Tag Archives: girls’ education

Congratulations Annah on your Secondary School Acceptance!

Annah showing off her new Malek Academy school uniform.

Annah of Project Education South Sudan has an exciting future ahead! She has been accepted into Malek Academy Secondary School. Annah is an exceptional student of whom we are extremely proud. It is still very rare for girls in South Sudan to have the opportunity to attend a secondary school, but with your help we hope to see this happen more and more for our students. Annah wanted to share her thanks in a letter to you along with a few photos showing off her new school and uniform.

Dear She’s The First,

Best greeting to you in the name of Jesus Christ (Amen). I hope that you are well as I am here in South Sudan. I am very to you for what you have done to me. I appreciate you that may God bless you. I have received many items such as school shoes, soaps, socks, bucket, school uniform and school fees.

I am in the school following my studies at Malek Academy. I am lucky that I have a chance at my academy goals. I will be proud for what you have done to me as happy as king, as well as you supporting me.

Thanks,
Annah

Annah A. sends a thank you to her supporters at She's The First.

Malek Academy, the secondary school that Annah will be attending.

We wish Annah the best of luck on her new endeavors and can’t wait to see where they take her. She is a remarkable young woman and we look forward to sharing more from her experiences at Malek Academy. Any words of wisdom you would like to share with her?

A Day in the Life of Micaela, a Student in Guatemala

She’s the First donors and volunteers have the distinct opportunity to get to know what student and home life is like in other countries. Check out this firsthand account from Micaela, a 7th-grader in Guatemala. This is a direct account as translated by Darcy Struckhoff, Director of Development at Starfish One by One.

Micaela showcases a doll she made at a Starfish art workshop

I get up at 6 am every day. I wash my face, get dressed, and start making tortillas for breakfast. We are a big family (10 brothers and sisters!) so my sisters and I all help get everyone ready. Sometimes we take turns in the morning, who gets breakfast ready or sweeps the house in the morning.

After breakfast, I help out at home for the morning. Most of the time, I weave. My family owns a small shop where we sell table runners and we all need to help. I leave for school at 1:15pm (I am in junior high school in the village) until 6:30 pm. I have two younger sisters so I help them with homework when I get home. Then I do my own homework every night, because I weave in the mornings. If I have a lot of homework, I sometimes have to do it in the mornings.

With such a big family, we all help. Before, we didn’t have enough money even for my school supplies. Now things are better. I hope to be a lawyer one day.

Posted in Starfish One by One | Tagged Darcy Struckhoff, Day in the Life, girls' education, Guatemala, Starfish One by One | Leave a comment

Students Return to New Classrooms in South Sudan

At Ayak Anguei in South Sudan, the girls have just returned to school from break to some new scenery! The classrooms and desks have been rebuilt and freshly stuccoed. They are now ready for the students to use creating a nicer atmosphere for their studies. This project was possible thanks to help from Project Education South Sudan and UKAID after they had been destroyed by storms earlier in the year. Here’s a look at them being prepared:

New desks make their way into the classroom!

Interns from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver have been completing the girls leadership HIV/AIDS education and feminine hygiene pad vocational program which was highlighted in our previous PESS post. We are looking forward to hearing updates on how the girls are doing with this new project, what they have learned, and what they have to share. After recent conflict in the area, it is finally safe for the girls to return to school and resume their education. Fortunately for them they have much to look forward to upon their return!

Posted in Project Education Sudan | Tagged AIDS, girls' education, HIV, leadership, Project Education South Sudan, She's the First, South Sudan, UKAID | Leave a comment

While Awaiting Grades, AAH Girls Have A Few Messages for You

At Arlington Academy of Hope (AAH) in Uganda, the girls are anxiously awaiting their final first-term grades and exam results. In the past, 100% of the girls at AAH have passed their exams, which they must pass before they can move onto secondary school. This is a very unique aspect of AAH, as very few primary schools in Uganda have such a high success rate! Generally, this is attributed to the quality of teachers and teacher training in Uganda. At AAH, the teachers at the school are all Ugandan, and they often receive additional training from U.S. volunteers. The graduating class will move away to boarding schools throughout the country for secondary school. Though acceptance rates can be very competitive (since there aren’t many secondary schools), all AAH students thus far have moved on to these schools. They are often even picked by schools in their top three picks.

While on break, these girls made it clear that they were anxious to be back in the classroom. They have happily returned now, but here are a few messages that they wanted to share while they waited for school to start once again.

Tabitha is thankful for her opportunities at AAH!

