Girls Education International

Fundraising Event to take place in Boulder, CO ~ Sunday, November 13th

2011-11-07T11:26:00.000-08:00

Girls Ed is honored to be supported by Ren and Aki Adventures, Inc. - a Boulder based mother-daughter team! They are holding a fundraiser to benefit both the Women’s Wilderness Institute and Girls Education International. They are inspired by the work we do and wish to support our causes. *Event Info* Bring a recycled ...2-litre bottle and a smile to a gourd painting, birdhouse creating, and candle-making craft workshop with a silent auction to follow at The Women’s Wilderness Institute’s new location: 1501 Lee Hill Drive, Unit 16 in Boulder, Colorado 80304. Sunday, November 13th from 9am-1pm. Free and Open to the public. All Ages and Capabilities Welcome!

What: Craft Workshop and Silent Auction to raise money for GEI and WWI
Where: 1501 Lee Hill Drive, Unit 16 in Boulder, Colorado 80304
When: Sunday, November 13th from 9am-1pm
Cost: Free!!!
Who: All are welcome!!

Join us for Film, Auction and Action - a Girls Ed Fundraiser!

2011-10-04T21:57:00.000-07:00

Join us now. Join us on October 12th to celebrate your potential to impact great change. Join us to see how even the smallest gesture can change the life of one human being ... which can, and will, change the lives of many!

Do you ever hear the word Pakistan and feel a wobble in your brain - like a bunch of little synapses firing at one another trying to decide what to produce for you to think about? Well, maybe it's just me.

The media recently has mostly focused on the tensions between the US and Pakistan or the devastation of the floods that have devastated an already vulnerable nation. But is that really all there is to Pakistan? Is that all we can have on our radar when we hear the name of this colorful, mountainous, linguistically rich nation? What other images can we conjure? What faces can we see? What landscape can we admire?

On a recent trip to Pakistan, climber Kelly Cordes left the mountains after discovering his shoulder wouldn't serve him on his ambitious endeavor. He headed into the country to live it, feel it, breathe it and share it. Take a moment to explore his words and share his experience through his blog by clicking here. His insights share what we will never really come to know until we, too, touch our feet to the earth in Pakistan.

We have to remember - amid the disaster, the conflicts and the poverty ... there is hope. There are young girls and boys who dream big and their dreams start with education. "When we get education, we can spread the light and do away with the widespread ignorance in our society," declared Kashif Shah, a Grade 3 student.

The children can't wait for peace. The girls can't wait for greater equality. Their time is now. They are young and it is a fundamental human right to have access to education:

Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations:

(1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.

(2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.

Please, join us in Boulder, Colorado on October 12th as we screen a fabulous documentary, A Small Act and host a silent auction to raise funds for girls education in Pakistan. We want you, but the girls need you.

Shukriya
Thank You,

Girls Education International
http://www.girlsed.org/

50% fund matching starts now!

2011-09-14T10:03:00.000-07:00

Girls Education International is one of only eight organizations to be
selected by GlobalGiving to be part of their Safer World Fund Campaign this
month! The Safer World Fund will provide a 50% match of any donation up to
$2000, per donation, made to our Pakistan project beginning on Sunday, September 11 until they reach the maximum match of $15,000 per organizatioon or until their $50,000 runs out.

LET'S PUT THIS PROJECT OVER THE TOP AND FUND IT THROUGH 2012!

YOU MUST MAKE DONATIONS ON THE GLOBAL GIVING SITE LISTED BELOW TO QUALIFY FOR MATCHING FUNDS!

If you would like to help keep our girls in school in Pakistan please spread the word and CLICK ON THE GIVE NOW link below to donate.
Thank you!!! The Girls Ed Team

http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/send-30-girls-in-pakistan-to-school/

A Man with a Vision Educates a Village

2011-07-07T16:52:00.000-07:00

Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you. ~Mother Teresa

This quote underlies the actions of Mr. Ghulam Murtaza of Pakistan, who decided to reach out and make a difference for his village. Mr. Murtaza lived in Lahore for 20 years, working in the health care sector. When he returned to his village after retirement, he was struck by the challenges his people faced. He decided to continue working at a grassroots level to improve the lives of those in his immediate community.

Initially, Mr. Murtaza set out to alleviate the workload of the women in his village who had to walk for miles to retrieve water on a daily basis. Given the distance and terrain of this journey, this essential task would only come to wear the women down. Mr. Murtaza envisioned a solution and ultimately realized his goal with the completion of the community’s first well. Can you imagine the relief – physical, mental and emotional – for the women of this village!

After this project, Mr. Murtaza pioneered for girls’ education. He was aware of the positive impact of education on families and the community at large. He sought assistance from GEI’s local NGO partner, Bedari who contacted us about initiating a scholarship program for girls in this region. Once the funding was secured, Bedari relied upon Mr. Murtaza to identify the girls that could benefit from this opportunity. Initially, the idea of the girls going to school wasn’t received well. Girls at home are a valuable asset to the families – they work in the fields and help their mothers around the house. However, when Mr. Murtaza presented the educational opportunities as scholarships for only the brightest and most successful primary school children, the villagers saw this as an honor and a privilege. They soon had 21 girls enrolled in the program.

Mr. Murtaza believed in the long term impact of educating these girls, even at the expense of losing the girls’ help around the house for a few years. Many girls who don’t get the chance at secondary school education marry by the age of 13 or 14 and have their own families to support at a very early age. In addition, they will be less likely to support educational opportunities for their own daughters. With this education, these girls will be more likely to marry later, have smaller families, support their children in school and possibly explore other financial opportunities for themselves, such as further education or running a small business.

A nearby village heard about the program and requested consideration for their daughters. Nine girls from this village were awarded scholarships, bringing the total of girls supported by Bedari and Girls Education International in this region to 30.

Another obstacle to girls’ education in this region is the inadequacy of the schools for girls in these villages as compared to those for boys. For this reason, part of the funding for this program covers transportation costs to offer pick-up and drop-off service for the girls. This allows them to travel by van from the villages to Buchal Kalan, a government-run High School. The program also includes uniforms, shoes, books and other school supplies the girls need to be successful in their education.

Thanks to a combination of Mr. Murtaza’s vision, the partnership between Bedari and Girls Education International and the continued support of individuals around the world who contribute to support our programs, these two villages will have 30 additional educated families.

If you educate a woman you educate a family (nation).
-Ghanaian scholar Dr. James Emmanuel Kwegyir-Aggrey (1875-1927)

DC-area Climber Organizations to Host The MAD Tour, a fund-raiser for Girls Ed

2011-05-12T11:36:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DC-area Climber Organizations to Host The MAD Tour, a fund-raiser for Girls Education International, May 25

The Mountaineering Section of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC/MS) and the American Alpine Club's Blue Ridge Section (AAC/BRS) are hosting a night of The MAD Tour, a fund-raiser for Girls Education International. The tour includes a multi-media presentation by Madaleine Sorkin that includes her various big wall, free climbing adventures and will be held at the DC Public Library, May 25.

"Our climbing clubs are always looking for talented rock climbers to give slide shoes that inspire our members in their climbing adventures," stated Jeanette Helfrich, a past chairperson of both of the sponsoring organizations. "We were immediately impressed with Madaleine’s very hard free rock climbs in Yosemite Valley and in Canada.”

According to Helfrich, the DC area has a rich history of women rock climbers who have been active and recognized as leaders in the Mountaineering Section of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club since 1944, such as rock climbing legend Jan Con. "The fact that Madaleine is also from the DC area is an additional bonus," Helfrich said. "She will certainly motivate the many women traditional climbers here.”

The PATC/AAC has reserved a room at the West End branch of the DC Public Library, 1101 24th St. N.W. Washington, DC 20037 westendlibrary@dc.gov. The show will be held on Wednesday, May 25 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The show will start at 7:00 p.m. This is a good central location in a good part of downtown DC. A raffle and live auction will follow at a TBD venue (probably a bar) in DC. Proceeds from the raffle/auction will support Girls Education International. Sponsors for the event include: Evolv, Kelty, Rab, Stonewear Designs, and Maxim ropes.

Please visit The MAD Tour site for more information on Madaleine, her climbing, and the tour. You can also contact Lizzy Scully at lizzy @ lizzyscully.com, or call her at 303-647-3440

Zofishan - Delighted to Attend School

2011-04-14T09:51:00.000-07:00

Our partner in Pakistan, Bedari is an NGO dedicated to the protection and promotion of women's and girls' human rights through community-driven empowerment programs. Through our partnership, Girls Education International and Bedari are able to support 30 girls as they beat the odds to attend school and get the education they desire.

Here is the story of one of our students named Zofishan. Read about the obstacles she faced before Bedari selected her for the scholarship program. Her smile comes through in her words as she writes about the opportunity to go to school.

My name is Zofishan and I am studying in 6th grade. I live in a small and beautiful village Laphi [in district Chakwal, Pakistan]. I have 5 brothers and one sister. All my brothers are studying in various grades. However, my eldest sister Fatima is not going to school. I, too, was not going to school for three years before I rejoined my school with support from Bedari.

I had studied up to grade 5 in our village school. But we do not have a secondary school in our village, and the nearest secondary school is 14 kilometers away from our home. We could not afford to pay the huge amount of fare charged by the only local van available.

It was such a sad time of my life. I had to stay at home, and help my mother in household chores, or would go out with my mother to the jungle to collect wood for selling it in the local market. My father has a small herd of cattle. He takes them to jungle for grazing and spends almost the whole day there. The time was passing and I was losing hope of joining my school again. I would borrow my elder brother’s books, and study them. My brother is very loving. He would teach me as much as possible.

Anyhow, one day a volunteer from Bedari came to our village and talked to the village elders for identifying girls who wanted to study up to secondary level. When I heard that, I asked my brother to meet the Bedari volunteer and get my name registered for the scholarship. I was very excited and prayed all the time for getting selected. I heard from my brother that there were 21 girls registered for scholarships. I just did not know how many they were going to select, nor did I know how I could ensure my selection except praying to God.

And finally the good news came. I came to know that all the 21 girls were given scholarship including myself. Ohh… I was flying high…may be on cloud 9 or what do they say… Bedari has arranged a special van for us 21 girls. This van picks us up from our village in the morning and drops us back in the evening. I have 20 friends in the van and a hundred more girls in my school. I am really happy to be in school again. I love my school. I meet so many other girls, I have so many good teachers who guide us and above all – only in my school, I can play cricket with other girls. I really love my life.

Welcome Steve Murchie to the Girls Education International Board of Directors!

2011-03-29T08:08:00.000-07:00

Girls Education International is excited to officially announce our newest board member, Steve Murchie. Steve is an entrepreneur and investor, primarily working in the software and cleantech sectors. He holds an undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MBA from the University of Chicago. He has more than 25 years of experience in the software industry, starting as a programmer/analyst and progressing through a variety of roles in sales, marketing, and general management.

In the past several years, Steve has become active in the social sector, stemming from his membership in Social Venture Partners – Denver. In that capacity, he consulted with local non-profit organizations to improve their sustainability, which afforded him the opportunity to become involved in a variety of mission-driven organizations and causes, especially those just getting off the ground.

