of educating girls and women. The New York Times columnist and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner argued that education, particularly for girls and young women, is the key to enacting change in impoverished and developing countries. He went on to say that educating a girl has the power to inspire dramatic change around the world. Kristof ended his discussion by saying, “We, sitting here, have truly won the lottery of life, but with it comes responsibility,” he said. “What will you do with your responsibility?” Read more here.

Micro-Credit Model Helps Empower Zambian Women
The United Nations Development Program is supporting a Bangladeshi micro-credit program that provides loans to female entrepreneurs in Zambia. The loans, which are exclusively given to the most under-privileged women, ranging from $50 to $400. One woman, Elizabeth Sakala-Banda, used a $100 loan to stock her grocery shop with a wide variety of products. Within six months, she had paid off her loan, and made a profit of US$315. Since then, she has taken a second loan to purchase maize and fertilizer, enabling her to participate in her local farmer’s co-operative, and opening up a whole new income-generating activity for her family. Like most women in the program, the added income they earn is used to pay for their children’s education. “The extra money I make helps me buy school uniforms, books and other items for my children,” Elizabeth says. Read more about the program here.

 

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