A friend of mine’s host sister was forced into an early marriage and is now currently pregnant. My friend described her host sister as a kind, shy girl who didn’t want to be married and forced to leave school. During the day, her host sister sits with the kids and writes math equations into the sand with a stick.
This year, as part of receiving a scholarship for school, the girls are also invited to a two-day camp in Linguere, a town in my region, put on by yours truly and the other wonderful volunteers in my region. Funding the girls’ education is, in my opinion, one of the most important things that I as a volunteer can do. Without the scholarship money, some of these girls would not be able to continue their education. On that note, however, it is imperative to back up that financing with further support. The camp is spent with the girls doing activities such as mapping out their futures, building leadership skills, and talking about health issues facing women and girls in Senegal. I will also be introducing a program that I’ll be implementing later this year that involves partnering with an organization to get the girls talking about taboo topics like sex and religion, early marriage, and HIV/AIDS through creative means like film, poetry and essays. At the end of the two days, we invite the families of the girls to come to the camp so the girls can show them what they’ve learned, and so we can discuss and reinforce the importance of their continued education with their families.
how to get involved Back home!
BE SUPPORTIVE – Start a discussion with a girl you know personally about school. Encourage her to keep following those goals and dreams. Empower her not to dumb herself down so as not to intimidate men (yes, this happens frequently in the States). Listen to her talk and facilitate discussions so she thinks for herself. It takes support to become a strong, educated woman.
UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES – In light of the 200 girls that were kidnapped from Nigeria earlier this year, it is evident that educating girls can be not only challenging, but also dangerous to some. In the United States, the glass ceiling is still a problem about which nothing has been done. Equality and feminism are not outdated topics – the two are, in fact, synonymous. Being a feminist does not mean you hate men. Rather, it means you support gender equality, and it is important to be educated about these topics. Go to http://www.girlrising.com/ to watch a film on the difficulties facing girls’ education in other countries. Read Half the Sky to understand challenges faced by women in developing countries. Girl Up is a United Nations Organization that encompasses information, discussions, events, and more to promote girls' education (http://www.girlup.org).
THANK A TEACHER – Take a minute to say thank you to a teacher for their work. They work long hours, extra hours, and do more than just teach – they become friends, pillars of support, and safe havens for many students. They deserve thanks.
I’ll leave you with this: 62 million girls who should be receiving an education are not. That’s 62 million potential doctors, teachers, and writers who will never reach their full potential. One mind brought us the light bulb, one mind brought us penicillin. Think of what 62 million minds could do for the world.
“I don’t care if I have to sit on the floor at school. All I want is an education. And I’m afraid of no one.” – -Malala Yousafzai
"Oh How She Glows"
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