“Hello She’s the First. I am working hard in class and I am preparing for end-of-term exams next week. During my holidays I will wash dishes and sweep the compound at home. I will play netball with my sister and our friends. I like netball very much. At home, I have three brothers and one sister. Thank you for paying my school fees.”-Tabitha

“Thank you for paying my school fees. I am happy because you are sparing your time and money to pay my school fees. May God Bless you so much and live on earth forever. My parents and I are happy. They also thank you, too. I love to learn.”
-Betty

“Thank you for paying my school fees and supporting me. I am happy because we are breaking off for holidays next week on Thursday. I am happy because I am going to live with my dear parents even though I am going to learn.”-Justine

“Thank you for your support you give me. I am fine. My family is also fine. I wrote to you a letter, hoping you have read.” -Bess

Posted in Arlington Academy of Hope | Tagged Arlington Academy of Home, Exams, girls' education, Secondary School, She's the First, Uganda | Leave a comment

Expanding Girls’ Ed in Niger, Ugandan Chess Prodigy & more

Support for Girls’ Education in Niger Yields Impressive Results
Niger’s rate of enrollment for girls rose from 29 percent to 63 percent between 2001 and 2011. This dramatic improvement is the result of the combined efforts of administrative authorities, teachers, parents, and civil society. UNICEF’s efforts to provide incentives to teachers and parents have also helped raise the enrollment rate. Read more here.

Rise of Child Marriages Among Syrian Refugees
Among Syrian refugee girls, child marriages are on the rise. The high threats of sexual violence and extreme poverty that girls face in refugee communities have led to an increase in early marriage. Girls marry older men because they believe it will lead to economic security and protection from sexual assault. Learn more here.

Girl Rises from Slums to Become a Chess Champion
Phiona Mutesi, 17, was recently named Woman Candidate Master by the World Chess Federation. Just 8 years ago, she lived in the slums in Uganda. She began to learn chess because of the free food offered at the lessons, but she soon took to the game and began to win tournaments. “I was only thinking how can I manage to get something to eat. But now I’ve got hope of becoming a grandmaster, a doctor, even building an orphanage for slum kids.” Learn more about her inspiring story here.

Filling India’s Need for Better Vocational Training
An increasing number of private vocational schools in India fills the gap left by the often inadequate and outdated government vocational institutes. These schools offer short, practical, non-degree programs that provide students with tools to succeed in modern India. Learn more about these programs here.

Students Challenge Thailand’s Militaristic Education System
In Thailand, militaristic discipline and deference pervade the education system. Some students are beginning to challenge the system’s focus on unquestioned obedience. Read more about their efforts here.

Posted in News Bursts | Tagged chess, child marriages, girls' education, India, News Bursts, NIger, Syria, Thailand, Uganda, vocational training | Leave a comment

The Importance of Mentors at Starfish One by One

Jeronima Sulugui, mentor to Starfish One by One students

Many powerful females have repeated quoted the importance of mentors. Mentors are there to guide, give advice, change your perspective and push you to succeed. And mentors aren’t just limited to the professional world; their influence can be useful in all aspects of life. This is why Starfish One by One, our partner school in Guatemala, has adopted the mentorship model to guide young women through their education.

Starfish mentors meet with their mentee group weekly and not only provide academic support, but also to encourage students to develop leadership skills. Mentors also equip students with life skills such as management of personal finances and social and environmental responsibility. The mentors ensure that each Starfish student receives a well-rounded education so that she is ready to lead her family and community.

As an added bonus, Starfish mentors are unique in that they come from the same community as their mentees, can understand the obstacles they face from their families and society, and are themselves shining examples of the power of education. We asked Jeronima, mentor to our very own Ana Teresa, to tell us what she thought the biggest obstacles to education for Mayan girls were. This is what she shared with us:

“Well, in most Mayan families there is the lack of economic resources to be able to send all their children to school. It’s not just the money that families have to pay for classes and materials, but it’s also the loss of income that the families would experience if their daughters studied instead of worked. Apart from the economic strain on families, a lot of parents don’t believe it is worth the investment to send their daughters to school. If it’s for their sons, yes, because they believe that the money he will earn in the future will most likely come back to the family, but if their daughter marries, the money she earns will most likely go to her husband’s family. Many Mayan people also lack experience in participating in groups or in educational settings, especially women, so it can be a bit intimidating for the girls to feel confident at school or really get involved.”

Jeronima continues to be a source of hope and an example in her community of how educating women can benefit families and communities. As a Starfish mentor, she helps girls face these obstacles and achieve their ultimate goal of getting an education.

Thank you, Jeronima! If only we could all be so fortunate to find such a great mentor.

Posted in Starfish One by One | Tagged girls' education, Guatemala, Jeronima, Starfish One by One | Leave a comment

Big News: You Can Now Sponsor Girls In The Gambia And Peru!

Happy May 1st, STF supporters!

