If only EVERY girl could hear this!

A great girl anthem!!!

Will the Cleric from Saudi Arabia "YIELD" to Women's Rights?

The fight for women's rights continues around the globe. Recently, Sheikh Saleh Al-Loheidan, a Saudi cleric, made this statement:

“If a woman drives a car, it could have a negative physiological impact ... Medical studies show that it would automatically affect a woman's ovaries and that it pushes the pelvis upward … We find that for women who continuously drive cars, their children are born with varying degrees of clinical problems.” 

His comments were made in response to an online campaign, in Saudi Arabia, urging women to demonstrate for the right to drive. While we may smile or laugh at this comment, the underlying message of it is disconcerting and illustrates the ignorance of women’s health in areas of the world. This lack of knowledge or denial prevents women from having equal rights and opportunities, such as working, traveling, opening back accounts, driving a car, or more importantly going to school without receiving permission from their male guardian. 

Sukrupa School: Creating Ripples in India

Monica Bradley, volunteered in Bangalore, India for two years teaching underprivileged children at Sukrupa School. Currently she resides in Buenos Aires, Argentina with her husband and son.  Below she shares her rewarding experience.

    Daniel, Priya, Rajkumar

Four years ago, I lived in Bangalore, India on assignment for my husband’s work. While there, I spent two years volunteering at Sukrupa School. I taught 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd and 5^th standard students. After my first day of teaching, I went home and cried. It was overwhelming to me being among such poverty and I was unsure if I could return. But, I couldn’t forget the smiles on the children’s faces that I had met. They were so happy and loving to me despite their circumstances. I returned to the school with a profound desire to not only increase their knowledge, but also to shower them with unconditional love. Yet, they taught me so much more! Volunteering at the school was a very humbling, rewarding, life-changing experience for me.

In 1971, Suguna invited a handful of underprivileged children into her home and taught them basic subjects while their parents worked. A decade later she was teaching 150 children.  Her daughter and son, Krupa and Sathya, saw the wonderful work their mother was doing with these children. Years later, while both of them were successful in their own careers, Krupa returned to India in 2002 and founded Sukrupa School. Later, Sathya joined as director. Krupa desired for underprivileged children to have an opportunity to escape a background of poverty and illiteracy and have a chance to succeed in life. Today, over 400 children attend the school.

In India, the people are assigned their caste (social class) at birth based on their parent’s caste. For the millions born in the slums,  there is little opportunity to escape.  In the slum located near the school, parents earn about $1.00 a day. The majority of parents do not want their children to attend school, so they can help earn money for their family. They do not understand how valuable an education is for their child. It is especially challenging to retain girl students whom are often married at a young age. Not educating a girl has far reaching consequences for her and the generations to follow. Educating girls reduces poverty, increases self-confidence, and empowers the home. 

Below are a couple of responses from some of the students I taught:

“I left home when I was young to earn money for my family. Shortly after that, I met Krupa who invited me to come to school and be one of her foster children. I am so grateful for Sukrupa School. I’m one of the lucky ones because I was rescued from the streets and not sold into marriage as a child. Now I can make something of my life.  I can make candles, clothes, and handbags to sell. My dream is to open a store of my own.”                                                                      ~ Sony, residential child.

“While visiting my uncle in my home village, he discouraged me from returning to school. He said school was not important. I was confused and it was hard for me. But I know that I must study so I can be an Engineer someday. I am one of the lucky ones. Not every child can get an education.” (5 years ago).                         ~ Rajkumar, residential child attending St. Joseph’s Pre-University                      College, Bangalore.

The school has become a refuge for the students and they are thankful that they can go to school!  So grateful, that even when the children are out of school for a couple of weeks due to religious holidays, they still come. While I volunteered at the school, it was my privilege to witness how grateful the children are for the little things in life. The things that majority of us Westerners take for granted.