Initially, Steve was involved with Girls Ed as part of an informal focus group and then he was later invited to guide Girls Ed through some early growing pains in an advisory role. Following this advisory period, Steve moved out of the US temporarily, but as soon as he returned, we were delighted to extend the invitation to Steve to join our Board of Directors in full service.

Steve is a strong believer in the power of education, and the transformative nature of education for girls and young women in the developing world. And he's clearly an adventurer, too. Naturally, he is a wonderful addition to the GEI team! Join us welcoming him on board!

GlobalGiving Matching Funds Opportunity for Girls Ed on Wednesday, March 16th!

2011-03-14T09:49:00.000-07:00

Girls Education International has an amazing opportunity to raise a lot of money for our Liberia scholarship program! If you have always wished you could make a bigger donation to support a girl's education, now is the time!

On Wednesday, March 16, GlobalGiving is matching at 30% all online donations up to $1,000 per donor per project! $75,000 in matching funds is available. We want Girls Ed to win some of those funds!

In addition to the 30% match, GlobalGiving is offering a $1,000 bonus to the project that raises the most funds on Wednesday and a $1,000 bonus to the project that receives donations from the most individual donors!

Donate Now (www.globalgiving.org/6852) to Girls Ed and help us support our 47 middle and high school girls in Liberia!

Other big ways to help in this challenge:

Call or email at least five friends and ask them to donate.
Post a link to our project page on your Facebook page asking your friends to donate.

5 ACTION ITEMS FOR ON-GOING SUPPORT AND INVOLVEMENT

Go to www.girleffect.org to watch a short video about why it is critical to educate girls.
Educate yourself by reading a book about the importance of educating girls, such as Half The Sky by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn (www.halftheskymovement.org)
Go to The United Nations Girls Education Initiative (www.ungei.org) or read about the United Nations Millenium Development Goals to Eradicate Poverty (www.un.org/millenniumgoals) to learn what the United Nations is doing to promote universal education in the developing world as a means to eradicate poverty.
Join the CARE Action Network to speak out to policy makers about poverty and injustice (www.care.org). Talk about the importance of educating girls with your representatives, your teen-agers, your partner, your family, at your work place, and with your faith community. Start the conversation about the issue at the grass roots level.
Support documentary filmmakers who tell important stories of the impact of educational opportunity throughout the world. Buy the DVD and host screening parties to raise funds and awareness. Film suggestions include: A Small Act (www.asmallact.com) and The First Grader (www.thefirstgrader-themovie.com).

A Girl's Education, The World's Next Best Resource

Thank you for your continued support!

Our Girls Ed Liberia Project is Live on Global Giving!

2010-11-30T09:39:00.000-08:00

Girls Education International has been supporting girls in Liberia, West Africa since 2008. As of this week, we are excited to announce that our program has the chance for additional support through a live spot on GlobalGiving.org.

The support from everyone who contributed to our Open Challenge in September is still having a huge impact. With GlobalGiving.org we can continue to promote our Pakistan program and also bring focus to the 50 girls we support in Liberia. Please check out our page at GlobalGiving.org and consider making a charitable donation for the holidays and into the new year. There's no time like the end of the year to give big.

In May 2011, GEI co-founder Lizzy Scully and Social Media coordinator Rai Farrelly are planning to make a (self-funded) trip to Liberia to attend the girls' graduation ceremony with our partner organization, The Common Ground Society. We plan to bring you stories, videos and messages from the girls in our program, as well as a glimpse into the importance of your support.

Thanks for all you've done so far. Please continue to spread the word and help us keep the momentum going for both programs.

A group of the school girls supported by Girls Education International and the Common Ground Society in Liberia.

Our Liberia Girls Education Program

GEI has provided 47 girls in the mountainous regions of Bong and Margibi counties, Liberia, with education scholarships since 2008. This basic scholarship program costs $5,000(US) each year. GEI has just finished our second year funding these scholarships, and despite the fact that many of our girls don’t get to eat every day, all of them maintained a C+ or better average and are on track for graduation. Our first ten girls will graduate from high school at the end of the 2010-2011 school year.

For the 2010-2011 school year, tuition costs are increasing and GEI will also need to provide additional funds to pay for all 47 girls to take national exams. GEI is working with the Liberian non-governmental organization Common Ground Society (CGS) and its program director Emily Sherman-Davis. Emily and her husband, Marvin Garbeh Davis founded CGS in 2003 to support peace education for the children of war-torn Liberia. The 1999-2003 Liberian civil war killed more than 250,000 Liberians and displaced hundreds of thousands of others. Subsequently, thousands of children lost the opportunity to get an education.

The Big Issues

Three quarters of females in Liberia are illiterate (compared to only 38% of males) and only 58% of girls are enrolled in primary school. Poverty in Liberia is rampant – one half of Liberians live in abject poverty and the unemployment rate is 85%. Poverty is even higher in the rural areas where GEI provides scholarships. The 47 girls who currently participate in the GEI-CGS scholarship Program are from the most disadvantaged families in the country and some even live alone and are self supported.

The Future of Our Liberia Program

GEI is making this a long-term project, and plans to add new girls to the scholarship program when current girls graduate. We also hope to expand the program to eventually include 100 girls, and to offer all our girls an after-school reproductive health education class, a library of school-related materials, a weekend tutoring program, and additional stipends to cover the costs of uniforms, meals, textbooks, and other needs. Even with scholarship help from GEI, the cost of uniforms, schoolbooks and ID cards is still a significant financial drain on the girls and their families. The addition of a reproductive health education program and stipends to pay all the girls' educational needs will cost an additional $25,000 per year.

Please read more and see additional pictures at our GlobalGiving.org page.

Welcome Mary Ann Williamson to the Board

2010-11-14T08:13:00.000-08:00

As we round the bend in 2010, Girls Education International continues to grow strong. GEI is proud to introduce our newest board member, Mary Ann Williamson, who joined our board in October.

Mary Ann Williamson comes to GEI with a background in communications, having worked as both a freelance and staff writer/producer in the corporate video field, as an adjunct professor of Technical Communications at Metropolitan State College of Denver, and as the Community Marketing Coordinator for the Boulder International Film Festival. She served on the board of directors, and later as president of the International Television Association. Currently, Mary Ann is at work on an independent film about the evacuees of the recent Fourmile Canyon fire.

Mary Ann earned her BS in Mass Communications from Illinois State University, and graduated cum laude from the Applied Communications Master’s degree program at the University of Denver.

While spending time with her family is her priority, Mary Ann also likes to run, hike, ski, and bike in the outdoors, then sit in darkened movie theaters to see as many independent films as possible.

Welcome, Mary Ann! Girls Education Internation is very happy to have you 'on board'!

Global Giving Open Challenge Results

2010-10-13T11:48:00.000-07:00

We raised $7,095 from 99 unique donors!!!

Since we reached (and far exceeded) the minimum fundraising goal of $4000 from 50 unique donors, we have secured a permanent spot on the GlobalGiving website. This is great news for us as it allows us to connect with many new donors and corporate sponsors who may otherwise not have heard about us. If a donor knows he or she wishes to support girls education, a quick search will turn up many possible organizations, of which Girls Education International is one. If a donor specifically wants to support girls in Pakistan or Liberia, it won't be long before they are looking at our page and then browsing our website! This is wonderful news for us as we move forward with our girls education programming.

Huge THANKS to everyone who supported us in this challenge by spreading the word and/or donating to our cause.

As we gain recognition and support, we will also grow. Girls Education International is planning to discuss our strategic plan at our upcoming October board meeting. We are considering expanding our impact into additional developing countries where girls continue to represent a very small percentage of the student body. Stay tuned for updates!

Leaving the Fields to Follow Her Dream - Riffat's Story

2010-09-21T21:07:00.000-07:00

In Pakistan, Girls Education International (GEI) partners with a local NGO, Bedari, founded by Dr. Fozia Saeed - a woman who has committed herself to improving the lives of women and girls in Pakistan. Bedari has grown from a small grassroots organization into a larger more coherent organization with a clear strategic plan, a small paid staff, a board of directors, a team of volunteers and a clear mission: working for protection and promotion of women's and girls' human rights. The main areas of focus for Bedari are discrimination and violence against women, education, economic empowerment and formulation of explicit laws and their implementation to safeguard women’s rights.

Safeer Ullah Khan is the Communications and Advocacy Manager for Bedari. Below, in his own words, Safeer shares a story about one of the girls in the education program supported by GEI. Please see how your contributions to GEI, and therefore Bedari, can impact the lives of young girls in Pakistan.

Riffat Shaheen – a resident of the village Laphi nearly 48 Kilometers away from Chakwal city – was studying in 5th grade, when her father, a patient of diabetes, died. It was a time of great difficulty for her mother Makhtoom Begum – an illiterate woman with five kids to take care of. She had a small piece of cultivable land, which she started tilling on her own. It did help to some extent but was not enough to keep the family in good condition. As Riffat passed her 5th grade examination, her mother stopped her from going to school. Riffat joined her mother in tilling the small piece of land. It was very depressing for her to work in the fields and see her classmates on their way to school passing by her fields. She had no option but to contend with what she had.

Finally, Bedari came to her rescue thanks to the financial support from Girls Education International. She was selected for educational scholarship, which enabled her to join her school after a break of two years. Now she is studying in grade 6. She is very happy. She says, ‘The first day at school when I rejoined was the best and the happiest day of my life’.

Thank you, Safeer for sharing Riffat's story! Thank you Bedari for ensuring that the girls have these educational opportunities! Thank you to the many GEI supporters who have helped us make this dream a reality for Riffat.

Don't forget, GEI is still involved in the GlobalGiving Open Challenge until September 30th. The top goal was to raise at least $4000 from 50 unique donors. GEI reached this goal within the first two weeks of the challenge, thanks to you! However, the goodness doesn't have to end there. If GEI can acquire 1st, 2nd or 3rd place on the leader board in this challenge (as determined by funds raised), then GlobalGiving will award us bonus funding in the amount of either $3,000 or $2,000. This money will go very far in our Pakistan program! Please click here to read about our project and make your donation today - every little bit counts!

GEI and the GlobalGiving Open Challenge

2010-09-01T10:40:00.000-07:00

We are excited to announce an exciting opportunity for Girls Education International! Girls Education International (GEI) has been selected by the Global Giving Foundation to participate in its Open Challenge, a fundraising opportunity for nonprofit organizations working around the world. We have chosen to highlight our programs in Pakistan for this challenge.

In order to succeed in GlobalGiving’s Open Challenge, GEI must raise $4,000 from at least 50 unique donors by September 30, 2010. If we meet this challenge, we will be given a permanent spot on GlobalGiving’s website. Benefits of being represented by GlobalGiving include:

1) potential corporate relationships,
2) exposure to a new donor network,
3) access to dozens of online fundraising tools, and
4) the ability to list all of our current programs and future projects.

In addition, if we raise the most money or have the most donors among the nonprofits competing in this Open Challenge, we could earn as much as $3,000 in financial prizes!

