Tag Archives: Firsts

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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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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STF in India: Graduation Day!

After days of preparation and celebration, graduation day finally came bright and early — we headed over to the girls’ dorm at six in the morning to help them get ready! The aunties tied saris while the volunteers handled hair and makeup. Despite the early hour, we had music pumping and everyone’s spirits were up. Ashley and Lizzy even pulled off some dance moves while curling Jancy’s hair (not recommended for those of you at home:

(Of course, all photos by the ceaselessly-talented Kate Lord)

Each sari was tied just so. You think you put a lot of work into your graduation-day look? These girls had all hands on deck ensuring every pleat was in place:Someone decided it was OK for me to work on hair (ha), but luckily I didn’t ruin anything. Finally, all the girls were ready and headed over to the school building to meet up with the boys. After an hour of  parents watching anxiously and many congratulatory speeches, the graduates finally took to the stage, one by one, and received their high school diplomas: Finally graduated, the class stands for a photo with Dr. Abraham George, Mariam George, and Ajit George:Afterward, the graduates mingled with their families and had a special lunch, but then most had to pack; half of them started college this week! The goodbye was long and heart-wrenching, with more tears than smiles — but in the end, everyone knew the graduates were off to start the rest of their lives.

(Yes, their van is a converted ambulance. You wish you were this cool.)

 

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She Just Scored Her First Real Job!

Claudia at work!

Claudia at work!

Claudia knows too well about the “double burden” that her schooling means to her family. Her mother never went to school, and Claudia helps support the family by selling beautiful weavings. She could spend several hours a day behind the loom or taking care of her younger siblings, but instead she is in the 11th grade. There is no high school in her village so she travels in the back of a pickup to a distant city everyday for school. The costs (her uniform, transport, books, photocopies, etc) only go up with every year of her schooling. The “double burden” is the time she is away at school instead of working along with the high costs of her schooling. This puts a ton of pressure on the whole family and makes the situation very difficult.

Claudia in front of her workplace!

Claudia in front of her workplace!

Starfish provides a partial scholarship and the support of a mentor and peer group to help Claudia and her family stay motivated. And more recently, Starfish launched its “Foot in the Door” Program for girls who are nearing the completion of high school. As the daughters of parents who average less than 1.5 years of schooling, the Starfish girls will be the first in their family to seek formal employment. But how will they know what to do when they get there?  Through the BRIDGE Program, Starfish is helping girls like Claudia know what steps to take to ensure that her empowerment and education flourish when she graduates high school. The “Foot in the Door” Program is a part of this BRIDGE Program.

The “Foot in the Door” Program matches each young woman’s professional interests with her first real job. Claudia has always wanted to earn English so she can have the option of working in tourism. She was hired as a part-time assistant in February by the Cacique Inn hotel in a nearby city. In getting hired, Claudia had to do a formal job interview, present her resume, and go through all the standard formalities of applying for a job. She now works on her English with hotel employees and guests.

Today, Claudia is the first in her family to have a formal job. She also earns an important income that helps support her family and studies. Like most first jobs, she will certainly find parts she likes and dislikes. But most importantly, she now has firsthand experience and information that empowers her to become a professional in the future.

STF’s own Kate Lord will be producing a short video on the “Foot in the Door” Program soon!

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It’s the First Day of Women’s History Month!

Jeronima, the first Starfish One by One mentor to have graduated from their program in Guatemala

March is one of our favorite months around here because it’s Women’s History Month! It’s 31 days to celebrate the courage, audacity, and strength of the female pioneers that came before us. From Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, to Edith Wharton, the first female to win a Pulitzer Prize, every woman has her own story of firsts.

This year’s theme of “Women’s Education—Women’s Empowerment” is especially important to us. As we all know, the equal opportunity to learn and pursue an education is a value unlike any other, one that opens the door to limitless possibilities. That door slowly began to open for women in the late 19th century, when approximately one-fifth of university students were female. Today, the number of American women enrolled in higher education has surpassed our male counterparts for the first time in history.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for women everywhere. Let this month serve as your inspiration to not only break down your own barriers, but also help our fellow sisters around the world do the same.

Please take a few moments to consider the many brave women who have come before you, what they’ve done to help you reach your own goals, and what legacy you want to leave for young girls who will carry the torch in the future. We can all achieve our own firsts — but sometimes, we need a little help to get there!