For instance, one day a box of 400 pairs of used shoes was donated to the school. The children rummaged through the box finding a pair in their size. When they found a pair that fit, they were so excited! They ran and jumped trying out their ‘new’ shoes. It did not matter to them what color or brand the shoe was.

Another time, a box of mechanical pencils was donated to the school from a friend of mine in the United States.  While I was tutoring some children, a couple of older girls happily came into the room holding their new pencils and thanked me for them.

Another time at the school, a box of toothbrushes and toothpastes were donated from a friend of mine in the United States. I watched the children excitedly choose a toothbrush. “Thank you Aunty!” They all said cheerfully. They were so happy to have their own toothbrush. It was my privilege to teach them how to brush their teeth for the first time.

I was also greatly impacted when one of my 1^st standard students, Archana, was given her very first doll from a friend of mine who was sponsoring her. When I handed it to her, she stared at it and then looked up at me with her beautiful big brown eyes and asked, “is it really for me Aunty?” Tears of gratitude swelled in her eyes while she embraced it.

One experience that I will never forget was on Christmas Day in 2008. I arrived at the school and following a wonderful Christmas production of Journey to Bethlehem, I gathered my students together and we sang Christmas songs. Before I could give them each a small gift, they had formed a line and took turns handing me random trinkets they had brought with them from home. “Merry Christmas Aunty!” Tears came to my eyes as I thought about the generosity of these dear children.

Every child deserves the right and privilege of an education, despite their social class. With an education they are empowered to achieve their full potential. Mother Teresa wisely once said, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”

Uganda is Serious about their Sex Ed

http://www.linktv.org/programs/african-school-sex-education

One Million Children

Millions of children are returning to school this year. Sadly about one million Syrian children will not be attending school this year. Recently, UNICEF reported on the one millionth child refugee from the conflict in Syria.

One million is a devastating number, especially when one considers the impact that this will have not only on this generation, but also on the generations that will follow. It is estimated that more than 768,000 of the refugees are under 11 years old. One of these is eight-year-old Aya. She has not been to school for the past two years, but dreams of becoming a doctor one day so that she can help others.

Despite great efforts made by UNHCR and UNICEF, more work is needed to save this generation. As refugees, they have already experienced turmoil, fear, illness, and separation from their families. They now face the threat of child marriage, child labor, and sex trafficking.  

  

A Voice That Cannot Be Silenced

The courage of Malala is truly inspiring. Below is a clip of her first formal speaking appearance at the United Nations since she was shot. In her speech, she advocates of the right that every girl and boy have to receive an education. 

What will you do with your voice?

The Power of One

We loved the CNN film Girl Rising. It is a powerful depiction of girls from all over the world rising up despite their external circumstances to acquire an education. One story that was shared is about Azmera from Ethiopia who is not yet 14.

One day a 20 year old stranger came and asked for Azmera’s hand in marriage. Azmera’s mom had been receiving pressure to have Azmera marry early. Her mom, desperate for Azmera to have change in her life, gave her consent. Azmera’s older brother saw what was happening and said that he would sell all that he had to keep his sister Azmera in school. He wanted her to have a better life and get the education that he never had. Together Azmera and her brother refused the marriage and she stayed in school. Azmera’s story is an example of the power one girl can have on her family, community, and country. 

The movie The Power of One, is about a teenage boxer, P.K., living in South Africa during the apartheid rule. P.K. and his friend begin to teach English to people in the slums despite the opposition against them. They are questioned by their school master why they are doing it.

He asks them: “But at the end of the day, it’s only about a dozen of people you’re talking about teaching. How much difference will that really make?” 

P.K. responds: “A waterfall begins from only one drop of water…look what comes from that…”

Azmera and the other girls in the film Girl Rising are one drop. Even though they are one, together as they rise up, and we rise up with them, we can form a powerful waterfall of girls being educated and empowered with opportunities. Their example of courage, unconsciously, unlocks the door for others to follow. Grow.Learn.Give is committed and excited to assist and help one girl at a time overcome barriers so that they can continue their education.