Tag Archives: education

More Women in Office, More Girls in School!

Girls and women everywhere are forces for change! Photo from the Kibera School for Girls

Girls and women everywhere are forces for change! Photo from the Kibera School for Girls

As I watched the election results pour in Tuesday night, I couldn’t help but think of the happiness I shared with my She’s the First family across the country. We were witnessing so many firsts in our nation’s history – the first time a state elected an all-female Congressional delegation and Governor (good work New Hampshire!), the first openly gay U.S. Senator, Tammy Baldwin (also the first female U.S. Senator in Wisconsin!), the first Asian-American woman in Senate, Mazie Hirono (also the first female U.S. Senator in Hawaii!), the first Hindu in Congress, Tulsi Gabbard and Deb Fischer, Nebraska’s first female senator since 1954. We were watching history in the making. Issues critical to women dominated the headlines this election cycle, and voters responded by sending 20 female senators – the most this country ever has – to Washington.

Rallying around the “firsts” for females isn’t the only similarity I noticed between She’s the First and the elected female representatives. We’re well aware that educating girls leads to life-changing levels of empowerment and life-saving impacts like less sexual abuse and slavery, fewer child brides and improved health. A girl who receives an education is also more likely to earn a higher income, invest more in her family and send her children to school. Yet around the world, far less girls than boys are likely to finish school. Imagine what the world would be like if we unlocked ALL girls’ potential, and provided the support, funding, and environment they needed to thrive and grow in their communities as change-makers and world-shakers?

Today, women are not only underrepresented in classrooms around the world, but in decision-making roles as well. As we support girls’ education globally, we must also encourage women to seek positions of leadership. Despite the success of this year’s class of female candidates, the push for female representatives in office is hardly over. Did you know that the United States’ federal government ranks 78th in female representation worldwide? Though women comprise the majority of the nation’s population and voters, the number of female representatives in office remains disproportionately low.

One of the main reasons women don’t run for office is because no one ever suggested to them that they should. A study in 2011 found that because women are less likely to believe they’re qualified to hold office, the females who do run tend to be more effective, qualified and talented than the average male candidate. If you know a female who is a force for change, tell her. Show her that she can advocate for change that benefits her community, state or nation and shine as an example to girls everywhere, showing them that they too deserve to have their voice heard.

When we send women to office, we elect legislators who can offer a woman’s perspective and experience on issues of health, economic empowerment, education and the role of the U.S. in the world. Her voice transcends women’s issues; it can influence the nation as a whole. When you elect a female candidate, you are electing someone who is more likely to sponsor or cosponsor legislation, secure federal funding for her district and engage in collaborative leadership.

I’m thrilled to congratulate the women who have been elected to serve in the 113th Congress. Not only will they make tremendous contributions to our country, I’m positive their groundbreaking leadership will inspire generations of young girls and women to be leaders for years to come. The record-breaking must continue and it starts with you! Whether you know a girl who dreams of making a difference, or you yourself are that girl, your voice is valued and it is needed. When we value and uplift females as students, leaders and individuals, we change the world for the better.

 

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A Name You Should Know: Malala Yousafzai

In the girls’ education sphere, certain people enjoy something similar to “hero” status. Many of us would list Nick Kristof, with his illuminating Times columns, and his wife Sheryl WuDunn, who co-authored Half the Sky with him. Others would look to strong women fighting for human rights, like Hillary Clinton, Aung San Suu Kyi, Queen Rania, or Somaly Mam; still others would name figures like Fawzia Koofi, with her rise to potentially take over as Afghanistan’s first female president. Then there are the superstar organizations and campaigns — Room to Read, 10×10, The Girl Effect — that push for higher rates of international education every day, and the foundations — Women Moving Millions, Gates Foundation,  Novo Foundation — that make change possible. On top of all of these, I know we all have our own personal heroes as well; mine are Ana Teresa, Jancy, and the many other girls we sponsor, as well as the partners we work with on the ground.

But out of all those names in that thick paragraph, out of all these organizations and figure-heads and world-travelers and politicians, there’s one name you should–you need–to know: Malala Yousafzai.

Malala is 14, and has been fighting for girls’ education rights since she was 11, when she started an anonymous blog to give voice to the girls oppressed by the Taliban in Pakistan.

On Tuesday, she was shot for that voice, once in the head and once in the neck.

There has already been quite a bit of media attention around Malala’s case, and if you want more details, you can find them here. But instead of hashing through the who/what/where of the tragedy, let’s discuss one fact made incredibly clear by this horrific situation: Girls’ education is powerful. Malala believed in it so much that even at age 11, she was willing to stand up to a terrorizing regime and fight for her right to it, knowing that it could change her life and the lives of all the girls around her. It’s so powerful that the Taliban was willing to track down a school bus and shoot a teenager, because her voice was such a threat to them. There are few things in this world that could motivate such actions, and if there is a takeaway here, it’s that Malala was fighting for girls’ education because she knew how much change it could bring, and how much change was needed for everyone around her.

