THE VALUE OF EDUCATING GIRLS - By Candice Daquin
by Candice Daquin
Change, even positive change, involves risk. True heroines are just as scared as we are, but in the face of conflict, they don’t cut and run, they move forward. Oprah’s done just that in response to the recent allegations of abuse at her school in South Africa. For a lovely tribute to Oprah check out You Tube For other organizations that educate girls and deserve our hearts, minds and money, read on.
THE VALUE OF EDUCATING GIRLS
By Candice Daquin
Women worldwide, particularly those of education and means, have been instrumental in starting groups to help educate female children in less advantaged countries. Historically, there has been a lack of education available to female-children in third world countries, because girls and education were not priorities. But, the statistics and studies show the link between education, economic development, economic sustainability and rates of survival rates of families, drawing more attention to education and specifically, the benefits of educating women. Awareness has developed that educated girls contribute to the battle against poverty. Many organizations with this aim now exist, giving women in the West an unparalleled opportunity to become actively involved. The following organizations and individuals stand out:
| …statistics and studies show the link between education, economic development, economic sustainability and rates of survival rates of families, drawing more attention to education and specifically, the benefits of educating women |
An organization that emphasizes: School involvement on a local level (fundraising through schools); Volunteer opportunities for all interested parties and Donation-drives and individual Donations to build their resources and network. Educate the Girls emphasizes parental and community participation, seeing this as the key to helping girls gain access to the education system in their country of origin. Methods include helping to improve the quality of that education through reform and attention to program structure in the schools that moves from ‘rote memorization’ to more practical work skills and classes to increase involvement and interest in school. Parents are involved in this education process, to foster a political cohesion between parent and child’s education, supporting the continued reform and success of children’s schools.
Educate the Girls http://educatethegirls.org/
| Educate the Girls emphasizes parental and community participation, seeing this as the key to helping girls gain access to the education system in their country of origin. |
Another non-profit whose mantra is: Educated girls are statistically less likely to be oppressed or exploited; they are more likely to be involved in a political process of reform; have smaller families that can reduce economic stressors; have healthier, more-educated children of their own; and are less likely to become victims of AIDS is Send Girls to School.
| Educated girls are statistically less likely to be oppressed or exploited.. |
This org focuses on education and advocacy, encouraging financial
contributions to help organizations doing necessary work and reaching out to
their communities; striving to educate their girls, they ask us to educate
our communities about their work and bring this to a forefront in our
respective countries to reach out to children in need in other countries and
help young women receive the education they need to improve their lives.
Advocacy work that includes asking members and interested parties to write
letters to the media, and political representatives to show your interest
and highlight the ongoing issues related to education of girls in selected
countries. Helping others understand the value and importance of educating
girls. Finally, volunteering to help spread this word, Send Girls to School
seek committed volunteers with the following skills to help with their work:
writing, research, publicity, fundraising, graphic design, illustration,
primary education, instructional design and public speaking. Please contact
queries@sendgirlstoschool.org for more information.
The Little Sisters Fund http://www.littlesistersfund.org/ Currently supporting the education of over 100 girls in Nepal; supporting education for girls throughout the world but specifically among the Nepalese. The Little Sisters Fund established a 1,500 volume library in Nepal and continues to raise awareness for Nepalese women as well as providing basic health care for; "all the little sisters" and establishing computer links in Nepal. Please contact littlesistersfund@yahoo.com for more information about how to get involved.
| The Little Sisters Fund established a 1,500 volume library in Nepal and continues to raise awareness for Nepalese women as well as providing basic health care for; "all the little sisters" and establishing computer links in Nepal. |
Room to Read
http://www.roomtoread.org/programs/scholarships.html Room To Read Girls Scholarships was formed in part because; "Due to economic and cultural bias, families often forego the education of young girls. In Cambodia, for example, girls´ enrollment in school drops precipitously as they get older. At the primary level, 91% of girls are enrolled in school; at the secondary level, only 19% are enrolled; the number drops to 7% at the upper secondary level (grades 9-10)." Scholarships are created and made available through fundraising efforts to increase the financial support of young girls wanting or needing to go to school.