Please help us by visiting our page at GlobalGiving and making a tax deductible donation today. Not only will your donation help GEI continue our program in Pakistan, but, it will help us take advantage of a long-term fundraising opportunity!

We’re also going to need your help spreading the word! Please share this opportunity with your friends and family! You can send them to our GlobalGiving page or to our newly improved website!

Thank you, as always, for your continued support,

The GEI Team and all the GIRLS!

Welcome Our Newest GEI Board Member!

2010-08-29T11:38:00.000-07:00

Girls Education International is growing stronger and stronger with every month! There is so much to learn as a new non-profit organization and excellence on the Board of Trustees is one critical component. Each month, as we meet to discuss future directions, program success, fundraising and much more, the Board matures, learns to operate more effectively and identifies strenths among our Trustees. When we identify a missing link on the Board, a gap in our skill set or an area that is underserved by our current Board, we begin to think of ways in which our Board can grow to better serve our international partners, our girls and our organization overall. It is in these moments that we hope for that perfect person to emerge. Given our many contacts, we often get lucky and that person emerges quickly - as was the case with our dedicated new Executive Director Therese Thompson.

Now, GEI is happy to introduce Michelle Simmons, our latest great discovery and a fabulous new addition to our Board. Michelle Simmons, LPC, holds a Masters Degree in Community Counseling from the University of Northern Colorado and is a licensed professional counselor. She has over 14 years of clinical experience in a variety of settings such as hospitals, community mental health centers and family service agencies. Michelle has extensive knowledge in crucial areas such as trauma, crisis intervention, child protective issues and the needs of foster parents and children in their care.

To give you a more personal introduction to Michelle, we asked her to respond to a few questions about girls education and serving on the Board for GEI.

GEI: Why is girls' education important?
Michelle: The education of girls is critical to the success of our future. Despite limited resources, every child deserves the right to an education. Given the fact that some girls do not have a voice in their country, it is our responsibility to speak for them.

GEI: Why did you join the board of Girls Education International?
Michelle: GEI provides a pathway to advocate for the education of girls in other parts of the world. I have benefitted tremendously from education and now have a way to pay it forward.

GEI: What do you hope to get out of this experience?
Michelle: I absolutely hope to give more than I receive! The opportunity to positively impact lives is enough.

GEI: Is there anything else that you would like to share with us about your investment in the areas of education, girls or development work?
Michelle: For the last 15 years I have been committed to the causes of Education and International Awareness and Involvement.

Welcome, Michelle! We're very happy to have you!

Fozia rejoins her school & other news in Pakistan

2010-08-24T18:34:00.000-07:00

In light of the floods that have devastated the northern districts of Pakistan and the areas close to the banks of the Indus, Girls Education International checked in with our partner NGO, Bedari. According to project manager Safeer Ullah Khan, who recently visited Laphi and Sar Kalan, “All the girls supported through our education program are safe and sound.” The children are currently not in schools because the government schools are closed due to summer vacations and would be reopened after Eid holidays by mid-September.

While in the villages, Khan checked in with one of our girls and got her story. Please meet Fozia Zikriya...

Fozia Zikriya had been studying in the Government Elementary School Sar Kalan, and living a life free of cares in her small village some 48 Kilometers to the south-west of Chakwal City. But fate had something else in store for her.
Her father was implicated in a false case of murder, and was tortured. This paralyzed him mentally, and he became schizophrenic. This created a very tough situation for the family, as he was the primary breadwinner for the family. As well, their expenses shot up due to his medical care.

Her illiterate mother, Nusrat Bibi, has to take up odd jobs, which do not bring sufficient money. She goes to the nearby jungle, collects woods and sells them to her neighbors. She sews clothes, does embroidery, and works as maid for various rich households. She has become a very strong voice for girls’ education. “I believe girls’ education is important,” Bibi said. “If I were educated, I would have handled this situation quite well, and would not have needed support from any NGO for my children’s education.”

After passing her 8th grade, Fozia had to go to the neighboring village for secondary education, because there was no secondary school in her own village. Going to neighboring village involved huge cost on transportation – something too much for the unfortunate family. Fozia had lost all hope of continuing her education, when a social activist visited her house and asked her mother if she would like to send her daughter to school, both mother and daughter were overjoyed.

Now, thanks to the joint efforts of Girls Education International and Bedari, Fozia is going to school studying in grade 9.

High schoolers raise money for Girls Ed project in Liberia

2010-08-23T07:52:00.000-07:00

Led by Clara Grainger and Kaziah White, soon-to-be juniors at Fairview High School in South Boulder, Colo., the club Leaping for Liberia (LEAP) raised nearly $600 for the Girls Education International (GEI) scholarship program in Liberia. LEAP meets once each week over the lunch hour, during the school year. The group of up to 70 students usually discusses where they want the money they raise to go, any upcoming fundraisers, and ideas for new ways to raise money. Girls Ed recently caught up with the two 16-year-old leaders of the group to ask them a few questions about LEAP.

GEI: Why did you start LEAP?
Clara: We started LEAP because we wanted to get involved in girls' education in Africa, and none of the existing clubs were really focused on that.

Created with flickr slideshow from softsea.
GEI: What enticed you about working with Africans?
Kaziah: Africa is a really interesting continent, and we wanted to know more about it. Also, we knew that in certain countries, education is a big issue. Since that's what we wanted to help with, we thought Africa would be a good choice.

GEI: How did you find Girls Education International?
Clara: We found Girls' Education International on the Internet when we looked up local non-profits working with education in Africa.

GEI: What have you learned so far from this experience? (Maybe both of you could answer this one).
Kaziah: I've learned a ton from this experience. It really helps things to stay in perspective and makes me realize how incredibly lucky I am to be able to get a wonderful education without having to pay for it. I also learned never to start out with a clothes drive for girls in Africa; it costs a ton of money, and we hadn't taken that into account. I really think that I have (and will continue to) gained a great deal from this experience.
Clara: Yes, I agree about the clothes drive. This has also made me realize how we all tend to take school for granted. It is something that is has been provided for us. Without the scholarships, these girls in Liberia couldn't go to school, yet we still complain when we have to get up and go somewhere that we haven't really had to work for. This experience will continue to keeps things in perspective.

GEI: What have been the most rewarding parts of this project?
Kaziah: Just knowing that in some small way we're helping someone get opportunities that we've always taken for granted before is a very rewarding experience. Also, knowing that the girls we're working with are our age is really motivating.

GEI: What have been some of your biggest frustrations?
Clara: Well, some big frustrations have been trying to get people to take us seriously, both inside and outside the club. When people meet us, their first thought tends to be, "they're still in high school!" and they seem to take it from there.

GEI: What are you future goals with LEAP?
Kaziah: We want to continue to work with Girls Education International, and we want to try and raise more money than we did this year. Also, starting up communications with the girls in Liberia would be great.

Check out the clubs' Facebook page by clicking here.

Email update from Eleanor Moseman, a women traveling around China to raise funds for Girls Education International

2010-07-12T06:48:00.001-07:00

Dear All,

Hope everyone is having a great summer and keeping cool - I know many are seeing record breaking temperatures.

I pedaled my way through record breaking temps in Hulun Buir (the China side of Siberia and the land of NOTHING) just 2 weeks ago. 40 degrees C, a hell of a headwind, and a blazing sun. You would not believe the sun's intensity that far north - the beautiful crimson sunsets make up for it. At that latitude you get approximately 5 hours of night...yeah, no sleeping in and you can possibly ride over 16 hours a day. That is, if your body can handle it. It's not the aches of your body per se, it's the sizzling of your skin, that cuts those mid afternoon hours out. I can not explain the sun to those who have never experienced this...it's insane.

Thanks to those loyal followers of my blog and hope if you haven't yet visited, you'll take a couple minutes and go on over to www.2wheels4girls.com

More importantly - I hope you take some time to read about the 2 charities I am raising money for. There will be a book and I am currently discussing with some American men currently traveling clockwise around China about a collaboration book project. A percentage of sales of book(s), along with sales of photos (I've already received some requests), will be going directly to Girls Education International.

I've traveled along the Grand Canal, looked out into Russia, climbed mountains, sank knee deep in mud, suffered from dysentery for a week, cycled through sand with dunes as my only company, met random Russian cyclists - one only wearing a pair of shorts with flower stickers on his bike, rode along galloping wild horses, ate dog?, held against my will for 3 hours with thousands of death threats, barely pushed 9km/hour because of headwinds, tastes of baijiu, daily laundry in sinks, went days without a shower, snuck into crumbling Japanese forts, sunburns, fought with a a drunken motorcyclist that wouldn't leave me alone, butt bruises, bloody nose (wind I believe), ran out of water, slept behind bushes on the side of the road, spent my first night in a real yurt.....

.....speaking Mandarin every.....single.....day....fortunate to speak English once a week....and experienced authentic loneliness.

Recently I was interviewed by BUST Magazine. Never would of imagined this honor - as I've been a loyal reader for many many years. Keep a look out or I'll keep you posted.

My biggest thanks goes to all the wonderful people I have met in the past 2 months. As much as a solo Explorer attempts to be self sufficient - I wouldn't have made it past 1000km without the kindness and generosity of strangers. These are the people that have made this ride a success - and have helped to maintain my safety. Truly.

Tailwinds,
E Moseman

$820 raised at IMCD Women's Rock Weekend.

2010-07-12T06:19:00.001-07:00

Heidi and Lizzy had a fantastic time in New Hampshire at the IMCS Women's Rock Weekend! Heidi's slideshow was well attended and, as always, super fun to watch. All of us at GEI want to extend a big thank you to IMCS, all the awesome ladies who organized and attended the event. We raised $820 for GEI with the T-Shirt sales and the silent auction. Read more & see photos by clicking here.

Heidi & Lizzy off to New Hampshire for Women's Rock Weekend & fundraising event

2010-06-13T19:56:00.000-07:00

Heidi and I are off to the International Mountain Climbing School's Women's Rock Weekend in less than two weeks. We are both really excited to climb in New Hampshire with organizer Sarah Garlick and also to be teaching for both days of the weekend. The event includes: two days of women's climbing clinics taught by professional women guides, plus an après-climb community party, dinner, a slideshow, and a silent auction that benefits Girls Education International (our organization!). This is the organization's 18th year running the event, making it one of the longest-running women's climbing events in the country!

More info from their website about Heidi's slide show. I will be doing a five-minute introduction of Girls Education International.
:) Lizzy

Come to the Annual Women's Rock Weekend slide show by Heidi Wirtz and get inspired!

Heidi Wirtz will be giving this year's slide show for Women's Rock Weekend. Just in case you haven't heard of her - this is one incredibly talented woman with a dedication to philanthropy that is as great as her climbing ability. The North Face athlete has climbed all over the world and the slide show will be about her trips to Pakistan, Australia, Nepal, and Morocco. She will also highlight her "proudest send" - the first all-female free ascent of the South Howser Tower of the Bugaboos in Canada.

After visiting some schools for girls in the countries they were climbing in, Heidi and Lizzy Scully, another one of our guides for the weekend, formed Girls Education International. This organization supports educational opportunities for girls and women in underdeveloped regions of the world.