Tomorrow is the International Day of the Girl, and I know many of us will spend it thinking about this girl in particular. I don’t know Malala, but I wish I did. Because even as she lays in a hospital bed in Peshawar, 14 years old and struggling to stay alive, she is the most powerful person I know of.

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Technical Innovations Improve Education in Africa & More

Technical Innovations Improve Education in Africa
The first high-speed Internet link between national research networks in Sub-Saharan Africa was launched last month when Zambia was linked up to South Africa by a cable passing through Zimbabwe. The link is expected to bring a wide variety of advantages and will be especially beneficial for the education sector and researchers in neighboring countries, who will now be able to link up to the network and participate in global e-learning opportunities. Read it here.

Boycotting Students Close University in Swaziland
Students protesting at Swaziland’s only state university have forced the university to close just eight days after the start of the semester. The boycott began over a dispute regarding scholarships the Swazi government was supposed to grant to students this year. Reports claim 700 people were granted places to study at Uniswa and other colleges in Swaziland but were denied scholarships. Read more here.

Senegal Makes Headway on Gender Equality
Senegal has been working through a historic shift of power that began last March, when the country’s 86-year-old president, Abdoulaye Wade, ceded electoral defeat to his popular rival Macky Sall. Not only has the country transitioned into a new president and new government, but now more women than ever are claiming their spot in public office. In fact, 64 of the 150 new representatives in the national assembly are women, a landmark step towards gender equality. Hawa Ba, Senegal officer at the Dakar-based Open Society Initiative for West Africa, says, “Having this record number of female parliamentarians is excellent not only for women in Senegal but in the entire sub-region.” Read more here.

Higher Education Rates Decline in Cuba
University enrollment in Cuba is down over 25 percent from last year, which has some officials worried. Many attribute the steep decline to the fact that Cuba is in the process of reforming their higher education system. The changes include tougher university entrance exams, encouragement for students to major in the agricultural and technical sciences, fewer enrollment places in the humanities, and more training outside of universities for technicians and skilled workers. Read it all here.

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

 


 

 

Swazi Students Suffer as Teacher Strike Escalates

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

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

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

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

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Girls’ Education a Major Challenge in Pakistan & More

 

Girls’ Education a State of Emergency in Rural Pakistan
Girls’ education in rural Pakistan has seen very modest improvements over the past several years. Access to quality education varies significantly throughout the country. with rural areas being particularly bad due to the high demands and restrictions on girls. They’re expected to marry young and have many children. Most girls are raised to serve their families and then go on to serve their husbands. To make matters worse, cultural norms prevent girls from studying alongside boys. According to the World Bank, only 22 percent of girls in rural areas have completed primary school. Even more, just 34 percent of females in rural areas are literate. One woman, Geytee Ara, has made it her mission in life to help educate girls in Pakistan. She opened a school that serves over 60 students, with equal numbers of boys and girls. Read more details here.

Learning Circles in Rwanda Discuss Challenges for Girls
A two-day training was recently held in Rwanda to discuss the efforts needed to tackle the challenges girls are facing in the Nyamagabe and Huye Districts of the Southern Province of Rwanda. The training, referred to as learning circles, was an opportunity for 20 people from a variety of NGOs to come together to share their experiences and find solutions to existing problems. Read more here.

First Saudi Women Will Compete in Olympics
For the first time in history, Saudi women will be allowed to compete in the Olympic Games. Before this landmark decision Saudi Arabia was the only major nation to ban female athletes from its national Olympic team. This marks a rare advancement for women in Saudi Arabia, who are not even allowed to hold a driver’s license. Fortunately one woman, show-jumper Dalma Rushdi Malhas, is trained and ready to compete. Read it here.

Female Entrepreneurs Propel Growth in Emerging Countries
Women entrepreneurs and small-business owners are being recognized as one of the main drivers of growth in emerging countries. In fact, by the end of 2010 there were 187 million women worldwide who launched and ran businesses. India in particular has seen an incredible amount of economic success over the past several years, much in part to its growing number of female entrepreneurs. To read the stories of three women who started their own business in India go here.

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A New School Year and New Surprises at Kopila Valley!

Kopila Valley students Goma, Kalpana, and Ganga smile for the camera!

Kopila Valley students Goma, Kalpana, and Ganga smile for the camera!

Although the new school year started just slightly over a month ago for students at Kopila Valley Children’s Home in Surkhet, Nepal, the school has been filled with a flurry of activities! The “newest little kopilas” – as they’re affectionately called by the school’s founder, Maggie Doyne – are enjoying classes, playtime and making new friends. Seven new teachers also joined the school and big plans are on the horizon for Kopila Valley’s school and health clinic!