| "Due to economic and cultural bias, families often forego the education of young girls. In Cambodia, for example, girls´ enrollment in school drops precipitously as they get older. At the primary level, 91% of girls are enrolled in school; at the secondary level, only 19% are enrolled; the number drops to 7% at the upper secondary level (grades 9-10)." |
The Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) http://www.camfed.org/
"CAMA (part of the CAMFED Association) was established in 1998 and is now a pan-African membership organization for young, educated, rural women. CAMA is now at the forefront of health, micro-finance and human rights initiatives. CAMA’s 4,700 members are showing how the education of girls plays a crucial role in the fight against poverty and the regeneration of communities."
Well-known and respected author on the subject of 3rd world issues and education, Shashi Tharoor, the former Under-Secretary General, U.N is quoted in The Hindu newspaper as saying: "The single most important thing that can be done to improve the world, is perhaps this — educate girls." In his column in The Hindu and many of his lectures on educating girls, given to audiences worldwide, Mr. Tharoor discusses the specific value of female education stating: "If you educate a boy, you educate a person, but if you educate a girl, you educate a family and benefit an entire community. The evidence is striking. Increased schooling of mothers has a measurable impact on the health of their children, on the future schooling of the child, and on the child´s adult productivity. The children of educated mothers consistently out-perform children with educated fathers and illiterate mothers. Given that they spend most of their time with their mothers, this is hardly surprising."
| "If you educate a boy, you educate a person, but if you educate a girl, you educate a family and benefit an entire community… |
Mr. Tharoor was named a "Global Leader of Tomorrow," in 1988 and among others, belongs to the human rights organization Breakthrough (http://www.breakthrough.tv/) who petition through the media and educational awareness. Mr. Tharoor’s many books and lectures are one elements of his humanitarian work to increase awareness of the value of education. He says; "A girl who has had more than six years of education is better equipped to seek and use medical and health care advice, to immunize her children, to be aware of sanitary practices from boiling water to the importance of washing hands. A World Bank project in Africa established that the children of women with just five years of school had a 40 per cent better survival rate than the children of women who had less than five years in class."
| "…A World Bank project in Africa established that the children of women with just five years of school had a 40 per cent better survival rate than the children of women who had less than five years in class. " |
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNISEF) (http://www.unicef.org) reports that according to 2002 estimates; "Around 115 million children are out of school. Globally, more than 53 per cent of the children out of primary school are girls, meaning that for every 100 boys out of school, 115 girls are in the same situation." UNISEF believes that educating girls is key to ensuring subsequent generations will gain an education because statistics show those whose mothers have an education have a much higher likelihood of completing their education. UNISEF points to the continuing gender disparity in education and point to specific countries needing to make far steeper advances to reach universal primary education by the goal of 2015. Today’s UNISEF figures show that: "There are some 781 million illiterate adults worldwide, (with) 64 per cent of them female (and) countries that have abolished school fees have seen tremendous surge in school enrolment." Clearly, finding creative means of increasing retention is key to working to increase school participation.
| UNISEF believes that educating girls is key to ensuring subsequent generations will gain an education because statistics show those whose mothers have an education have a much higher likelihood of completing their education |
While the girls are far from us, there is an inverse relationship between distance and making a difference; the greater the distance, the greater the difference. Non profits and charities are reaching the children of these countries and dramatically changing the futures of girls.
| Non profits and charities are reaching the children of these countries and dramatically changing the futures of girls |
We in the western world have a more power than almost any other group of females to support and encourage an important ambition: that all females are recognized as being entitled to a quality education.
| …encourage an important ambition: that all females are recognized as being entitled to a quality education. |
01.05.2008
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