Creating Reciprocal Communication:
CAI works with people who speak different languages and follow very different cultural norms. After a few key miscommunications, Greg learned to be meticulous with his words.
“ When you are communicating with people who have a very different language, you need to know if they really understand what you’ re saying and do you really understand what they’ re saying,” explains Greg.
“ You have to be very, very aware when you’ re communicating with people. It’ s probably the number one cause of problems and failures when people aren’ t culturally aware. It comes down to having empathy and respect for each other.”
CELEBRATING ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Though a daunting amount of work remains to ensure women and girls have access to education worldwide, Greg is proud of many of the accomplishments the organization has earned over the past two decades.
Staying With Communities:
“ I’ m proud that CAI has resolve to stick with the communities that we’ ve served. We’ ve seen valleys, regions or districts from complete illiteracy all the way to having college graduates.”
In the beginning, CAI’ s main goal was to provide a path for young girls to complete at least a fifth-grade education. Over the years, CAI has continued to adapt to the needs of each growing community. It may start with supplying pencils and paper, then building a high school when enough girls want to continue learning. It may end with awarding scholarships for higher education and seeing these same young girls earn advanced degrees.
“ I get teary eyed and feel a swelling of pride in my chest seeing a little girl in rubber boots in the Wakhan going to her first day of school or watching a young woman in Pakistan getting her master’ s or Ph. D. It’ s not that CAI did that or I did that. That young woman did that. Helping her get there is one of the greatest achievements of the organization.”
Communities Become Empowered:
Over two decades Greg witnessed the growth and change of many of these communities. He’ s met many village elders, helped motivated girls continue learning, and developed a strong relationship with the people in these countries. By helping them out in small ways— building schools, providing higher education, listening to the needs of each community— Greg has been able to watch these communities flourish.
“ I have great confidence that the people can ultimately affect their own destinies,” says Greg.“ I’ m honored that we’ ve been able to have a hand in helping people create their own path. I truly believe that people can make their own difference.”
“ It’ s not just about equality. Women need to have a decisive say in the future of our planet.”
On to the Next Twenty Years:
Greg believes the world is on the cusp of the next revolution, one that sees women as leaders, running peace talks, leading in Math and Science, and heading global initiatives. To make this happen, girls’ education has to be top priority around the globe.
Right now, girls make up two thirds of the number of children out of school. Without access to education, women and girls are held back from participating in economics, politics, and a global future.
“ It’ s not just about equality. Women need to have a decisive say in the future of our planet.”
Fortunately, Greg has witnessed progress that gives him hope for the future,“ Women are becoming Supreme Court Justices, even in Afghanistan. Women are becoming presidents of universities and countries, and leaders in science and innovation.”
In order for women and girls to continue gaining ground and leadership, CAI and other organizations focused on peace through education need to follow the lessons learned over the past 20 years.
“ Pay attention to the details. Keep listening and trying new things,” encourages Greg.
“ Perhaps they can’ t get their homework done because they can’ t study at night and they have to do chores. If you open the school door a half hour or an hour early, the kids can tell their parents they have to be to school at that time and they have time to study. Be adaptable in your programming.”
Over the past 20 years Greg has seen education better the lives of hundreds of women and girls, and those girls have bettered the lives of everyone in their communities. Once a girl learns to read, or receives a diploma, there is no going back for her.
“ Education gives women a voice. Once you have a voice it can’ t be taken away from you. Education is indelible.”
In the next 20 years CAI schools and educational programs will continue to grow, and more women will receive an education and take their place in society among men. Those brave women will be the first in many fields and will face incredible challenges. It is our hope that we can prepare this next generation of students, those who will take their place in the world as future leaders. •
Katie Smith is CAI’ s communications manager. She came on board full time after a stint freelance writing blogs and articles for CAI. Originally from New Hampshire, Smith moved to Montana to teach Nordic skiing and pursue a career in public relations a few years after earning a Bachelor’ s of Psychology and Environmental Studies at St. Lawrence University. After completing her M. S. in Public Relations at MSU Billings, she led PR efforts for several companies in the outdoor industry and locally in Bozeman.
When she’ s not at work she’ s most likely outside hiking, biking, skiing, running or backpacking with her Airedale terrier mix, Andy.
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