Though the school grounds are filled with lots of smiles and back-to-school excitement, Kopila Valley has been dealing with water shortages and no electricity or Internet as Nepal worked to meet its May 27th deadline to finalize the country’s new constitution. According to Maggie, this left the school, and country, in shutdown mode. During Kopila Valley’s first full school week, the country was facing several days of political strike, meaning several days of school not being in session. Though the well has been a saving grace for everyone at the school, keeping so many children occupied for days of extreme heat and no power has proven to be quite a challenge. The students distracted themselves with an ultimate Frisbee match, scavenger hunts, singing during music month and of course, schoolwork.

As if all of this activity wasn’t enough, Kopila Valley made a huge announcement in mid-May. After years of searching, the school finally purchased their dream plot of land for the future and permanent site of Kopila Valley School! Tucked in a valley amidst fruit trees and fertile land, Surkhet’s first sacred temple, and a farmhouse, the location is perfect. The new construction will allow Kopila Valley to expand and offer 9th and 10th grade. In her blog post, Maggie writes, “We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us and a lot of big dreams for the future . . . I am so excited for Kopila Valley and honored that I get to keep living my dream each day, doing what I love and bearing witness to the children blooming before my very eyes.”

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Gender Equality in Chile, New Vaccine in Rwanda & More

Empowering Women in East Asia Means More than Economic Development

While East Asia has enjoyed a record of economic growth in recent years, the region still lacks in gender equality. A panel discussion at the World Economic Forum concluded that greater economic development alone is not enough to empower women. Instead, cultural changes are needed to help more men understand  the multiplier effect that occurs when women are educated and involved in the community. Read it here.

Gender Equality Still a Challenge in Chile

More than 60 percent of Chileans, both men and women, oppose the idea of gender equality according to a study by the United Nations Development Program. This view is reflected in the small number of Chilean women who get involved in politics, which is largely male dominated. Only 14 percent of Chile’s House of Deputies is female and 13 percent of the country’s Senate is female. The government is considering enacting a quota that would require a certain number of political seats be reserved for women. Read more here.

More Schoolgirls Poisoned in Afghanistan

For the second time in only a week, 160 schoolgirls were poisoned in Afghanistan. Girls at the Aahan Dara School, located in the Takhar province, complained of headaches, dizziness and vomiting before being taken to the hospital. It’s suspected their classrooms were sprayed with toxic material and the Taliban blamed for the incident. Just last week, more than 120 girls and three teachers were admitted to a hospital after drinking poisoned well water at school. Read it all here.

New Vaccine Gives Hope for Mothers in Rwanda

Each year 3,500 Rwandan children die of rotavirus diseases, which account for about 10 percent of all deaths for children under 5 years of age. Fortunately, mothers now have new hope for their children as the country is the latest in a growing number of African nations to receive the rotavirus vaccine, which is expected to help save thousands of lives. Read the details here.

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Free Bikes Keep Indian Girls in School, Water Issues, & More

Free Bicycles Help Keep Indian Girls in School
In an effort to improve literacy and high school graduation rates among girls one of India’s poorest and least developed states, Bihar, is giving free bicycles to students who live long distances from school. The program, which launched in 2007, has seen great success and produced a remarkable increase in the number of girls registered in school. It has been especially helpful for girls living in remote villages who would otherwise have to drop out due to the long distance between home and their high school. In addition to the free bikes, the government of Bihar is also giving out free school uniforms. Authorities require students to maintain a 75 percent attendance record in order to earn the bike and uniform. Read more here.

Niger Children Miss School to Search for Water
Over 80 percent of the population in Niger does not have access to running water. As a result, most school-age children, particularly girls, are given the laborious burden of finding safe drinking water, which is a search that overrides just about everything else including their studies. In Zinder, one of Niger’s largest cities, things are especially bad following a short rainy season. Officials say a third to one-half of students have abandoned their classrooms. “It’s the water that is keeping them out of school,” said Salissou Sahirou, an education official in Baban Tapki. Read more here.

Literacy Program Thrives for Women in Morrocco
An accelerated literacy program targeting girls and women in remote villages throughout Morocco is changing lives. As part of the nation’s literacy campaign, the program requires students to complete 300 hours of basic reading, writing and numeracy classes. The girls are also given lessons in social and civil rights, development, environment and income-generating activities such as weaving, baking and beekeeping. Read more here.

Millions of Girls Still Lack Sanitary Pads in Kenya
More than 3 million girls in Kenya still don’t have access to sanitary pads. Beatrice Muta, the ambassador of the Saidia Dada Network Kenya, says it’s shocking that so many girls and women, especially those in remote villages, are still using old blankets, leaves or whatever is available during their menstrual period. Muta also said this remains one of the major contributing factors to the high drop out rate among girls. Read it all here.