The slide show starts at 7:30pm and will be held at International Mountain Equipment. Tickets are $5.00 and there will be a raffle and silent Auction. Part of the proceeds will go towards Girls Education International.

40th Anniversary, May 2010 issue of Climbing Magazine Features Heidi Wirtz and GEI

2010-05-08T03:16:00.000-07:00

Check out the 40th Anniversary, May 2010 issue of Climbing Magazine for an excellent feature article on Heidi Wirtz and Girls Education International, by Chris Weidner.

Cycling Across China for Girls Education International

2010-04-29T11:39:00.000-07:00

We are excited to share the news that Eleanor Moseman, a girls education advocate, is embarking on her bike tour across China to raise funds and awareness for girls education everywhere! Eleanor contacted GEI about a year ago to announce her plan to ride her bike throughout China. She shared her commitment to riding for organizations that promote girls education - and she chose two organizations to support: Girls Education International and Stepping Stones, an organization based in Shanghai, China that promotes educational opportunities for migrant children.

In a recent interview, this is what Eleanor had to say about why she chose GEI as an organization to support:

I chose Girls Education International because it's a foundation run by women for young girls all over the world. They are outdoor enthusiasts, rock climbers, etc. and I felt a common interest with them. It's a great foundation because they do not go to other countries and force a Western way of life on them, but rather train locals to help their own girls.

Eleanor Moseman has been living and working in Shanghai, China since 2008. She works as a photographer and lives as an outdoor enthusiast and cultural explorer, which naturally led to the idea of embarking on a bike tour through China while creating an accompanying photo essay. Her drive to promote access to education for all girls stems from her acknowledgement that as an American woman she has been afforded endless opportunities for education. She hopes that through her ride, her blog and her photography she can join the ranks of other catalysts for change in the lives of girls around the world.

You can read more about Eleanor and her bike tour on her website - which includes the blog roll she will share as she rides and rides and rides! You can show your support for Eleanor and the girls she hopes to impact by 'chipping in'.

Way to go, Eleanor! Have a fabulous time. You have the energy of all girls at your back, giving you a little nudge up the hills and stamina on long days.

Girls Education International, Spring 2010 E-Newsletter

2010-04-04T04:58:00.000-07:00

Girls Education International Partners with Bedari, starts program for 2 villages

Girls Education International (GEI) partnered with the Pakistani women’s rights organization Bedari late in 2009 and started its joint secondary school education project this March, 2010.

GEI is providing a total of $5000 toward a Bedari-designed scholarship model for girls, which will be implemented in two villages: Laphi and Sar Kalan. Both these villages lie in the northern mountains of the Salt Range in the Punjab region. Originally GEI planned to work only with girls in Laphi, but nine Laphi families decided against educating their girls. Thus, the opportunity was opened to various families in neighboring Sar Kalan, nine of which signed on. A total of 30 girls will now attend the Government Higher Secondary School, Buchal Kalan, district Chakwal.

The money provided to Bedari for the 2010-2011 school year will pay for transportation, school fees, two sets of uniforms, books, and other school supplies for the girls, as well as a 15% stipend for Bedari to administer the program. For more information on Bedari, visit their site. For more information on the village of Laphi and some of the girls we are supporting, please visit our blog.

New Executive Director, Therese Thompson to Lead Girls Education International

Therese Race Thompson started March 1, 2010 as the part-time executive director for Girls Education International. She will work 10 hours per week while finishing up her MPA in Nonprofit Management from the University of Colorado this May.

According to outgoing Executive Director Lizzy Scully, “Heidi and I took Girls Ed pretty far, and we are really proud of our efforts. But there’s only so much we can do with the experience we have. Therese brings extensive executive director experience and board management skills to the table. She has actually written and implemented nonprofit business plans. We are so excited to have her running the show.”

Not only does Therese bring extensive fundraising experience to the table, but she also brings a passion for women’s issues.

“I have always been interested in girls’ and womens’ issues,” she explains. “I am especially concerned with the education of girls. If you can affect the girl who becomes the woman of the house, you are affecting all of the following generations of both men and women. You are affecting the children and the communities.”

Therese looks forward to building out GEI’s current projects, raising funds for administrative costs, and completing the Girls Education International Fundraising Plan. Her first three months will be spent on “figuring things out, setting things up, and really looking for grant opportunities. There is a ton we need to do, but we really need to get the money coming in for long-term sustainability of the organization.”

Therese comes to us from Summit Cancer Solutions, an organization specializing in providing six-month individualized exercise and nutrition programs for cancer survivors. She will continue to work part-time for Summit, but is looking forward to the new opportunities afforded by GEI.

“It’s a really exciting opportunity to make a difference to girls in Liberia and Pakistan for now, and hopefully more countries in the future as we raise more money,” she says.

Therese resides in Lakewood with her husband Jay, and two children, Ryan, 14, and Connor, 11. They spend their free time backpacking, camping, hiking, and traveling. Therese’s personal hobby is playing the piano. To see Therese’s complete resume, please click here.

Rai Farelly, a PhD student in Linguistics at the University of Utah, is the co-founder of Project Wezesha, an organization raising funds to build a school in western Tanzania. Passionate and driven, Rai will help implement and evaluate current and future international projects and will be the board treasurer. Rai plans on visiting Liberia this summer to assess the Girls Education International/Common Ground Society Scholarship Program. To read more about Project Wezesha: (Hyperlink to Rai’s fundraising site: http://bit.ly/d1HJko)

Liberia Project Successful: Girls maintain strong GPAs despite the odds

All the participants in the Girls Education International-Common Ground Society (GEI-CGS) Scholarship Program maintained C or better averages during the 2008-2009 school year. Numerous students ranked within the top ten of their class. At E.J. Yancy Elementary & Junior High, Kakata, Margibi County, Teta Y. Dolo ranked 1st in her 8th grade class out of 20 students, with an average of 84%. She excelled in English, Math, and Vocabulary.

At St. Christopher’s Junior High, Kakata, Margibi County, Martu Kollie ranked 2nd in her 4th grade class (total # of students not known), with an average of 87%. She excelled in Religious Education, English, Science, Health, and Spelling. And Dorothy George ranked 3rd in her class with an average of 85% in her classes. She excelled in English, Reading, Science, and Spelling

At William V.S. Tubman-Gray Elementary & High School, Jennie Flomo ranked 5th in her 4th grade class out of 42 students, with an average 82%. She excelled in Reading, Spelling, English, and Phonics. Read Jennie’s story here.

At St. Martin’s Catholic High School (8th grade, 52 students) Neomi Mulbah and Madusy K. Kromah, ranked 6th and 7th, respectively, both averaging just above 82%. They both excelled in Physics, Social Studies, and Literature.

Dekegar Public School Students Out-Perform Other Schools

At Dekegar Public School in Montserrado County, Liberia, there were 20 7th graders during the 2008-2009 school year, 11 of whom were supported by the GEI-CGS Scholarship Program. Out of all our schools, the girls we support at Dekegar performed the best in the 2008-2009 school year. We continue to support these girls and will report on their grades for the 2009-2010 school year as soon as they arrive. To read more about these girls and to hear what they and their families have to say, click here.

Notes & Stuff:

Special thanks to Advisory Board member Steve Murchie for acting as board chair for the first two meetings of 2010.

Purchase one of Girls Education International’s new T-shirts, and support the Liberia and Pakistan projects. We still need to raise $5000 before August to pay for fall semester for both projects! Buy a T-shirt here.
Welcome New Board Member

Co-founder Heidi Wirtz stands with former CFO Justin Voorhees at the 2010 Beats for Books event wearing the new Girls Ed Tees.

Dekegar Public School Students Out-Perform Other Schools

2010-03-02T15:37:00.000-08:00

At Dekegar Public School in Montserrado County, Liberia, there were 20 7th graders during the 2008-2009 school year, 11 of whom were supported by the GEI-CGS Scholarship Program. Out of all our schools, the girls we support at Dekegar performed the best in the 2008-2009 school year. We continue to support these girls and will report on their grades for the 2009-2010 school year as soon as they arrive.

Famata Harris ranked 1st in her class, getting a 98% in Literature, Geography, and Health, but also getting above 90% in Science and Religious Education. Her average grade was just above 89%. Read about five of our girls and what they had to say on our blog:

Henriette Tamba ranked a close 2nd, and had an average grade of just below 89%. She excelled in Geography, History, Healthy, Science, Religious Education and Vocabulary.
Henriette is one of our self-supported students. She has lived on her own for many years, and survives by running a small business. “As for my education, thank God for the Girls Education International Program,” Henriette says. “It has granted me a scholarship to enable me to gain my education.”

Rebecca Kollie ranks 3rd in her class, with just above an 87% average. She excelled in English, Literature, Geography, Health, Science and Vocabulary. According to the principal at Rebecca’s school, she is a “smart, obedient, and hardworking student.” She lived with her mother, but because her stepfather regularly beat her and was generally unsupportive of her desire to pursue an education, she moved to her aunt’s house. She now lives in peace and is benefiting from the Girls’ Scholarship.

Annie Jouah ranks 5th in her class with a GPA of 85%. She excelled in Geography and Religious Education. Annie is another one of our self-supported students. She earns money by planting small crops and selling them locally. With the Common Ground Society/Girls Education International program, she was able to go to school. “Now she acts like a happy teenager,” says Emily Sherman-Davis, the Liberia Program Director.
According to Annie: “I’m grateful to be on the scholarship program, and I will do my best to make the supporters of this program proud.”

Graciel Holder ranks 10th and has a GPA of about 82%. Graciel excelled in Literature and Religious Education. She currently lives with her mother (no name given) and has never completed any academic school year due to financial problems. “My daughter is all I have in this life, and I really want the best for her,” says her mother. “But my hands are short. I’m not working, and she doesn’t have a dad. But thank God that with the help of the Girls Education International scholarship program she was able to be in school and was promoted to the next class due to the program.” Graciel’s mother continued by saying education was the most important way to help girls. “One can never repay those who are helping our girls,” her mother continued. “Many thanks to Girls Education International.

Atura Garway ranks 11th in and has a GPA of about 82%. She excelled in History and Vocabulary. Atura lived with her brother and his wife for many years, but was treated poorly by her husband’s wife. She was not supported in her efforts to get an education, and she was made to do a lot of work without any recompense. “I decided to move to live on my own,” says Atura. “Now I’m self supported and in school due to a scholarship program and I’m really grateful for that.”

Great News from GEI! Work in Pakistan starts in March, new ED, donations, etc!

2010-02-14T13:11:00.000-08:00

In addition to receiving a $1000 donation in the last few days, Girls Education International is happy to announce that Therese Thompson will be starting as the new Executive Director on March 1, 2010. Therese has spent many years working with nonprofits and is currently the Executive Director of Summit Cancer Solutions and a graduate student. She will be working part time. See the website in a few weeks for more information on Therese.

In other good news, we are starting our project in Pakistan this March. Please see the below pasted note for details!

Dear Lizzy,

Thank you very much for your email. My apology, I am relying late.