We have a huge announcement that we’ve been just bursting to tell you: We have two brand new partners! This means you can now sponsor girls in The Gambia and in Peru, bringing our global reach to ten countries and four continents. We’re expanding to new countries because this year alone, you’ve sponsored almost as many students as we sponsored all year in 2012. That’s a huge rate of growth, and we’re making sure we can keep up with you!

Here’s a little bit more about each of our new partners. (And of course, you can read about all of our partners on our directory page.)

Sacred Valley Project, Peru
The Sacred valley Project is a dormitory set up for students who come from Quechua-speaking rural communities. The students stay at the dormitory and participate in artisanal workshops as well as nutrition and healthy cooking classes. They have weekly seminars on social issues and personal development, and professional tutors come in to give extra support in foundational subjects such as math, Spanish, and communications. They’re also implementing a peer-mentorship model for social support. Learn more here.

Starfish International, The Gambia
Starfish International is a mentorship program for girls attending secondary school in Lamin, The Gambia, where the average family lives on less than $1 per day. The goal is to instill the girls with five core values: Nobility, Independence, Courtesy, Knowledge, and Service. Each sponsored student receives academic tutoring and also learns entrepreneurial skills while she starts her own small business in one of these six areas: Soap-making, lotion-making, lip balm making, vegetable-gardening, photography, or bee-keeping. Learn more here.

We’ll be profiling the first two supporters to sponsor a full tuition at each of our new partners, and we can’t wait for you to get to know the students there (and vice versa). Let us know if you have any questions in the comments!

Posted in Peru, Sacred Valley Project, Starfish International, The Gambia | Tagged girls' education, new partners, Peru, Sacred valley Project, Starfish International, The Gambia | 1 Comment

Order a Mother’s Day E-card (Here’s Why It’s Extra Special)

This is the card we'll send to you recipients, along with your message and a link to the film "Magho"!

UPDATE: THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR ORDERS! AS OF MAY 12th, 11:40AM: ANY NEW ECARD ORDERS WILL NOT BE SENT UNTIL LATE TONIGHT…BUT WE GRATEFULLY ACCEPT YOUR DONATIONS IN HONOR OF MOM!

Mother’s Day is around the corner (May 12th!), and we’ve got a new way to celebrate the leading ladies in your lives with She’s the First. To purchase an e-card, fill out this form.

What better way to say “I love you” or “You rock!” or simply “Thank you” than by giving the gift of education? Honor the great women in your life by helping to sponsor a girl in their name. When you donate $10, we’ll send them an e-card with your personalized message. Plus, they’ll receive an exclusive link to view our debut documentary, Magho (Daughter), a short film about the power of a mother to influence her daughter’s future.
Your donation directly sponsors a girl’s education (in fact, it goes straight to sponsor the star of the film!). Any additional donations you’d like to make will also go directly toward funding her educational costs.

Simply fill out this form. Then, we’ll send the card along with your personalized message and an access code to watch the film on Sunday, May 12th, at noon. (Deadline to submit: Sunday, May 12th at 10 a.m.)

We’re excited to help you recognize all the motherly figures in your lives!

To purchase an e-card: Fill out this form. [OUR TEAM IS SPENDING TIME WITH OUR MOMS! WE WON'T BE ABLE TO SEND OUT CARDS ORDERED ON MAY 12th UNTIL THIS EVENING.]
To learn more about the film Magho (Daughter): Click here.

Posted in Gifts That Give Back | Tagged e-card, e-cards, gifts that give back, girls' education, Mother's Day | Leave a comment

An Extra Dose of Fitness Motivation from Kenya!

We know you’ve been training hard to support She’s the First Run the World campaign, so we figured you could use some motivation from our star students at the Kibera School for Girls! Over the past few weeks, we’ve shared with you their favorite sports as well as what motivates them to exercise. Below are more responses from fourth graders at KSG–in their own words–of why exercising is so important to them. How many reasons in common do you share?

Eunice

Who said running wasn't fun? (Photo credit: Kibera School for Girls' Facebook page)

I think you should be fit and healthy because we get to share how we are feeling after doing exercise. We get to…

interact with other people
stretch out our muscles and get strong
be energetic and relax
kill boredom in our bodies
participate in everything we do in our class
co-operate and understand more
interact with other kids and get motivated
get psyched up

Emmaculate

Exercise is when we…

do yoga, do exercise, are strong, are energetic, [make] our muscles are strong, relax our minds, relax our boredom, concentrate in class, participate in something, are flexible to do something with your body, are psyched up in class or somewhere.