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Starfish One by One Works to Address Domestic Violence

Starfish Students in a Mentorship Session

Starfish Students in a Mentorship Session; Photo by Kate Lord

We are so proud of our shining stars at Starfish One by One and it makes us glow to receive reports of the spectacular things that these ladies and their mentors are doing. These young women in the Starfish One by One program are breaking the glass ceiling by committing to six years of a junior high and high school education and a brighter future for themselves and their families. Dedicated mentors (other Mayan women who have walked the same path and are among the one percent to reach university) support Starfish students throughout their six years in the program. These mentors run weekly peer support groups for fifteen Starfish girls, offer out of school academic tutoring, and work with student families to surmount traditional barriers that impede education and women’s empowerment. However, the institutionalized marginalization of Mayan women means that young women in the Starfish program face barriers that extend beyond poverty, access to schooling, and cultural norms. Family violence, combined with high rates of alcoholism, can all too quickly derail a young woman’s educational ambitions.

Many mentors in the Starfish program have faced situations in which a bubbly, engaged leader in the peer group suddenly disengages. Her group participation drops and her grades in school suffer. When the mentor approaches the young woman about this change in behavior, she sometimes learns about issues of domestic violence in the home. This domestic violence ranges from physical abuse by alcoholic mothers or fathers to sexual advances by other adult family members. Unfortunately, this scenario occurs far more often than it should. Violence is notoriously underreported, but one recent study asserts that 9 out of every 10 women in Guatemala has been a victim of some form of violence in the home.

Starfish mentors are well versed in academic support, financial literacy, and reproductive education, and skillfully confront cultural issues like lack of family support around education. Starfish mentors need professional and culturally appropriate training to confront the issue of domestic violence. Specific training is needed to provide each young woman with the skills to cope with and recover from the devastating consequences of violence. Training is also needed to teach young women in the program to recognize the signs of and prevent domestic violence.

In the spirit of collaboration and in order to not “reinvent the wheel,” Starfish has partnered with an expert in the field, the JUCONI Foundation of Mexico, to train Starfish mentors in how to effectively prevent and treat family violence. JUCONI’s internationally-recognized training program tailors its trainings to the specific cultural and programmatic contexts of its clients. Starfish has partnered with JUCONI to provide various training since 2009. This past week, JUCONI educators traveled from Mexico to Guatemala to provide valuable training to Starfish mentors and four other NGO groups in Panajachel, Guatemala. This hands on sharing of skills and ideas empowered our Starfish mentors to fully support the amazing girls in the program.

As Starfish continues to expand its impact – over 210 students are now enrolled for six years of intensive support and education — their ever growing staff must be trained to effectively deal with family and domestic violence. Through acquiring these new skills, Starfish mentors ensure that young women do not succumb to pressures and problems, but stay in school—and that’s a program we can all get behind.

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Solutions to Overpopulation, LRA Commander Captured & More

Are Girls the Solution to Overpopulation?
Experts estimate that the Earth has the capacity to support approximately 4 billion people, however we’ve already surpassed that number and likely to reach over 9 billion by 2040. Resources are growing scarce and the cycle of poverty only continues. Perhaps one of the best solutions to overpopulation can be found in young girls. If provided with a safe environment and an education, girls truly do have the power to change the world. Research shows that girls who stay in school are more likely to marry later in life and have fewer children. Even more, educated mothers are more likely to send their own children to school, which helps break the cycle of poverty even further. Read more here.

Britain Pulls Funding for Girls Education Program in South Sudan
South Sudan is perhaps the worst place to be a female. Not only does the new country have the highest maternal mortality rate, but it also have the lowest female literacy rates. Girls in South Sudan are therefore more likely to die of pregnancy-related causes than complete primary education. While conflict has plagued the region for years, which limits educational and economical opportunities for women, many countries have contributed funds to help the nation rebuild. However, Britain recently pulled back development funding in response to South Sudan’s halt of oil production. The withdrawal will limit funding to Britain’s program to educate girls. Meanwhile the United States is moving forward with their development plan. Read the whole story here.

Africa’s First Female Presidents Determined to Help Women
The first two female presidents in Africa are joining forces in an effort to make life better for girls and women on the continent. Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Malawian President Joyce Banda recently pledged to work together to accelerate their efforts to empower girls and women. Both women govern countries with significant development issues, yet they’re confident about the future. Read it all here.

LRA Commander Captured
Ceasar Achellam, a senior commander in the Lord’s Resistance Army, was recently captured by the Ugandan army in the Central African Republic. Joseph Kony, the group’s leader, is still wanted by the International Criminal Court for rape and murder thousands of civilians. See it here.

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First Female Pilot in Nigeria, Girls’ Sports in Saudi Arabia & More

Education Main Tool for a Poverty-Free Bangladesh
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recently spoke about the results of the 2012 Secondary School Certificate examinations and said the main tool for building a poverty-free Bangladesh is education. She discussed a variety of government measures that will help build an illiteracy free country by 2014, including distribution of free textbooks among students up to the secondary level and providing scholarship to female students up to the higher secondary level. In addition, she encouraged students to pay close attention to their studies while working towards an enlightened and dignified Bangladesh. Read it here.