About the project: I went to village Laphi along with Ms. Habiba our program officer in the field office who would be looking after this project. In the village we met with the project committee and the girls who would be attending the school. The committee could prepare only 21 girls to attend the school. Other parents are hesitant to send their girls to school because of the low priority for various cultural and economic reasons.

The rest of the nine girls are included from a neighboring village Sar Kalan. A list of nine deserving girls is ready. So the total number of participating girls remains the same i.e. 30.

Sir Kalan is village having almost the same profile as Laphi. There is no facility for girls post primary level from the government side. The girls and their families selected from Sir Kalan are equally deserving and enthusiastic about the opportunity to go to school.

All the 30 girls shall be attending the same school, Government Higher Secondary School, Buchal Kalan, district Chakwal.

We need to purchase uniform during the first week of March. The admissions will be completed in March and the classes shall begin in April.

I am happy everything is completed on time and we start the project in time. We are grateful to GEI for giving Bedari this opportunity to work for girls education. It is such a satisfying work. When you meet these girls, the happiness is overflowing from their faces. They are imagining that their lives are going to change. Instead of going to fields and to the mountains to bring fuel wood and fodder, they will now be going to school. It is a huge difference.

Thank you very much again and best regards.

Saleem

Saleem Malik
Executive Director
Bedari - working with women and children for their human rights
House 657, Street 75, Sector I-8/3
Islamabad, Pakistan
www.bedari.org.pk
Phone: Office: +92 51 486 2877, +92 51 431 8054
Cell: +92 321 516 7297
Skype: saleem.malik

Bedari is a national level humanitarian, women and girls' rights development organization without religious, political or governmental affiliations. Bedari works to eliminate violence against women. Bedari is founding member of AASHA – Alliance against Sexual Harassment at Workplace. www.aasha.org.pk

Letter of acceptance from IRS

2009-12-28T13:51:00.000-08:00

The Mountain Fund's annual 2009 report

2009-12-28T13:26:00.001-08:00

To all GEI supporters,
Without the support of The Mountain Fund these past three years, we would not have been able to run GEI. For more information and to see their 2009 Annual Report, please click here.
Thanks!
-Lizzy

Donate!

2009-12-17T16:46:00.000-08:00

Donate to Girls Education International!

Girls Education International is an official 501(c)3 tax-free, nonprofit organization

How your donation helps change the life of a girl:
• $250 sends a Liberian girl to college for one year
• $200 sends a Laphi girl to secondary school for one year
• $50 sends a Liberian girl to school for one semester
• Other amount. All donations are greatly appreciated!

Or if you prefer to pay by check, please mail check payable to Girls Education International:
Girls Education International
PO Box 853
Lyons, CO 80540

GEI announces new project in Pakistan and new partner NGO, Bedari

2009-12-16T17:43:00.001-08:00

Meet Rifat

At just 12 years old, Rifat knows the value of education. While carrying firewood and working in the fields, she regularly watches her two brothers trek off to secondary school in the neighboring village.
After their father died when she was just six, the family needed more laborers. Because a boy’s education is valued more highly and money is tight, Rifat is unable to continue her studies, despite being a bright student. Your donation means that Rifat will be able to attend secondary school. With an education, Rifat will be more likely to marry later, have fewer and healthier children, contribute economically to her family and village, and potentially break the cycle of poverty.

How you can help Rifat and other girls like her:
__________________________________________________________________

Girls Education International (GEI) is excited to announce the implementation of a new educational project in Pakistan. After three long years of stalled efforts due to political chaos in the region, we have finally vetted and are partnering with the Pakistani-based womens’ rights organization, Bedari ( www.bedari.org ). We will support a scholarship model for girls’ education that Bedari developed, to be implemented in the remote village of Laphi.

Laphi, a town of 3,500 located in the northern mountains of the Salt Range in the Punjab province, does not have a secondary school. Though one lies just five miles away in a neighboring village, most Laphi villagers can’t afford to pay for the travel costs and school fees for both their girl and boy children. And because a girls’ education is undervalued, only boys typically attend school. Thus, most of the village women are married in their late teens, illiterate, and have little to no education beyond primary school.

Girls Education International is partnering with Bedari to provide many of Laphi’s girls with the opportunity to attend secondary school. With a group of village volunteers and elders overseeing the project, administrative support from Bedari, and financial support from GEI, these girls will have the opportunity to better their lives and improve the health and economies of their communities. As former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan stated: "There is no tool for development more effective than the education of girls. No other policy is as likely to raise economic productivity, lower infant and maternal mortality, improve nutrition, and promote health ...”

Please support Girls Education International’s goal of raising $5,000 by the end of 2009 to fund our new Pakistani program as well as to support our continued efforts in Liberia and Nepal. Your generous donation means that one child like Rifat (see sidebar) can escape the cycle of poverty and help uplift her entire community.

We, and the girls you help educate, thank you for supporting our efforts to educate young women around the world.

Warmly,
Lizzy Scully & Heidi Wirtz
Founders of Girls Education International

PS. Please mail your donation, payable to Girls Education International:
Girls Education International
PO Box 853
Lyons, CO 80540

Or if you would like to donate online with your credit card, please click:

Girls Education International is an official 501(c)3 tax-free, nonprofit organization

How your donation helps change the life of a girl:
• $250 sends a Liberian girl to college for one year
• $200 sends a Laphi girl to secondary school for one year
• $50 sends a Liberian girl to school for one semester
• Other amount. All donations are greatly appreciated!

United States doesn't make top ten best places to live for women

2009-11-16T21:46:00.000-08:00

Best and Worst Places In Terms of Women's Freedom
Sun, 03/16/2008

I got this off Digg.com.

The world that humanity lives today faces critical changes in various fields, be it human rights, environment protection or information technology. For centuries people fought for their rights and during the whole history of human existence women were considered inferior to men. Today women have more freedom and are granted more power than they had in the past, but still, the image of a contemporaneous woman, who is self-confident, successful and surrounded by the glowing feminine aura, is greatly spoiled in some of the countries.

A lot of women today have to face violence, discrimination and ignorance that prevailed long time ago. According to Taina Bien-Aime, executive director of New York-based Equality Now, not one woman of the 21st century can feel fully free. Surely the world shows significant progress in terms of women's rights. There are improved laws, better education and ability for women to earn more money. These improvements, however, were not able to reach some of the globe's regions, were old problems are still on, and where women cannot feel protected.

afghanistan_womanMost of problems for women occur in poor countries. But it is worth mentioning that no matter what country a woman is in, if she is a refugee then she is very vulnerable. Women face so many issues that finding the top 10 worst places were they hardly feel like women or don't feel like that at all is quite difficult. The list shown below points out the countries with such severe violations of women's rights that even murder is considered to be something usual.

According to Cheryl Hotchkiss, who works as the campaigner for women's rights at Amnesty International Canada, there are lots and lots of obstacles that women have to face in order to receive proper education. Despite the free education some mothers refuse to give their daughters to school due to the fact that their girls can be kidnapped and raped.

Taking care of pregnant woman is a great issue as well. Very often women in poor countries are forced to marry very early. In addition from a young age they get pregnant. A very serious problem for women is linked with infections with HIV/AIDS.

Because women cannot control their own destiny, their lives may be forever affected since early childhood. The worst places for women are considered to be:

1. Afghanistan

2. Democratic Republic of Congo

3. Iraq

4. Nepal

5. Sudan

6. Guatemala

7. Mali

8. Pakistan

9. Saudi Arabia

10. Somali (especially its capital Mogadishu)

Women living in some of these countries face domestic violence, rape and in addition the upper mentioned countries register the highest rate of HIV/AIDS. Mali, for instance, is the place where most women suffer from genital mutilation and where one in ten women dies during pregnancy or childbirth. Pakistan is where men's crimes are punished through gang-rape of their women.

In terms of life expectancy, level of education and standard of living, some of the best places for women are considered to be:

1. Iceland
2. Norway
3. Australia
4. Canada
5. Ireland
6. Sweden
7. Switzerland
8. Japan
9. Netherlands
10. France

The data provided in this article is taken from the UNDP Gender-related development index. The full list is available at: http://hdrstats.undp.org/indicators/268.html

Iceland surpassed Norway as the most favorable place for women, and generally speaking, as one of the wealthiest countries in the world, Iceland is considered to be the most desirable place to live in. Such opinion was presented in the annual U.N. table, which was published on March 11, 2008.

The United States have the 12th place. It is worth mentioning that last year the country was 8th in the U.N. Human Development Index.

Beats for Books- Success!- Thank You!!!

2009-11-12T14:36:00.000-08:00

A Huge Thank You To everyone that donated, supported and volunteered to make this an amazing event!

We raised over $7,000, which will be directed into our scholarship programs in Liberia and Nepal as well as help to fund the start of our upcoming Pakistan project.

Kids' Show--check out Tori Allen, Scott Cory, and Hans Flourine on the Nose--presented by Lynn Hill

2009-11-11T03:47:00.000-08:00

This is going to be a blast. The film is older (Tori might even be finished with college by now!), but I'm really looking forward to seeing it. What a hoot--put an 11-year-old and 13-year-old sport climber on El Cap with one of Yosemite's most accomplished climbers, and what happens? I'm not sure. I look forward to finding out :)

And don't forget, some folks from Girls Ed will be at Adventure Film on Saturday to answer any questions you might have!

Check out our latest KGNU radio interview with Nikki Kaiser

2009-11-09T14:03:00.000-08:00

Here is a cool interview Lizzy Scully did with Nikki Kayser of KGNU September 21, 2009. We set the interview to photos of GEI's girls in Liberia, the girls who inspired the nonprofit from Pakistan, as well as some photos girls from other countries.

Lynn Hill's Beats for Books presentation and clinic

2009-11-09T13:55:00.002-08:00

Lynn Hill speaking at Beats for Books and teaching climbing clinics. We want to extend a huge thanks to Lynn for supporting our girls in Liberia and Nepal! Thanks!

Beats for Books silent auction photos

2009-11-09T13:55:00.001-08:00

Silent Auction

Justin working the silent auction booth.

Justin and Carolyn McHale working the silent auction booth, Beats for Books.

Beats for Books Live Auction Photos

2009-11-09T13:52:00.000-08:00

Photos from Beats for Books!

Malcolm Daly and the live auction of athletes. Malcolm worked the crowd up to bidding $225 for Madaleine Sorkin.

Emily Harrington and Katie Brown brought in a nice $280, which pays for nearly three Liberian girls to go to school!

Malcolm chat with Girls Ed Co-founder Heidi Wirtz.

Malcolm got the audience to bid $225 for Kelly Cordes.

Malcolm and Lizzy thank Eric Noll and Carolyn McHale for being the "most helpful volunteers" for Girls Education International.

Girls Education International to be at Boulder Adventure Film Fest this weekend

2009-11-09T10:20:00.001-08:00

Hey all, Heidi and I will be at Boulder Adventure Film this Saturday all day to answer any and ally questions people might have about Girls Education International. We hope to see you there! Adventure Film has been incredibly supportive of Girls Ed. They brought a variety of films to our Beats for Books events, and they've made us one of their featured nonprofits. We'd love to support them in turn! This is one of the shows that is especially appealing to me:

"FAMILY/KIDS SHOW"- fun for the whole family!
Join rock climbing Legend and mother, Lynn Hill as she introduces and presents this fantastic climbing film and shares with the audience some inspiration on climbing, life and family.