Lorna

Anyone willing to try this? (Photo credit: Kibera School for Girls' Facebook page)

It is important because…

we can be strong and healthy
we can be able to be known
we can be flexible and relax our muscles
kills our boredom so that we can be sensitive
it excites our mind and we are able to co-operate
we can be able to entertain other people
we can be energetic and be able to interest other people
we learn to know how we can be able to improve our exercise
we can be psyched up and be able to be a flexible person
we can know how we must be good exercisers
we can interact with other people and learn more exercise from them

Jesinter

All smiles at Summer Institute 2012! (Photo credit: Kibera School for Girls' Facebook page)

To be useful to people, to learn about something that can help you when you are in trouble, to be relaxed and to be energetic, to have muscles, to be excited about what you are doing, to have muscle and to be energetic, to concentrate in class if the teacher is teaching, to not interrupt your teachers or students when you are learning, to co-operate in what you are doing, to remove boredom, to be constructive to what you are doing, to psyche up when you are in class, home, church, etc.

Lilian

It is important for me to be a healthy person because…

when I grow up I can be strong
I will be confident when I am talking
I will stand upright
I will be able to interact with other people
I will be able to co-operate with others
it will help me to have courage
it will help me to relax my mind
it will make my talents grow

Posted in Kibera School for Girls | Tagged exercise, fit, fitness, girls' education, kenya, Run the World, running, She's the First Run the World, sports | Leave a comment

What Inspires Girls at KSG to Exercise?

Last week, we were delighted to share with you the Kibera School for Girls‘ favorite sports. Check them out here (sneak preview: basketball and netball were their favorites!). This week, we present their reasons for exercising! Without further ado, the responses below are from fourth graders at KSG–in their own words–who have plenty of inspiration to share with those participating in the She’s the First Run the World campaign.

Girls at KSG play on their new playground!

Joyce:
It is important because you can be healthy and energetic. You can be important to other people. It kills boredom. It makes you to be relaxed. You can do exercise to be fit and healthy. It makes you feel better. It makes you to be attentive in whatever you are doing.It makes your muscles to be big and strong. It gives you power. You can be known all over the country. You can make sponsorship. It makes you feel excited. It makes you to be motivated. You can have a lot of fun. You can make friendship. You can interact with a lot of people and people would like to see you and talk to you.

Herenia:
So that you can…

kill your boredom, be strong, be flexible, be alive and live, stretch your muscles, co-operate with other people, participate in class, protect yourself, relax your body, concentrate in class and do not sleep, psyche up, listen in class, enjoy your life and live long, be healthy, not be sad

Velma:
It is good to be fit because you will be able to know more people and interact with them. It is good to be healthy because when you are not healthy you will not be able to do something good or even you can not be energetic. If you are not healthy, you can even not be able to cooperate or participate somewhere. You will not be able to even mix with people. You can be even very shy that you can’t talk in front of people. If you want to be healthy, you can try to do some exercises. You can even play so that you can kill your boredom. You can also realize some stress. If you are fit and healthy you will always be free and nothing bad will be going through your mind. It is always nice to be fit and healthy so that you can be very comfortable and free.

Yoga is just one of their many talents!

Jackline:
It is important because you need to…

be healthy and strong, be energetic and flexible, relax and interact with people, co-operate with your friends, do exercise and play games, concentrate and participate, fit in and not to become homesick, have psyche, relax

Angela:
Because…

you must be flexible, we must be strong and energetic, we must be excited,our muscles should be strong, exercise helps us to be strong, we need to relax and concentrate in class, we make our body to be flexible enough,we can also teach exercise when we are flexible, we now new things and new exercise, we feel strong in our body

Idah:
I think it is important because…

you will be flexible, you will relax your mind, you will grow to be healthy and strong, you will be energetic, you will cooperate with others, you will refresh your mind, you will not be bored, you will be motivated, you will not be weak, you will be psyched up

Beldin:
Because…

if I play I kill the boredom, I interact with other people like my schoolmates, I feel flexible when I do exercise and when I do yoga and also when I play games, I feel strong and muscles also feel strong.

Posted in Kibera School for Girls | Tagged exercise, fit, girls' education, kenya, Run the World, running, RunSTF, She's the First, sports | 1 Comment

The Girls of South Sudan Have Exciting New Programs Coming Up

As my first post on Project Education South Sudan, I cannot even begin to share how inspiring speaking with one of the directors, Carol Rinehart, and learning about these girls has been. Whenever we have a Skype date scheduled I anxiously rush home from work to hear more about what these amazing girls are up to and learn about Carol’s travels to South Sudan as well. Though these girls have faced hardships recently, with violence close to the school, they anxiously await being able to go back to school at the end of April.

Meet some of the inspiring young ladies at Project Education South Sudan.