Saudi Arabian Girls’ School Defies Religious Ban
A state-run girls’ school in Saudi Arabia has become the first in the country to openly allow students to play sports. While Islamic law prevents women from playing sports, the school has defied the religious ban and put up basketball hoops for female students to use during activity classes. Saudi Arabia recently set up a ministerial committee to consider allowing women’s sports clubs. Read the rest here.

Qatar’s First Female Olympians Head to London
Qatar is one of only three countries that has never sent women to the Olympic Games. However, that is all changing in just a few short months as the country will send its first female athletes to London for the summer games. Bahiya Al-Hamad, who was awarded a wild card to compete in the 10-meter rifle shooting competition, says this historical event is an accomplishment for every Qatari woman. Read it here.

Corruption Threatens Education System in Mozambique
An in-depth study in Mozambique found that widespread corruption and impunity in the education sector is putting the country’s future at risk. Despite accomplishments such as raising the literacy rate by 50 percent and pushing the net school enrollment up by a third, the public perception of the education sector remains negative. The study calls on the Mozambique government to put anti-corruption laws in place to strengthen oversight and ensure resources are properly managed. Read more here.

First Female Military Pilot in Nigeria
Blessing Liman made history in Nigeria as she was made the country’s first female military pilot. At just 28-years-old, the young officer earned her wings after joining the Nigerian Air Force in July 2011 and excelling in her training. Read it here.

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Malawi’s President Fights for Women’s Rights & (lots) More

[Ed. Note: We're making up for missing these last week by giving you an extra-long version today. Enjoy!]

Malawi’s President Fights for Rights of Girls and Women
The first female president in southern Africa, Joyce Banda, is using her role as president to fight for the rights of girls and women in Malawi. As a long time advocate for female empowerment, she recently spoke out in an interview about the increasing number of women in politics . “Africa is changing in that regard and I hope you know that we are doing better than most countries. America is still struggling to put a woman in the White House but we have two, so we’re doing fine. This is what people did not expect us to achieve but we have.” Read the rest here.

South Sudan Receives Loan for Development
China has agreed to fund major development projects in South Sudan through an $8 billion dollar loan.  The funds will be used to build roads, bridges, telecom networks, and develop agricultural and hydro-electric power.  All projects will be conducted by Chinese firms. Read it here.

Women See Worrisome Shift in Turkey
Domestic violence has seen a big increase in Turkey over the past year.  In 2010, there were about 190,000 cases of deliberate injuries against women across the country. Last year, that number was up to 207,000 cases. A recent United Nations report showed that 39 percent of women in Turkey suffer from physical violence at some point in their lives, compared to 22 percent in the United States. Despite legislation that seeks to protect women, implementation has proved difficult as the mentality of men does not change.  Read more here.

 

Cultural Obstacles Keep Girls Out of School in Kenya Refugee Camp
At the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya, only 1 in 20 girls aged 14 to 17 are in school. For those younger, aged 5 to 13, just one third are attending school. For the most part, the barriers to girls’ education start at home. One woman living in the camp, Hawa Ahmed,  says she keeps her two daughters home to learn the lessons of the house, while her sons go off to school. The girls continue learning how to cook and clean until they’re married off, which normally happens at a young age. Once a girl is married, her chances of attending school are driven even lower. In an effort to get more girls in school, the UN World Food Program provides tokens for half a kilogram of sugar for girls attending 80% of classes a month. Other organizations are also providing sanitary pads to adolescent girls in order minimize drop-out rates during menstruation. To read more go here.

Future of Nigeria Depends on Empowerment of Women
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, recently spoke at an event where he said that poverty can only be eradicated when women are empowered. He urged the Kano State government, located in northwest Nigeria, to support women to be more productive and send their children to school. Read it here.

Report Shows Impact of Illiteracy
A recent report released at the World Literacy Summit in Oxford shows that globally over one in five people can’t read or write and more than 100 million children don’t go to school everyday. The report discusses the costs of illiteracy, which include poverty, unemployment, social exclusion, crime and longterm illness. Even more, illiteracy increased the likelihood of high-risk sexual behavior and inadequate use of contraception. Education is the best means of overcoming poverty caused by illiteracy. According to the report, families need to be encouraged to place a higher value on education and illiterate adults should be involved in literacy programs. Read it all here.

Afghan Woman Campaigns to be Country’s First Female President
Afghanistan will be electing a new president in 2014 when Hamid Karzai’s term is up and Fawzia Koofi is hoping to take the over the role. Although her campaign is just beginning, she is already facing criticism from those believe women don’t belong in politics. Koofi, who is just 36-years-old, was the country’s first female deputy speaker. As a member of parliament, she has been a strong advocate for girls’ education and women’s rights.  In fact, she was the first female in her family to get an education. Since then she has been blazing her own path and passionately fighting for the rights of the oppressed. Read more about her here.