Wall Rats- 60 min
Directed by Steve Edwards

Tori Allen, 13, and Scott Cory, 11, are sport climbers who've excelled at international competitions. Speed climber Hans Florine thinks that their small stature might allow them, as a team, to make the second free ascent of the Nose, a famous route shooting straight up Yosemite Valley's El Capitan. Neither of the kids have much outdoor climbing experience or have ever been more than 100' off the ground. How they'll respond to a multi-day adventure up a 3,000 foot wall is anybody's guess, not to mention... no one that young has ever climbed El Capitan! With very little planning, they embark on a 5-day adventure into history.

See you this weekend!
-Lizzy Scully

Beats for Books photos!

2009-11-09T10:02:00.001-08:00

Patrick Megeath, aka Dirt Monkey, played beats for Beats for Books.

Beats for Books a success! Note from the Executive Director, Lizzy Scully

2009-10-28T11:53:00.000-07:00

Wow, we really had a great turnout for Beats for Books, as well as an enthusiastic crowd. Before costs, we've cleared $6000, but it could be closer to $7000 as many people haven't paid for their silent auction items yet. This is fantastic. We are thrilled. We have so many people to thank... where to start?! I'll list all the amazing people below. First a recap of the evening.

We started out a bit late, with clinics beginning around 6. Oskar Blues beer and food from Sherpas and Whole Foods was served around that same time, as well as wine generously donated by Market Square Liquor and chai donated by Third Street Chai. Lynn Hill's fun and engaging presentation began around 8 or so. She showed video footage of an early ascent with Beth Bennett, along with footage of the Nose, and then, finally and most hilarious, a clip of her night on David Letterman. I always love when Lynn speaks because she captures everyone's attention within minutes. All she has to do is start talking and showing slides, and people stop what they are doing to watch. I want to extend a special thanks to Lynn for helping us out! She also taught a clinic, which received great reviews. I wish I could have taken it, but I was running around like a madwoman trying to answer questions every 2 minutes or so. Madness. But fun madness.

After Lynn's show, Heidi did a very short presentation on Girls Ed, and then Malcolm Daly, owner of Great Trango Holdings, led the Live Auction bidding. He was hilarious. He interviewed each of the athletes present and managed to get the audience to bid a minimum of $100 per athlete, but in some cases close to $300. Go Mal!

The silent auction opened when the doors opened. Few people bid initially, but by the end of the evening we had close to 100 people bidding, and that brought in a huge chunk of cash. Malcolm Daly and Isaac Savitz made the highest bid for Janet Guenther's painting of Jonny Copp with the Indian Guru. Thanks to all three of you!

Last but not least, Patrick Megeath, aka Dirt Monkey, played incredible music all night. The evening ended around midnight with volunteers still enthusiastically helping clean and put stuff away, while boogying to Dirt Monkey's beats.

Oh yeah, and I must not forget to let everyone know that this was a very low-waste event. We used all corn-based, compostable cups and utensils as well as compostable napkins and paper plates. We also recycled all the beer cans, Izze bottles, and pretty much everything. My truck is completely packed with stuff (and is also now totally covered with snow because of this monster snowstorm that just hit the Front Range). Thanks to Eco-Cycle for providing the zero-waste bins for free.

Special thanks to Eric Noll and Carolyn McHale for putting a ton of time into the event. We really appreciate your efforts!

Also, special thanks to our title sponsors...

The North Face has been a long-time supporter of Girls Education International, consistently donating high-dollar items for our silent auctions. In fact, they have donated the most high-dollar items to Girls Ed since we started. The North Face rocks!

The Spot Gym not only donated their space and their employees, but they also donated some money for silent and live auction items. Thanks so much Dan Howley, Jackie, Alex, Andrew, Brett, and Ashley Woods. You guys and gals are amazing and generous, and you have a rockin' bouldering gym!

Oskar Blues has been supportive of Girls Ed for the last year, supplying beer on a small scale to meetings and small parties. We welcome them on board as larger donors. Thanks especially to their marketing guy, Chad Melis. He served the beer and auctioned himself off, bringing $120 in to Girls Ed. Lucky winner Kevin McGarvey will be spending an afternoon with him mountain biking and then touring the Oskar Blues Brewery and drinking beer.

Thanks also to the following volunteers and athletes!
Justin Voorhees, who is the CFO for Girls Ed, and Brook helped out throughout the evening.
Madaleine Sorkin auctioned herself off, raising $225 for Girls Ed, and she taught a clinic and helped throughout the evening.
Annette Yuan made the delicious desserts and helped during the event.
Cary Jobe donated a beautiful picture and served wine.
Russell Holcomb took all the video and helped run the slide show & video presentations.
Roshan Roghani donated the fine Boulder Balm products and helped out at the event. Plus she is on our Board of Directors.
Melissa and Joel Love donated one of Joel's photos and spent half the night in the silent auction room with their adorable son, Elijah.
John Lloyd took photos all night.
Boulder Adventure Films provide films and Sam to help run them all night.
Katie Brown and Emily Harrington brought in close to $300 for the live auction, auctioning themselves off as a team.
Robyn and Shawn Ebesfield-Rabotou taught a clinic
Lisa McAlister, who is on the Girls Ed Advisory Board, spent a few hours in the silent auction area and helped close out the auction.
Eddie Clark donated a day of action photography.
Kelly Cordes raised $225 by being auctioned off for a day of ice climbing.
Caolan MacMahon spent Sunday afternoon with Girls Ed at Whole Foods and helped out at the event.
Malcolm Daly did a fantastic job of being the auctioneer for the live auction.
Alex Honnold donated a day of his time to climb with a lucky person from The Spot Gym. He brought in $225.
Chris Weidner brought in $100 to support girls ed by auctioning himself off for a day.
Majka Burhardt brought in $100 in the live auction as well.
And thanks to all these volunteers for being available throughout the evening: Victoria Mata, Mike Newlands, Aly Nicklas, Heather Swallow, Sarah Watson, Brook from Lulu Lemon, and Kestrel Hanson.
And thanks to the Boulder Rock club for loaning us tables and selling tickets, and to Neptune Mountaineering and The North Face store for selling tickets.
Last, but certainly not least, thanks to all our donors and sponsors: Clif Bar, Stonewear, Neptune Mountaineering, Boulder Balm, Eddie Clark Photography, the American Alpine Club, Jetboil, Green Guru, Izze, Hugger Mugger, Julbo, Boulder Rock Club, Ames Adventure Outfitters, Manduka, Evolv, Climbing Magazine, Adventure Medical Kits, Glassworks of Estes, Boldface Design, Pacific Outdoor Equipment, Suunto, Market Square Liquor, and Third Street Chai. The art donated by: Suspended Stone Designs, Dan Gambino, Topher Donahue, Pattie Lee Becker, Janet Guenther, Emilie Lee, Renan Ozturk, Joel Love, Celin Serbo, Keith Ladzinski, Cary Jobe, and a wonderful man named Tim (whose last name I did not get, sorry Tim!). He brought two paintings in last minute.

I'm sure I'm missing some people. So sorry if I am, but you know who you are. All of you are ensuring that Girls Education International can maintain our programs in Liberia and Nepal and start our new program in Pakistan in 2010.

HUGE THANK YOU!

Photos to come soon.

Joel Love photo, "Eldo," to be auctioned off at Beats for Books fundraiser

2009-10-26T20:12:00.000-07:00

Now selling T-Shirts

2009-10-26T09:13:00.000-07:00

You can now buy Girls Education International T-shirts. We have cute, feminine V-necks and scoop necks and standard men's Tees. Check out the button on our blogs, or go to our website.

3 days until Girls Ed's annual Beats for Books fundraiser!

2009-10-25T09:26:00.000-07:00

Photo by Keith Ladzinski to be auctioned off on Tuesday night.
A number of world-class professional climbers will be teaching clinics at the Beats for Books event this Tuesday, October 7th. Among them are Robyn Erbesfield-Raboutou, Lynn Hill, and Madaleine Sorkin. Thanks ladies for donating your time to Girls Education International. For more information read full article.

Clinics are open to people of all abilities, from beginners to advanced climbers. Kids from 4 up and families are welcome. Sign up for the clinic of your choice when you arrive and purchase your ticket.

Planet Bluegrass has donated two tickets to the silent auction. These are the folks who put on the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Thanks! Plus, Stonewear Designs will be providing two complete outfits worth about $160 each. And certified massage therapist and baker Annette Yuan will be providing on-site massages as well as delectable desserts. Amee Hinkley has also donated three massages! Cary Jobe just offered one of her powerful photos up for auction. And Peter Beal donated a gorgeous painting of Lake Haiyaha.
Photo of the oil painting is Lake Haiyaha by Peter Beal, and the photo of hands is by Cary Jobe.

Sweet hemp bag for auction

2009-10-23T16:50:00.001-07:00

Check out this sweet Green Guru Hemp Bag they donated for the Beats for Books silent auction. Thanks to Davidson Lewis for the donation. Thanks also to his enthusiastic employee Eric Noll for donating so much of his time to help out with Girls Ed!

Heidi wrote a nice blog entry for the American Alpine Club

2009-10-23T15:11:00.001-07:00

Click here to see Heidi Wirtz's blog entry.

Check out Heidi's blog entry on the American Alpine Journal's website

2009-10-23T15:10:00.000-07:00

Click here to see Heidi Wirtz's blog entry.

Details on auction items

2009-10-21T05:10:00.000-07:00

For more details on items to be auctioned (pictured in this and previous posts), please visit the events pages of the Girls Education International website.
Photos #1 and #2 Topher Donahue's photo of a fox and photo of Patagonia.

Photo #3 Renan Ozturks print on canvas of the Ruth Gorge.

Photo #4 Glassworks of Estes Park handblown glass bowl.

Photo #5 Dan Gambino's photo of sunflowers.

Photo #6 Kate Rutherford of Suspended Stone Designs donated earrings and necklaces.

Photo #7 Emilie Lee donated one of a series of her "Dumpster Diaries," published in the Alpinist in the mid-2000s.

Beats for Books Schedule of Events

2009-10-21T04:32:00.001-07:00

The Front Range-based nonprofit, Girls Education International is holding its annual Beats for Books fundraiser bash at The Spot Gym on Tuesday, October 27. Proceeds will fund two scholarship programs for girls. GEI supports 47 high school girls in Bong and Margibi counties, Liberia, and is starting a scholarship program for 30 secondary school girls in the Punjab Region of Pakistan.

Schedule of Events
5:00-6:00 p.m. Climbing clinics taught by Lynn Hill, Madaleine Sorkin and other professional athletes.

6:00-7:00 p.m. Mingle, continue climbing, drink Oskar Blues beer, taste wine, eat appetizers from Sherpas and Wholefoods, bid on the fine art at the silent auction.

7:00-8:15 p.m. Presentations by Girls Education International and legendary rock climber Lynn Hill, and a raffle and live auction with 10 famous mountain bikers and rock climbers. Bid on climbing for a day with Katie Brown or Alex Honnold or mountain biking with Chad Melis and others.