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Educating Girls Crucial as World Passes 7 Billion & More

Empowering Girls and Women Crucial as World Passes 7 Billion Mark
As the world population grows to seven billion, empowering girls and women is more important than ever according to a report by the United Nations Population Fund. One theory to reduce population growth is to increase education and healthcare for girls and women, which leads to decreased birth rates. In heavily populated countries like the Philippines, where the poorest women give birth to six or seven children, investing in education may serve as a powerful tool in slowing growth. Read more here.

First Female Head Trainer Named in U.S. Pro Sports
The first female head trainer in the history of major U.S. professional sports has been named. Sue Falsone was recently hired as the Los Angeles Dodgers head athletic trainer. In an arena highly dominated by men, this historic decision is sure to break the glass ceiling. Read more here.

Child Marriage Burdens Young Girls in Nepal
While the child marriage rate in Nepal is dropping, the practice is still common among poor families living in rural communities. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) 51 percent of Nepalese marry as children. As more than half the population lives on less than $1.25 a day, many families cannot afford to send their children to school ands girls marry young as a result. Increasing education in Nepal, especially for girls, will help prevent this trend. Read more here.

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Happy Graduation Day, Francisca!

Francisca at school. Photo by Kate Lord.

If you’ve been following our blog for a while, you probably already know Francisca’s story. STF photographer Kate Lord and researcher Maisy Page met her when we travelled to Guatemala in January, and we each fell in love with her spirit the moment we met her. She’s the kind of girl you notice as soon as you walk into the room, because she has the biggest smile, the loudest laugh, and friendliest eyes there. Despite the language barrier (my Spanish would make Dora the Explorer cry), Francisca was willing to be fast friends, and learning her story remains one of the best parts of my Guatemala trip.

But today is a big day for her, because today is her graduation! She’s the first in her family to graduate high school, though things didn’t always look so certain: She had to drop out for a few years when her family needed her to work, and was only able to go back when the Starfish One by One program (our partner in Guatemala) learned about her and brought her into the program. And now? She’ll be one of their first graduates!

It’s stories like Francisca’s that keep all of us at She’s the First motivated, because she reminds us how much of a difference an education can make — hopefully, she’ll have the same effect on you. Here’s a video Kate made about Francisca (we’ve featured it here before) while she was still in school:

Isn’t it thrilling to know she achieved her goal of graduating, and is now on to university?

Have any words of encouragement or congratulations for Francisca? Write them in the comments, and we’ll make sure they get to her!

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Northern Uganda Gets New Ambassador for Girls’ Ed, NGOs Promote Girls’ Ed in Ghana

Northern Uganda Gets New Ambassador for Girls’ Ed
Daughter of the Ugandan President, Natasha Museveni Karugire, has been installed as the patron of girls’ education in Nebbi Diocese. Natasha will mentor young women in career and educational goals in provinces that have strong cultural beliefs of women being the weaker sex. She said, “It is time to come out of the shadows and do something. I am ready to support girls’ education in Nebbi and Zombo districts.” Read more on the first daughter’s efforts here.

NGOs Promote Girls Education in Bole District of Ghana
The Bole District Director of Education in Ghana, Mr Alhassan S. Moomen, has said working in partnership with NGOs has helped to improve the education of girls in the district. He credits the dispersement of school uniforms, sandals, bags, and learning materials as a great assistance to the district. Read more here.

Plea for More Government Orphanages for Girls in India
Despite there being nearly 65 private homes for orphaned children in the Coimbatore district of India, there is only one Government-run orphanage. Philanthropists and members of NGOs believe that there is an urgent need to provide homes and also education to the children of the region, especially the girls. Read more here.

Kristof’s Latest Post a Tribute to Microsaving
In his latest column, New York Times reporter Nick Kristof tells the story of Jane Ngoiri, a woman who turned her life around through microsaving. Read the column here.

Denmark Elects Its First Female PM
After all the votes were counted, Helle Thorning-Schmidt is set to become the first female Prime Minister of Denmark. She defeated the incumbent Lars Lokke Rasmussen with her platform of tax raises and increased public spending.  Thorning-Schmidt said of her victory, “We did it… today we’ve written history.” Read more here.

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