Youth Advocates Help Out-of-School Children in Pakistan
A recent program in Pakistan is using the power of youth to encourage families in the community to send their children to school. The effort, known as Young Champions, is a program of the United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative (UNGEI). It trains adolescents to become change-makers in their community, rising as advocates for education who insist that all children should be in school. Not only are they increasing school enrollment rates, but also helping to make sure that the children they enroll do not drop out. Read more here.

Afghan School Girls Poisoned
More than 100 girls were poisoned by opponents of education for girls in Afghanistan. The girls reportedly got sick after drinking water from their high school in the northeastern province of Takhar. The investigation into the incident is still underway. Read more here.

School Attendance Down as Violence Increased in Nigeria
Borno State, located in northern Nigeria, has seen a massive decrease in school attendance since the beginning of the year.  In total, 14 schools have been burnt down in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, which has forced 7,000 children out of an education.  Unfortunately, Borno already has the lowest school attendance rates in Nigeria, so the recent violence is only making a bad situation worse. Most of the schools destroyed taught both Western and Islamic education, making them the target of the Islamic jihadist group Boko Haram. The group recently released a video calling their followers to destroy schools providing Western education. Read it here.

Young Indian Women Twice as Likely to be Illiterate
A recent report says that an estimated 270 million people aged 15 and older are illiterate in India. The Opportunity for Action Report says that women aged 15 to 24 are twice as likely to remain illiterate than men, with factors like caste and class differences impacting education opportunities. Even more, the report says that girls in rural India average three fewer years of education and those from tribes report social exclusion which prevents them from attending school. Read it all here.

 

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First Female President in Southern Africa & More

First Female Head of State in Southern Africa
Joyce Banda has been a strong advocate for women and girls, particularly those in rural communities, throughout her political career. She was even recognized by Forbes Magazine last year when she was named Africa’s third most powerful female politician. Now, as she takes over as Malawi’s president, she is the first female head of state in southern Africa. One of her top priorities has been to get more girls in Malawi in school, a pledge she made years ago after using the proceeds from her garment manufacturing business and bakery to send underprivileged girls to school. Banda takes over the role following the death of the country’s former president Bingu wa Mutharika. Read it here.

Genocide Survivor Has Faith and Hope for Rwanda
This week marks the 18th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide. Now, years later, the country’s people want to show the world how they’re moving on and thriving thanks to “the girl effect,” the idea that investing in young women early in their lives will pay off later in curbing poverty, disease, and despair. One success story is 23-year-old Didacienne “Dida” Nibagwire, a young actress who has been in a variety of films and television shows in Rwanda. Dida is a survivor of the genocide and although most of her family was killed in the conflict, she attributes her resilience to an obligation she feels to do something good for her country. Read the rest of Dida’s inspiring story here.

Violence Against Women in Mexico Grows
The war on drugs in Mexico has had serious consequences for women. Not only has violence against women greatly increased since the escalation of the drug cartels, but homicides in Juarez have dramatically gone up in recent years with 306 women killed in 2009, compared to just 23 in 2006. Jody Williams, Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1997, says that, “The government’s efforts to improve ‘security’ in the region have directly resulted in insecurity for civilian populations, and most especially, for women.” Read more here.

Saudi Princess Wishes to Overhaul the Country’s Education System
Women’s rights have traditionally been very limited in Saudi Arabia, but Princess Basma Bint Saud Bin Abdulaziz recently spoke out about what she’d like to see change for women in the country. One change she mentions is the country’s constitution, which she says needs to put men and women on equal footing by protecting every citizen’s human rights regardless of sex or status. In regard to the country’s education system, Princess Basma believes the way in which children are taught about women should change, specifically the way women are regarded as inferior beings, whose role is limited to raising her family. To read more about her views on social services, divorce, and women’s requirement to have a Mahrem, or male chaperone when they travel, go here.


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Educating Girls for Peace, Pro-Women Laws in Pakistan & More

Pro-Women Laws Emerge in Pakistan
Women in Pakistan have historically struggled to achieve gender equality, however there have been several breakthroughs over the past few years thanks to the efforts of the government and various advocacy groups. Last year, the Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention (Amendment) Bill gave the State guidance on how to punish offenders and support victims of violent gender-based crimes. Most recently, on International Women’s Day last month, the President of Pakistan signed the National Commission on the Status of Women Bill into law, which allows the commission to investigate women’s rights violations. Read more here.

Empowering Girls and Women to Achieve Peace and Prosperity
It has become well known that educating and empowering girls and women leads to a wide variety of benefits, from greater economic growth to healthier children and families. However, the positive effects also extend into making and keeping peace. In fact, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s recently released policy guidance on gender instructs embassies and bureaus across the world to implement policies that promote gender equality and advance the status of women and girls in order to foster conflict prevention, as well as relief recovery, in post-conflict situations. To read more go here.