8:30-11:00 p.m. Music and Boulder Adventure Film movies start

9:00 p.m. Silent auction ends.

For more information, please contact Heidi at heidi@girlsed.org or 303.908.7795, or check out: www.GirlsEd.org. $25 advanced-purchase tickets at The Spot and Boulder Rock Club, $30 at the door. Student discount available with a valid ID.

Silent Auction Items Cont'd...One Week Left!

2009-10-20T14:44:00.000-07:00

Are you psyched yet?

Goodie bags from Lulu Lemon for the first 25 people contain Wigwam socks, Pixie tea, coupons and lotions from Pangea Organics, Justin’s Nutter Butter, magazines and various hats and gifts from our sponsors.

One of the events title sponsors, The North Face donated three winter jackets and hiking boots, hats, and climbing shoes, as well as a gift certificate for $50.00. For more information visit their website: (www.thenorthface.com)

Hugger Mugger donated some a complete yoga kit, including bags, mats and blocks, as well as a complete meditation kit, which includes a meditation cushions, eye bags, and bolster. For more information, please visit their site: http://www.huggermugger.com/

Manduka provided a yoga kit, complete with a yoga mat, bag, and yoga towel. To read more about Manduka, please visit their site: http://www.manduka.com/

Evolv threw down several pairs of their comfy flip flops and stellar chalk bags. To check out the full range of the gear they offer check out http://www.evolvesports.com/

We’re auctioning off 2 pairs of sunglasses by Julbo. Website: http://www.julbousa.com/

Jet Boil donated a bunch of their high-quality stoves. To read more about Jet Boil, visit their site: www.jetboil.com

Wigwam socks will keep your toes warm this winter. Visit their site for more information: www.wigwam.com/

Ames Adventure Outfitters donated a variety of products, from T-shirts and hats to Osprey Backpacks. For more information, please visit their site: http://www.goaao.com/

With American Alpine Club memberships, you’ll get a American Alpine Journal plus insurance should you have an accident in the mountains. http://www.americanalpineclub.org/

Urban Climber, Climbing Magazine, and Rock & Ice magazine all donated copies of their magazines and subscriptions.

http://www.urbanclimbermag.com/

http://www.climbing.com/

http://www.rockandice.com/

One Week Left Till Beats For Books!

2009-10-20T13:37:00.000-07:00

Here's a sneak peek at some of the swag you'll have an opportunity to bid on next Tuesday at our annual Beats For Books Fundraiser. We have an awesome array of stuff; everything from socks to keep your toes warm and meditation pillows to get your zen on.

Kate Rutherford donated a variety of necklaces and earrings. She owns Suspended Stone Designs. For more information, please visit her website. http://www.suspendedstonedesign.com/home.htm

Artist Emilie Lee’s donated a piece from her diary series, much of which was published in the Alpinist in the mid 2000s. For more information on Emilie and to see her art, please visit her website; http://emilielee.com/

Janet Guenther painted this to commemorate Jonny Copp. This painting is of Jonny as a baby with an Indian Guru. To see more art by Janet, please visit her site: http://www.janetguenther.com/janetMusic2_home.html )

Chad Melis speaks Beer, Bikes, Oskar Blues and now girls’ education

2009-10-20T08:30:00.001-07:00

When avid mountain biker and Oskar Blues owner, Dale Katechis, approached his friend and cycling partner Chad Melis a few years ago about developing a mountain biking team to market the company’s canned beer, Melis jumped at the chance to be involved. A long-time rider, single-speed mountain bike competitor and avid beer drinker, he says, “I was a natural fit to be spokesman. Plus, it didn’t start as work. It was more like a relationship. There’s no marketing department at Oskar Blues. It’s all very hands-on. Dale said, ‘here’s beer, go spread the gospel.’ I just do what I love to do, and it translates.”

In 2007 the idea evolved, and Oskar Blues began sponsoring mountain biking events throughout Colorado and a competitive team that participated in those events. The team quickly grew to include nearly a dozen members. Various members of the team are actually world-class athletes. Melis, a former pro athlete sponsored by Sobe and Cannondale, was the 2007 Colorado state cyclo-cross single speed state champion.

Now, Oskar Blues has decided to expand beyond bikes, brews, and music to delve into some charity work. They recently partnered with the nonprofit, Girls Education International (Girls Ed), which was founded by The North Face climbing athlete Heidi Wirtz and Lyons-based writer Lizzy Scully. They are one of three title sponsors at Girls Ed’s annual Beats for Books fundraiser, to be held at The Spot Gym in Boulder, Colo., on Tuesday, Oct. 27. Funds benefit girls’ scholarship programs in Pakistan, Liberia, and Nepal.

“It’s an organization born and raised in Lyons, Colorado,” says Melis of Girls Ed. “That is what initially caught our interest. Then I began to get to know Lizzy. Her passion for educating girls is inspiring. I wanted to support her venture.”

“We’re really excited to be aligned with Oskars,” Scully says of the new partnership. “Beer is an essential part of any event that involves climbers. Providing excellent beer at our fundraisers will only draw more people, and thus we’ll be able to raise more money for our projects.”

In addition to donating 300+ cans of beer, Melis has offered to be auctioned off at a live auction of famous athletes that will be held at the Beats for Books event. Not only will he spend a day biking on the Front Range with the highest bidder, but he will also take them on a tour of the brewery in Longmont. Professional mountain bikers Sonya Looney and Stephanie Nychka will also be auctioned off, along with Mountain Flyer photographer, Eddie Clark, who is donating a day of action photography.

“We’d love to spread the gospel about our beer among climbers,” says Melis. “And I can’t think of a better way to do it than by supporting the children Girls Education International are helping.”

For more information on the event, please visit Girls Ed’s website, www.GirlsEd.org. For more information Oskar Blues, please visit their blog at www.oskarbluesbrewsbikes.blogspot.com.

A Brief Chat With Legendary Rock Climber, Lynn Hill--8 days until Beats for Books fundraiser!

2009-10-19T20:47:00.001-07:00

A conversation with Lynn Hill…

Legendary rock climber Lynn Hill will be doing a presentation and teaching a clinic at the annual Beats for Books fundraising event at The Spot Gym, Tuesday, October 27th. Funds for this event will support Girls Education International’s scholarship programs for girls in Nepal, Liberia, and Pakistan. Hill will be teaching a clinic from 5-6:15 or so and then between 7 and 7:30 she will speak and show video clips documenting her life in climbing, including footage of her doing a first ascent with Beth Bennett in 1981 and her climbing over a hot air balloon in flight for ‘That’s Incredible. Girls Education International recently sat down with Hill to chat about what she’s up to.

GEI: What are you up to these days?
Hill: Right now I’m putting together a presentation for a show I’m doing in Italy. I have slides from beginning of my life as a climber. I have pictures of Joshua Tree, climbing in Arizona and Las Vegas, and then my travels to Europe. I moved to France in 1988. I wanted to learn another language and culture. It opened my mind to a lot of things I didn’t know about climbing. Then I speak about my time in Yosemite. I decided to quit comps and apply all my skills and experience to big wall free climbing. I had no idea free climbing the Nose would be the big deal that it was. I just had this idea that I would combine traditional and sport climbing … put those things together on this masterpiece climb. That launched me on a whole new aspect of my career that I didn’t anticipate.

GEI: What did that new career look like?
Hill: I realized it wasn’t going to be as big a deal as I originally thought to be a top competitive climber. It’s a branch of climbing that isn’t as well respected as doing something significant in the real environment—the natural world. Climbing the Nose gave me a lot of opportunities to travel and do even bigger climbs, such as in Kyrgystan, Morocco, Vietnam, and Thailand.

GEI: How did that shape your climbing career and life?
Hill: It became really clear to me that I didn’t want to become an alpinist, doing the biggest mountains in the world. That was never my focus. The media wanted that from me, but I said no to it. I learned to stick with what I loved to do and not to be convinced to do something because the marketing department liked that image of me!

GEI: What are some of the most notable things you have done since you climbed the Nose?
Hill: I wrote a book as a way to document the history of climbing from a woman’s perspective. It’s good for young girls, or anybody really, to have those role models. I didn’t have many. Writing a book had a lot to do with that perspective … it was exciting to be a part of that era of climbing development. Then I had a baby. That has been a big journey.

GEI: What are you working on now?
Hill: I’m working on a climbing technique video, which will use video graphics. I’m trying to show visually how I think about climbing, and how to break down climbing so that people can better understand the mechanics of movements. It will be a teaching tool, but also entertaining and pretty to look at. Teaching climbing camps really convinced me that videoing people and going it over the video with them was a good idea. To me it’s really obvious when people are making mistakes, but it’s too hard for them to tell while they are climbing. Video gives people a conscious, rational way to look at climbing and then they can try to incorporate that on an intuitive level. They have to understand it first before it can be intuitive about it.

GEI: What else are you up to?
Hill: I’m a full-time mom, I travel for speaking engagements, I do design and events for Patagonia as an ambassador, I do one or two things for Petzl each year, and I’m working on this book thing with John Long. I teach, on occasion.

GEI: Well, thanks a lot Lynn. See you in a week!
Hill: I’m looking forward to it.

As part of her work as an ambassador for Patagonia, Lynn is also trying to rally people to join events happening all over Boulder, Colo., that are raising awareness for the issue of climate change. On October 24, people from all over the world are taking a stand for a safe climate future. For more information on Boulder activities related to this cause, please visit the 350.org Website.

For more information about what Lynn is up to, please visit her blog.

Pattie Lee Becker to donate art for Tues., Oct. 27th Beats for Books fundraiser and more news!

2009-10-15T09:10:00.000-07:00

Less than two weeks left until the Girls Education International Annual Beats for Books Fundraiser, sponsored by The North Face, The Spot Bouldering Gym, and Oskar Blues!

Pattie Lee Becker just offered to donate a piece of artwork for the Girls Ed fundraiser! Thanks Pattie Lee. Check out her cool stuff at her site.

Ammon McNeeley, big wall climber, has also just agreed to auction himself off for a day of climbing in Yosemite. But because we have so many amazing people to auction off that we may save him for our California Beats for Books event. We'll let you know early next week. Thanks Ammon! Visit Ammon's website by clicking here.

Visit the Girls Ed website early next week to see complete bios of all the athletes to be auctioned off, plus photos and descriptions of all the silent auction items, from artwork to outdoor equipment.

Take a clinic with Lynn Hill at Girls Ed's annual Beats for Books fundraiser!

2009-10-14T11:06:00.001-07:00

13 days until the annual Beats for Books fundraising event. Have you ever wanted to see legendary rock climber Lynn Hill speak, or have you thought about taking a clinic with her? Well, now you have the chance. On a first-come, first-serve basis, attendees to the annual Beats for Books fundraising event will have the chance to sign up for a clinic with Lynn. If you don't get into the clinic, you can still enjoy her short presentation after the clinic. We just spoke with Lynn about the evening and will soon have more details about the content of her presentation as well as more information about what she has been up to lately. Come to the Spot Bouldering Gym on Tuesday, October 27, and meet Lynn Hill!