The girls have much to look forward to when they return to school, including finding out the results of their exams that they recently took. Last year 17 out of 23 girls graduated from primary school, in a country where just 0.8% of girls ever even attend primary school. There are also a few new amazing programs in the works that the girls will soon be able to immerse themselves in fully. Carol shared with me the following details about each of the areas that this new leadership program structure will cover:

The Girls’ Leadership Development (GLD) program is designed to support the education of young girls at Ayak Anguei Girls Primary Boarding School. The program will focus on a Student Leadership Program enhancing and educating young girls’ understanding of political participation, developing conflict resolution skills through the development of a more comprehensive student prefect school government program, developing decision-making and teambuilding skills, and supporting a healthier and more productive lifestyle for girls and their families through female health education.

Student Leadership Program: is to be implemented in Ayak Anguei Girls’ Primary School and will comprise of several learning components. Each component will integrate a holistic approach utilizing conflict resolution strategies. The development of this program draws upon CARE’s competency-based approach to leadership development, which focuses on developing a girl’s “power within” through the following characteristics: voice/assertion, decision-making, self-confidence, organization, and vision/ability to motivate others. By developing these competencies, girls are positioned to “gain public legitimacy” by developing social networks with other girls and community members and taking a civic action in the community. The student community civic action will be the implementation of a school community garden to demonstrate the CARE competency-based leadership components. It will include teacher and head master/matron leadership development, school prefect leaders & students, PTA, community elders, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Education.

Feminine Hygiene HIV/AIDS Education Program: is to be implemented at Ayak Anguei Girls Primary School with a focus to cut down on girls’ absenteeism due to monthly bleeding. Following a 2010-2012 distribution of reusable sanitary pads to girls, and completing a two year field study to measure the impact of pad use, there has shown measureable success in increased attendance. The implementation of the program consists of three educational components: 1) A reproductive health curriculum that addresses feminine hygiene and reproductive rights, 2) HIV/AIDS education, and 3) The implementation of a vocational training program that teaches girls how to sew their own sanitary pads and bring them to market.

The girls are incredibly excited to get back to school and start on these great opportunities that Project Education South Sudan is working on. I know that I cannot wait to hear more and more updates on how they are going and to tell all of you very soon!

Posted in Project Education Sudan | Tagged AIDS, Ayak Anguei, Development, Feminine Hygeine, girls' education, HIV, leadership, Project Education South Sudan, She's the First, South Sudan | Leave a comment

Run the World: A Record-Breaking First

Katherine Spitzer defies the odds, becoming the first woman to run the Boston Marathon with an official number. Photo from 90.9 WBUR

It was April 19, 1967, and athletes from across the country had been training for months in preparation for the nationally famous Boston Marathon. As the runners warmed up, preparing to endure the freezing sleet and rain that overshadowed Boston that day, they had no idea that their race would be one for the history books. There were 741 runners that day: 740 males and 1 female, Katherine Switzer. At the time, she was a 20-year-old journalism student at Syracuse University who was already making strides on the university’s male cross-country team (since no girls’ team existed).

At the time, marathons were for men. As former Boston Marathon race director put it in 1966, “women were not physiologically capable of running 26 miles, and furthermore, under the rules that governed international sports, they were not allowed to run” (qtd. in Gibb). Despite this deterrence, Katherine registered using her initials, K.V. Switzer. She pinned her number on her sweatshirt and was ready to run.

A few miles into the race, everything was fine – her fellow runners applauded her for joining the marathon and she was feeling good. However, four miles in, she was suddenly surrounded by the photo press truck and being chased down by a man from the Boston Athletic Association. He screamed at her to get out of the race, and then grabbed her shirt hoping to pull off her number and restrain her from running another step. However, despite this physical assault and being bombarded by accusatory questions from the press truck, Katherine powered on.

She kept running and running, conquering the infamous Heartbreak Hill, ignoring the cold, the blisters, and the people who told her she didn’t belong there. She kept going and going, powering past the finish line where she was met with a bevy of rain-soaked reporters. Katherine made history: She was the first female to run the Boston Marathon with a race number.

In Katherine’s words, “Part of what made the Boston Marathon special to me was its historical importance. I had no idea I was going to become part of that history. I wasn’t running Boston to prove anything; I was just a kid who wanted to run her first marathon.”

For Katherine, her path to becoming a first was paved by another first, Roberta Gibb, the first woman to finish the marathon — but without an official race number. As she ran, Roberta recognized the obligation she had to all women, saying, “I was running conservatively because I knew that if I failed to finish I would reinforce the prejudices and set women’s running back another 20 years.” Roberta writes that her jumping in the Boston Marathon sparked “a pivotal point in the evolution of social consciousness. It changed the way men thought about women, and it changed the way women thought about themselves. It replaced an old false belief with a new reality.”