Girls’ Education Top Concern for Afghani Women When US Troops Leave
When the Taliban fell from power in 2001, there were 5,000 girls attending school in Afghanistan. Today there are 2.5 million. A recent nationwide survey shows that a massive majority of women are terrified about the possibility of a return to a Taliban-run government when US troops pull out of the country. One of the main concerns mentioned was their daughter’s education, which many believe will suffer greatly if the Taliban returns.  Not only are young girls fighting for their education, but also an escape from forced marriages and other practices that limit their freedom. Get the rest of the story here.

Young Girls in India Struggle to Stay in School
India’s government has made significant efforts to provide free compulsory education to all children ages 6 to 14 after passing the Right to Education Act in April 2010. Even more, all enrolled students receive 27 essential items such as a uniform and backpack as well as a free hot lunch. Despite these efforts, India’s poorest still struggle to stay in school and it seems to be even worse for girls. Durga Jadav is an 11 year old who lives under a bridge with her family in Mumbai, India. Despite having nothing to eat at home and pressure to help her family by getting a job, Durga perseveres and goes to school. To read more about her story go here.

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Karzai Calls for Girls’ Ed, Saudi Arabia’s Students Protest & More

Saudi Arabia’s Female Students Protest
In a rare display of protest for women in the Islamic kingdom, students at an all-female university in Saudi Arabia boycotted classes when the school canceled campus cleaning services. According to the report, one student said the protests were triggered by “the accumulation of rubbish and the mistreatment of the students.” Read more here.

Women in Angola Hold Leadership Posts by Merit
At a recent discussion held in Angola, “Women in society and their participation in political life,” officials said that women in leadership positions have achieved their role based on their merit and not exclusively because of the state policy on gender. Officials say that while women were looked upon as inferior beings in the past, they are now seen for their intelligence and capabilities. Read it here.

Current Law Highlights Women’s Rights in Lebanon
Current laws in Lebanon prevent women from passing their nationality on to their children. Interior Minister Marwan Charbel has proposed an amendment to the law which will give women that right and the Cabinet is expected to discuss the issue in the near future. Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri is also showing his support for the amendment and continues to pledge his commitment to promoting women’s rights. Read more here.

Afghan President Says Education of Girls is Crucial
As the school year begins in Afghanistan, President Hamid Karzai recently called on tribal and religious leaders to encourage the education of girls, a right which was denied under Taliban rule. Even more, Karzai urged insurgent groups to not attack teachers or school children because education is key if the country is to continue developing. President Karzai said, “To encourage children towards education, particularly the education of girls, is vital and important.” Read it all here.

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Let’s Discuss: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is Anti-Gay…?!

Earlier this morning, we sent a tweet from the She’s the First account labeling Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as one of the women we’d most want to interview if we had the chance—and received a response from a follower who linked to this Guardian article, published on Monday, with a video of the Liberian president acknowledging that she is not in support of repealing anti-gay laws, as Liberia has “certain traditional values that we would like to preserve.”

Yikes.

First, a little background on Sirleaf, and why this comes as such a shock: She was the first woman to ever be elected in Africa, and has over 25 years of political experience both in Africa and in the international realm. She’s largely credited with starting the healing process for Liberia after years of civil war, rebuilding infrastructure and institutions within the country while working to pay off their international debts. She was re-elected as president in 2011, when she also won the Nobel Peace Prize (along with two others) for her work in promoting the health, safety, and equality of women in Africa (who, by and large, drive her to victory in both elections). Her memoir, This Child Will Be Great, chronicles not only her own path to the presidency but Liberia’s struggles over the years to reach stability. It’s safe to say that she’s been heralded in the international community as a great politician, a remarkable leader, and a strong voice for women.

And now, this:

So here are our discussion points:
• Can a Nobel Peace Prize winner be anti-gay? The honor is bestowed upon those who fight for human rights—and without a doubt, Sirleaf has been an amazing advocate for women’s rights in her own country and throughout Africa. If women’s rights are human rights, should gay rights be human rights, too? Currently, the law punishes anyone charged with “voluntary sodomy” with up to a year in prison. Should a president who accepts that law be considered on par with Elie Wiesel and Martin Luther King, Jr.? Or does her extended good works for the people of Liberia in a time of healing and for women across Africa cancel this out?

• It would probably be political suicide for her to repeal these laws. Liberia is not a liberal country. My guess is that should she come out in favor of repealing these laws, or make it a part of her goals for this term, she would find herself facing repeated backlash (and riots) from her own electorate, with a smattering of international applause. Her first responsibility is to follow the will of her people, and she’s doing that here. Of course, this is her last legal term as President, but her 25 years of past political experience suggests she doesn’t plan on quitting the arena anytime soon. Leaving her personal feelings for the issue aside, is it okay for her to leave these laws on the books if it means that ultimately, she can do more good for her country and her people in other ways (education, infrastructure, job creation) that those before her have utterly failed to do?

