Tag Archives: Darfur

UN Launches New Program for Girls, Teen Activist Shot

Malala Yousafzai, 14-Year-Old  Girls’ Education Champion, Shot by Taliban
At the age of 11, Malala Yousafzai took on the Taliban by giving voice to her dreams. As turbaned fighters swept through her town in northwestern Pakistan in 2009, the tiny schoolgirl spoke out about her passion for education — she wanted to become a doctor, she said — and became a symbol of defiance against Taliban subjugation. Read more here (New York Times).

University Students Protest Tuition Fees in Sudan
Students from four different universities across Sudan recently began a strike in protest of tuition fees. The dispute began when universities refused to register students until they paid tuition fees.  Student leaders argue Darfuri students enrolled in national universities are not required to pay fees and should be allowed to enroll. An appeal has been made to the Ministry of Finance, the Darfur Regional Authority and the governments of the five states of Darfur to solve the problem. Read it all here.

Teenage Ugandan Girl Wins Seat in Parliament
Proscovia Oromait, a young 19 year old girl fresh out of high school, has won a seat in Uganda’s parliament. Although some are criticizing Oromait for her lack of experience, she claims, “It’s not about the age … it’s the brain.” She will represent Usuk, a region known its extreme poverty. Read it all here.

UN Launches New Program for Girls and Women
A new five year program, Accelerating Progress Toward the Economic Empowerment of Rural Women, was recently launched by UN Women and three Rome-based United Nations agencies. The program, which will begin in countries like Ethiopia, Guatemala, and Rwanda, seeks to empower poor rural woman who are struggling to find decent employment. The program has four primary goals: improve food and nutrition security, increase incomes, enhance leadership and participation in rural institutions, and create a more responsive policy environment at national and international levels. Read more.

 

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Darfur’s Youth Dream Big, Camp for Girls’ Ed in Ghana, and More



Darfur’s Youth Dream Big
Yousra Suleiman Al-Toum Ahmed is a 16-year-old girl with big dreams for both herself and the future of Darfur. Although this is a region plagued by conflict and war, optimism remains in many young voices that still believe and dream in a future with more opportunities for everyone. Yousra is leading the way as she works toward her dream of graduating from university and working as a journalist. (Read more.)

Grant Helps Flood-Hit Pakistan Rebuild
USAID has approved a grant of $155 million for the promotion of education in Sindh, a region in Pakistan devastated by floods last year. The grant will be used to reconstruct damaged school, while improving the quality and availability of education to people living in remote areas. Additionally, the Sindh Education Secretary Siddiq Memon hopes to use the assistance in order to ensure that girls will not only get enrolled in schools but also complete their education. (Read more.)

Camp Promotes Education for Girls in Ghana
“Creating Champions Against Violence Against Girls,” an event recently held in Ghana, aims to promote equality and respect for girls and women. The event sought to teach young boys the importance of educated girls in society, while changing their negative perception about females and adopting a better attitude that promotes equal relations between both sexes. Participants were taught that females should be given equal opportunities to obtain an education, which enables them to develop in their fullest capacity. (Read more.)

Success in Fight Against HIV in South Sudan
A five year $27 million project of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is allowing thousands of people in South Sudan to receive lifesaving HIV treatment. As of March 2011 around 130,000 people had received voluntary HIV counseling and testing and more than 158,000 young people have been educated about the virus. This is a setting where, according to latest research, less than ten percent of people have comprehensive knowledge of effective HIV prevention methods. (Read more.)

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