As we all prepare to lace up our shoes and pound the pavement to support girls’ education through the She’s the First Run the World campaign, it’s an incredible thing to remember that we can be the first to someone too, and other women’s firsts will inspire us to conquer new challenges. In the case of Roberta, Catherine, and all record-breaking women to follow their earth-shaking footsteps, these firsts have opened up new doors to women worldwide.

Posted in Run the World | Tagged athletes, girls' education, marathon, real firsts, Run the World, running, She's the First, syracuse, Women's History | Leave a comment

From Duck, Duck, Goose to Dancing: Getting Fit with Selamta

This is how the students at Selamta get fit...how do you?

As runners across the country lace up for She’s the First Run the World campaign to sponsor 100 girls in 100 days, I started to get curious. How do girls at our partner schools fit in their daily exercise? Over the years, I’ve come to learn more about yoga classes and circus camp at the Kibera School for Girls and dancing at the Selamta Family Project, so I knew the girls’ answers would be creative!

Immediately after posing this question to Alix, Kibera School for Girls’ Postgraduate Fellow and Mia Brown, Selamta’s Volunteer Coordinator and Sponsorship Manager, I was thrilled to receive excited responses. Thus, this begins a two-part series on how girls in Ethiopia and Kenya fit in some fun and fitness.

Girls at Selamta practice their dance moves.

Dancing is one of the favorites for the students at Selamta, and a regular pastime for many Ethiopians. I remember during my trip to Ethiopia years ago, I came across a wedding party and was amazed by how beautiful the dancing was. It was like nothing I’d seen at my own family’s weddings, and as Mia says, “It’s fun to watch and embarrassing to try to imitate.” Though the dancing varies across the country, it is largely unified by the emphasis on shimmying shoulder movements and the upper body. Dancing in Ethiopia is rhythmic, expressive and distinctive. It’s truly incredible to watch, and I’d love to be able to see the girls at Selamta in action as they showcase their skills at Selamta Idol!

Even when it’s not designated playtime, students at Selamta remain active. They regularly lend a hand with chores around their constellation home and hand-wash their clothes each week (a workout in itself!) As they walk to and from school, the market and friends’ homes, the girls at Selamta often walk arm-in-arm.

From soccer to swimming and duck, duck goose to dancing, the girls at Selamta love to play. Whether they’re jumping rope or testing their balance at weekly circus and gymnastics lessons, these girls, as Mia reports, “bend, stretch and balance” their way to getting strong and healthy.

Like the girls at Selamta show us, exercise can be fun and it can help you learn a new skill, but more often than not, it’s best enjoyed with friends.

Walking home with friends after an afternoon of jump-roping.

Posted in Selamta Family Project | Tagged dancing, Ethiopia, exercise, games, girls' education, running, She's the First | Leave a comment

Malala Returns to School!

Malala, a brave advocate for girls' education, returns to school. Image via Business Insider

The world’s youngest Nobel Peace Prize nominee. TIME’s Person of the Year candidate. Education activist. Writer. Survivor.

These are just a few of the titles Malala Yousafzai, a 15-year-old girl from Pakistan, has earned. But beyond her titles and international accolades, Malala is a force for change and embodies fight for girls’ education.

On October 9, 2012, Malala was shot by Taliban gunmen on her way to school (full story here). She was attacked doing exactly what she had dedicated her life to – ensuring that girls worldwide have equal access to education. After enduring life-threatening injuries less than six months ago, Malala is returning to school once more!

Calling her return to the classroom “the most important day of her life,” Malala will renew her studies in the U.K. In a statement she prepared with her family, Malala said, “I am excited that today I have achieved my dream of going back to school. I want all girls in the world to have this basic opportunity.”

Her strength, determination and impassioned demands captured headlines around the world. However, before she was the center of international media attention, she was authoring her own headlines. At the age of 11, Malala began blogging about her desire for all girls to be enriched by receiving an education and her dream of serving as a doctor. Though her blog was at first anonymous and shared through the BBC, she later revealed her identity and became a target of the Taliban.

However, the Taliban’s attempts to extinguish her voice only fueled her fire. Her attempted assassination has prompted international political response, calls for a “Malala and 32 Million Girls Day” to be celebrated on November 10 and amplified demands worldwide for gender equity in education.

As Malala returns to school, we celebrate her strength and voice, as well as the millions around the world who are committed to ensuring that all girls are empowered and encouraged to use theirs.

Posted in News and Studies | Tagged activist, girls' education, Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace Prize, Pakistan | Leave a comment

Starfish Girls Learn Lessons in Family Planning

Remember when you were in high school and had to take care of a sack of flour for home ec class? That sack of flour was supposed to simulate what it would be like to have a baby and teach responsibility, sacrifice and accountability. Starfish students recently got a taste of that very experience we’ve all had, albeit with a high-tech electronic baby. Check out a Starfish volunteers account of the experience!