In the end, she’s still at the top of my list for women I’d want to interview: Her tireless work for women and for Liberia has to be respected, and while I absolutely disagree with the current Liberian laws and her stance on their repeal, it would certainly make for an interesting tête-à-tête, wouldn’t it?

Comment time: Tell me what you think.

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Shanti Bhavan: A True Life Cinderella Story

A few weeks ago, we touched on the subject of the caste system in India, an archaic social structure that is preventing the Dalit caste, which is a large portion of India’s population, from getting the opportunities they deserve and the opportunities that are their legal right.  The founder of our partner school in India, Dr. Abraham George, founded Shanti Bhavan based on the principles that every child has the capability to change the world if given the right resources, an idea we definitely believe in. So I dived into the philosophy behind Shanti Bhavan a bit more, and loved what I found:

Dr. George even wrote this book, "India Untouched," about his experiences opening the Shanti Bhavan school in India.

Dr. George realized that a country with a government plagued by corruption is not capable of taking care of its population; and simply giving money to the government in support of support educational projects did no good. In 1995, Dr. George left a lucrative Wall Street career to return to India and set up Shanti Bhavan. This way he could ensure that every penny donated would go towards educating the students admitted to his school. Shanti Bhavan is a truly progressive school where students get a well-rounded education and are encouraged to take part in extracurricular activities, a truly radical idea if you look at the education system in the rest of India. Here are some fast facts about Shanti Bhavan:

The Shanti Bhavan model…

  • The Shanti Bhavan model identifies and educates tomorrow’s leaders of professions, politics, and society from within the ranks of India’s most deprived families.  The school’s model rests on three pillars: promoting academic achievement, instilling values and inspiring leadership.
  • 95 percent of shanti Bhavan’s students belong to the Dalit, or formerly termed “untouchable” communities, from families well below the Indian poverty line of $48 USD per month for a family of four or more.
  • Children are exposed to a diverse curriculum of academics that ensures all-around development, such as liberal arts, athletics and debate taught by both a local faculty and international volunteers representing 12 countries.

The Shanti Bhavan model seems to be working…

  • All students who took the level X ICSE exam in 2008, 2009 and 2010 passed with First Division, equivalent to a 3.5 GPA and higher by U.S. standards.  Half of the students scored “Distinctions,” above 75 percent, the highest scoring category.  No other Indian school in history has achieved such success within the Dalit community
  • In 2010, Shanti Bhavan celebrated its first graduation of 14 students.  All 14 graduates were accepted into top colleges in Bangalore, many of which are considered among the top 10 undergraduate colleges in India.

While Shanti Bhavan is a fairly young school (the first class graduated in 2010), I have no doubts that its graduates will go far. Already, the students are attending the top universities in India! Shanti Bhavan students are truly a real life Cinderella story. To learn more about the school, check out this link.

 

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UNICEF Promotes Girls’ Ed in South Sudan, New Farming Infographic & More

Bringing Girls to the Classroom in South Sudan
In an effort to increase the number of girls in school, UNICEF is working with the government of South Sudan and other partners to tackle the barriers that keep females out of the classroom. Aside from the typical reasons, such as deep rooted beliefs that girls should be kept home to help with household chores or married young, many poor families also struggle to educate their children in the midst of conflict. Fifteen-year-old Habiba Ahmed, now in fifth grade, dreams of becoming a nurse and says, “Education is important because an uneducated person has no chance in life.” To read more about this and watch a short video about what UNICEF is doing in this region go here.

Kenya Program Seeks to Increase Women in Politics
Female legislators in Kenya are looking to train young women interested in getting involved in politics. The Kenya Women Parliamentary Program will put together groups of four or five young girls who will shadow a female member of parliament in order to see first hand what it means to be in politics. The new constitution of Kenya states that positions in government should be held by no more than two-thirds of the same gender. The new program hopes to help girls realize their potential and what they can achieve in a political career. Read more here.

Afghan Refugee Studies to Become a Lawyer
A twenty-five year old Afghan woman, Ameneh, is breaking barriers and studying to become a lawyer with the help of a UNHCR run scholarship. With the support of her entire family, she is pursuing higher education in hopes of not only breaking Afghan tradition, but also inspiring other young girls to do the same. Read it all here.

Infographic: Women and Agriculture
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation has created an infographic to visualize the relationship between women and farming around the world. You can check it out on The Guardian’s site here.

Jeffrey Sachs to Lead the World Bank?
Economist Jeffrey Sachs has thrown his hat into the ring for a shot at heading the World Bank. Sachs already advises UN secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon on achieving the Millennium Development Goals, and has been coined as one of the world’s most famous economists. Read more here.

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