Starfish students pose with a swaddled electronic baby

Last week, Starfish One by One held its 4^th annual two-day Student Leadership Summit. The summit is a time when students from all four of Starfish sites and all the mentors and staff get together to celebrate, share, engage, and even select the Starfish “queen,” the student who best embodies the Starfish values. This year, amid all of the usual chatting, giggling, and singing, there was another sound – the crying of 15 simulation infants.

“The hardest thing about it was that when the ‘baby’ started crying, I wasn’t sure exactly what it wanted,” said one Starfish student (translated, of course!). The simulation infants, provided by Juventud Despierta and PROGRA.JOVEN, local NGOS, were designed to educate teens on what it takes to truly care for an infant.

Norma Bajan, country director for Starfish, reflected that while at home many Starfish students do care for their younger siblings, they don’t always understand what it takes to be a full-time mom. Their moms take care of the little ones when they are sick or get up in the middle of the night.

During the folkloric dance, a highlight of the student leadership summit, all of the babies began to cry. Students had to run out of their positions in the dance to care for the infants. Many students were very upset because they had rehearsed and prepared for months before the dance.

At the end of the summit, the students and their mentors evaluated how they did with the babies by looking at the read-outs on how often the babies cried, how long it took for them to receive care, and how well their needs were attended. Some students were irresponsible with their babies and upset to have to deal with the inconvenience.

“The message is clear: At this age, you just aren’t ready yet to be parents,” said Norma. The activity was fun and engaging, but more than that, gave Starfish students and their mentors a clear experience to reflect on when it comes to family planning and relationships.

Two Starfish students caring for an electronic baby: lesson learned!

Posted in Starfish One by One | Tagged Babies, Electronic Baby, girls' education, Guatemala, She's the First, Starfish One by One | Leave a comment

Even on Break, AAH Girls Find Ways to Inspire

As a new member to the She’s The First dream team, I couldn’t wait to dive in and learn more about the girls at Arlington Academy of Hope in Uganda. After studying public advocacy and focusing on Africa in my studies, the people I met, materials that I learned, and events I participated in took a strong hold on my heart. Moving to New York City I made sure to keep this a part of my life by volunteering both in the city and during a summer trip to Ghana. Now, as a Researcher for She’s The First, I am able to continue this connection through Arlington Academy of Hope.

I was a little nervous at first calling the ladies who coordinate the school. But as soon as they picked up the phone, they were welcoming and excited to not only meet me, but to talk on and on about the girls. I made this call during my lunch hour from work, and it immediately turned my rainy Monday around. The stories they told and girls they bragged about were incredibly inspiring. Feeling goosebumps several times throughout the call, I couldn’t help but think about how our talks in the future would be and how lucky I was to hear from them how these girls are growing and thriving.

A couple girls reading 1 of their 50 books for the AAH reading program.

Currently in Uganda, students are on their breaks from school. Typically the school year ends in November and picks back up in late January or early February. However, this doesn’t mean the girls aren’t staying active. During their break, they take on service projects in their communities. This can include a variety of activities such as cleaning schools or helping other girls prepare for school. These projects gives off a “pay it forward” vibe by not only making the girls feel a special sense of pride and positivity, but also allowing the support they receive from their sponsors to go even further by stretching beyond the girl and onto the good she does for her community.

Before school ended, the girls completed a reading project. This is a program that started here in the United States at their sister school Arlington Traditional School. Every girl reads 50 books from summer on to the end of the school year. This allows them to build their reading and English skills. The girls absolutely love the program and can often be found throughout the school busily reading their books even during breaks or meals. The program ends with end of the year celebrations and awards.

Photo of Aziza (left) from New Vision, Uganda's national paper Jan 25, 2013.

As I mentioned before, just because the girls are on break from school does not mean they’re on a break from being incredible. In fact, just this past week Aziza K., age 14, was featured in Uganda’s national newspaper New Vision. Aziza spoke about the confidence the school has brought to her and promised:

“I have heard a lot of stories concerning corruption involving accountants in public offices. I want to join the profession to make a positive change.”

Isn’t that awesome?

Posted in Arlington Academy of Hope | Tagged Arlington Academy of Hope, break, girls' education, New Vision, She's the First, Uganda | Leave a comment

Sacred Valley Project

The Program | Sponsorship Breakdown | Type of Sponsorship | Photos | Videos

FAST FACTS:
• Location: Sacred Valley, Peru
• Annual Sponsorship: $1,100
• Grade Level: Secondary

Donate here!

Program:

• Sacred Valley Project students come from Quechua-speaking rural communities, and all have parents who never completed elementary school. Those students who get accepted to the dormitory enter secondary school at a severe disadvantage to their peers, due to a language barrier. Sacred Valley Project’s goal is to not only provide students with access to formal education but also help them to continue to practice and value their historic culture and customs.

• The organization has a number of workshops, classes, and programs to help students succeed academically and to continue to practice trades that have been used in their communities for hundreds of years. For example, students participate in artisanal workshops as well as nutrition and healthy cooking classes. They have weekly seminars on social issues and personal development, and professional tutors come in to give extra support in foundational subjects such as math, Spanish, and communications. The students also receive computation classes and art and dance workshops.

• The students are actively learning to implement a peer mentorship model, and are becoming more successful with each session. Eventually, students will be ready to conduct their own mentorship workshops with each other, building a strong support base for one another.

• Sponsorship Breakdown:
Tutoring: $200
Food: $415
Boarding Costs: $425
School Supplies: $60
Total: $1,100

Type of Sponsorship:

When you sponsor a girl at Sacred Valley Project, you’ll receive her photo and bio, and be able to communicate with her as well. Supporters who contribute to a partial sponsorship will be able to write the student messages online, while those who fund a full tuition at the program will get the opportunity to exchange handwritten notes at least twice per year.

Please note it may take up to a month for a sponsorship to process.

Photos:

Videos:

Want to learn more? See our blog posts here!

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Posted in Peru | Tagged girls' education, Peru, Sacred valley Project | Leave a comment

Want to Spend the Summer in Kibera?

Applications are now open to live, work and learn at the Kibera School for Girls. Photo Credit: Kibera School for Girls

Can you imagine a more rewarding summer than spending it with the wonderful young ladies at the Kibera School for Girls? Once again, our partner school in Kenya is inviting college students to apply for the opportunity to teach and learn from the KSG community.

Since the Summer Institute’s beginning, the program has served as an incredible opportunity to connect civic-minded and engaged college students with girls who attend the Kibera Schools for Girls. Not only do participants assist with tutoring and mentoring, but they’ll be called upon to bring their passions to the classroom by exploring workshop topics of their own choice with the young girls. Weekends are spent exploring Nairobi and surrounding areas with other Kenyan and American college students.

The work is challenging, deeply meaningful and impactful and we at She’s the First are sure it will be as much of an opportunity to teach as it is to learn. If you are an undergraduate or recent graduate who is open to expanding your comfort zone and committed to women’s empowerment and education, please consider applying!

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but ultimately due by March 1, 2013. Applying early is highly encouraged. For more information on the application process, please visit here.

Posted in Kibera School for Girls | Tagged girls' education, kenya, Mentor, Shining Hope for Communities, Summer Institute, Teach | Leave a comment

STF in Nepal: Teaching the Kids to Create Films

Did we tell you the Kopila Kids are also budding filmmakers?

With school back in full swing, it was time for Britt and I to jump head-first into our role as teachers at Kopila Valley. Since we were going to be spending so much time filming the students and the school, we decided to switch gears and put the kids behind the camera for a documentary video workshop!

Armed with five donated Flipcams (thanks to Brittany’s family!), we kicked off two days of hands-on workshops with the 6th-, 7th-, and 8th-graders. First, we held a group discussion on the basics of a documentary, and the kinds of things the students would want to document. It was fascinating to learn about the subjects they were interested in — we talked about everything from their soccer team and their teachers to more serious topics like arranged marriages. We then ran a practice interview exercise to get them asking the right questions, a task that conjured some serious giggles but also some serious reporting right off the bat. Then it was time to split into groups and start producing films!

Each group decided on a topic they could tackle within the school’s gates, and after a quick course in Flipcam basics we sent them out of the classroom with a camera, a checklist, and one hour to make a movie!

The kids had a blast interviewing each other and the staff and volunteers and getting B-roll shots of their subjects. They set scenes, tracked down the teachers who were experts on their topics, asked tough questions, and continued to giggle a lot as they interviewed each other for the first time on camera.

After the hour was up, we collected the cameras. We couldn’t wait to see what the kids had come up with! With some quick editing by Britt and myself over the next few days, the films were ready for Kopila Valley’s first-ever documentary film screening!

Everyone laughed, applauded, and cheered on their classmates as we watched their videos together in the school’s computer lab. Already, the kids were ready to talk about what they learned and how they could improve for the next round. We hear whisperings that a Kopila Valley news team will be emerging in the very near future, and I personally can’t wait to see what they churn out next!

Want to see the results? Here are a few of our favorites – and trust me, it was pretty darn tough to choose!

And we even taught the boys, too!

(Photos by the fantastic Brittany Brothers and Benjamin Heiber. Videos by the uber-talented Kopila Kids, of course.)

Posted in STF360 | Tagged girls' education, Kopila Valley, lipcams, nepal, STF360, STF360Nepal, videof, workshop | 1 Comment

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