Rock & Ice mag highlights Girls Ed fundraiser

2009-10-14T10:56:00.000-07:00

Girls Education International on the "front" page online news on the Rock & Ice website today. Check us out by clicking here.

Mountain Project article about fundraiser and live auction for climbers

2009-10-13T12:57:00.000-07:00

Check out a link to an article about Girls Education International on MountainProject.com by clicking here.

Oct. 7 2009, Girls Education International to hold annual fundraising event, Beats for Books, at The Spot Bouldering Gym on Tuesday, October 27, spons

2009-10-11T10:40:00.001-07:00

CONTACT: HEIDI WIRTZ, 303-908-7795, HEIDI@GIRLSED.ORG, FOR MORE INFORMATION ON BEATS FOR BOOKS EVENT

Oct. 7 2009, Girls Education International to hold annual fundraising event, Beats for Books, at The Spot Bouldering Gym on Tuesday, October 27, sponsored by The North Face and Oskar Blues brewery.

The Front Range-based nonprofit Girls Education International (GEI) is holding its second annual fundraiser, Beats for Books, at The Spot Bouldering Gym on Tuesday, October 27, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Highlights include: a presentation by legendary rock climber Lynn Hill, music by Dirt Monkey, a silent auction with fine art by local and regional artists, and a live auction during which the highest bidders can win a day climbing with some of the country’s most famous rock climbers—Madaleine Sorkin, Alex Honnold, Matt Segal, Kelly Cordes, and many others.

Also included with ticket are two-hour climbing clinics for people of all ages and climbing abilities, a series Boulder Adventure Film movies that will be played throughout the evening, unlimited Oskar Blues beer (with ID), and fine Nepalese food, donated by Sherpa’s and additional food donated by Whole Foods. Items donated for the silent auction include: hand-blown glass bowls, oil paintings, and photographs. Outdoor equipment will also be auctioned off, including rain jackets, athletic shoes, and gear and clothing from more than a dozen companies in the outdoor industry. Plus, the first 25 people who enter receive goodie bags.

All proceeds after costs will fund two girls’ scholarship programs in Liberia and Pakistan. The mission of Girls Education International is to provide educational opportunities and support to under-served girls in remote and undeveloped regions of the world. For more information or to BUY TICKETS for the event, please visit their Website: www.GirlsEd.org. Tickets can also be purchased at Neptune Mountaineering, The Spot, and the Boulder Rock Club. Tickets are $25 presale and $30 night of. Student discounts available with valid ID. One ticket pays for one half of a girls’ scholarship, so bring a friend and pay for one girls education for an entire year!

This event is possible only because of generous donations made by dozens of sponsors. Title sponsors are: The Spot, The North Face, and Oskar Blues. Other sponsors include: Clif Bar, Stonewear, Neptune Mountaineering, Boulder Balm, Eddie Clark Photography, the American Alpine Club, Jetboil, Green Guru, Izzy, Hugger Mugger, Julbo, Boulder Rock Club, Ames Adventure Outfitters, Manduka, Evolv, Climbing Magazine, Adventure Medical Kits, Glassworks of Estes, Boldface Design, Pacific Outdoor Equipment, Suunto, Market Square Liquor, and Third Street Chai. Art donated by: Suspended Stone Designs, Dan Gambino, Janet Guenther, Emilie Lee, Renan Ozturk, Joel Love, Celin Serbo, Keith Ladzinski, and more.

2009-10-09T19:33:00.001-07:00

Silent auction for Beats for Books to have fine art by local and national artists

2009-10-09T19:16:00.000-07:00

Renan Ozturk print of the Ruth George, Alaska Range, to be auctioned off.

This year's annual Girls Education International fundraiser, Beats for Books, will have fine art by numerous local and national artists, including Emilie Lee, Dan Gambino, Celin Serbo, Renan Ozturk, Kate Rutherford, Glassworks of Estes Parkm, and many others.

Handblown glass donated by Glassworks of Estes Park.

Have you ever wanted someone to take actions shots of you while biking, running, fishing, or bouldering?

2009-10-09T12:44:00.000-07:00

Well now you have your chance. Professional photographer Eddie Clark, frequent contributor of Mountain Flyer mag, has donated a day of his time to the Beats for Books live auction fundraiser, Tuesday, October 27. He will spend a day taking action shots of the highest bidder (or a friend of the highest bidder). Check out his photos at: Photo-Cycle.com. All proceeds will benefit Girls Education International's two scholarship programs in Liberia and Pakistan.

Have you ever wanted someone to take actions shots of you while biking, running, fishing, or bouldering?

2009-10-09T12:43:00.001-07:00

21 days until Beats 4 Books!!!

2009-10-07T20:55:00.000-07:00

There are just 21 days left to buy tickets for the Girls Education International Beats 4 Books fundraising event at The Spot Bouldering Gym. This is going to be a huge event, with fun climbing for the entire family, plus late night dancing, beer/wine, and a silent auction. Also, there will be a live auction of famous climbers, some of whom will be present at the event. The live auction will take place after Lynn Hill's presentation.

Kelly Cordes to be auctioned off at Girls Ed International's annual Beats4Books fundraiser,

2009-10-06T22:20:00.000-07:00

Kelly Cordes to be auctioned off at Girls Ed International's annual Beats4Books fundraiser, The Spot Gym, Oct 27! Go ice climbing with Kelly (or rock climb if you prefer). Bids will start online at the Girls Ed Website! A live auction will be held the night of the event after Lynn Hill's presentation!

22 days until Beats 4 Books

2009-10-06T19:54:00.000-07:00

22 days until Boulder's hippest party--Beats 4 Books. Come on down to The Spot Bouldering Gym on Tuesday, Oct 27. Food, beer, wine, music by dirt monkey, a silent auction with fine art as well as a ton of outdoor gear, plus a presentation by legendary climber LYNN HILL. We will be auctioning off a ton of famous climbers! Bet on Climbing magazine writer Chris Weidner or Madaleine Sorkin, the only female to free climb on lead all the pitches of the West Face of the Leaning Tower. Also to be auctioned off: Matt Segal and many more!

All proceeds to benefit Girls Education International.

23 days until annual Girls Ed fundraiser, Beats 4 Books

2009-10-05T11:06:00.000-07:00

Only 23 days remain for you to purchase your tickets (purchase tickets here!). Come see world-famous rock climber Lynn Hill speak at The Spot Bouldering Gym on Tuesday, October 27th! Lynn has been on the cutting edge of rock climbing since the 1970s, as both one of the first women to climb the very difficult grade of 5.14 and the first climber to free climb El Capitan in a day. She continues to climb at a difficult level, but has also become a public speaker, author, and mother. For more information on Lynn, please visit her blog.

2009-10-05T10:35:00.000-07:00

24 days until the annual Beats for Books fundraiser!

2009-10-04T11:08:00.001-07:00

24 days until annual Beats 4 Books fundraiser!

10/4/2009 12:00:00 AM

24 days until the annual Girls Education International Beats 4 Books fundraiser. Sponsors continue to sign on. Thanks to Sherpas restaurant in Boulder for providing appetizers!

Sherpas was started by Nepali Pemba Sherpa, who grew up in the Everest region. As a child, Pemba lived without the modern-day conveniences of electricity, plumbing, running water or roads. At 16, he began working in the Himalayan tourism industry, as a professional mountain guide. After several years of full time guiding, he developed a curiosity for the West, which he finally satisfied with a visit to the United States in 1991. After seeing the mountains of Colorado, Pemba found his home away from home and has lived here ever since. In an effort to reestablish contact with his home country, he started an adventure guiding company, Sherpa Ascent International (SAI). Since 1991, Pemba has returned to Nepal for trekking, climbing (he has been to 20,000 ft + over 25 times), and volunteer service over 20 times. He has had the pleasure of guiding over 400 visitors in his beloved "Himalayan Kingdom". Pemba avidly supports the building of schools, bridges, setting up medical clinics, and giving of scholarships to better the lives of Sherpa children.For more information on Pemba and the restaurant, please visit their website.

26 days to Girls Ed's annual Beats 4 Books fundraiser!

2009-10-02T12:22:00.001-07:00

Rock star, Daily Camera writer, and Climbing magazine contributing editor Chris Weidner recently agreed to be auctioned off during our Silent Auction at Beats 4 Books! Ladies, we'll start the bids off with $20 for this good looking fellow! But we expect bids to jump from there!

For more information on Chris, please see his profile on 8anu. To see more images of Chris, click here.

Countdown begins today for Girls Education International's annual BEATS 4 BOOKS event

2009-10-01T21:54:00.001-07:00

Girls Education International's annual BEATS 4 BOOKS event will happen in just 27 days! This event includes speakers such as Lynn Hill, music from local DJs, including Dirt Monkey, art from well-known painters and photographers, and films from Boulder Adventure Film! We will also be auctioning off days with famous climbers, including Matt Segal and Madaleine Sorkin. Come on down to the Spot Gym on Tuesday, October 27th, for some fun and fundraising for Boulder's only nonprofit exclusively supporting girls' education.

A bit about Matt Segal...
Girls Ed will be auctioning off a climbing day with Matt Segal. See tomorrow's countdown blog entry for more information and photos. Check out a Girls Ed interview with Segal next week!

TICKETS ARE FOR SALE ON THE GIRLS EDUCATION INTERNATIONAL EVENTS PAGE. BUY TICKETS NOW!

More on 2 Wheels 4 Girls

2009-09-28T10:33:00.000-07:00

We will try to post on a regular basis about Eleanor's trip, but you can also read words directly from the horses mouth at her website: www.2wheels4girls.com! Go Eleanor!

2 Wheels 4 Girls

2009-09-28T10:27:00.000-07:00

September note from Eleanor regarding the prep for her fund/awareness raising trip though China ... to be followed by additional updates.

After my late night email to you both, I tried to go to sleep but my mind
was swirling with ideas for a website. Right now - I am re-doing my photo
one but I hope to be finished by the end of September.

I was thinking of building a pretty basic site that would incorporate the
blog so people in China can see it.

maybe:
cycle4girls.com
cycle4girlsed.com
2wheels4education.com
girls-ed.com
girls-edu-intl.com

I'll buy the domain and throw it on my server this month...get those promo
cards made with the website address - along with girlsed.org website. The
main page can have direct links to the blogs and girlsed.org in the
meantime. I was looking more into Firstgiving.com and what's nice is that
people can have their names listed for donation - I think people find that
appealing. Maybe we can look more into that, and give people the option to
donate through that or contact you all for the "tax deduction".

As for sections, I was thinking of breaking it up as so:

-Girls Ed (you all can send me an html page or just text/pics
-Blog
-Financial Goal, link to the Firstgiving page
-Sponsors & Gear Review
-Thanks. A page for those fellows/websites/books that have helped with my
planning thus far and list of donors of $100+
-Pics / Video (to be after trip)
-Contact page

I'm multifaceted and can usually put a basic HTML site together in a
weekend.

Would either of you happen to have a "Sponsorship Form" or a place where I
can download one?

Also, do we have a financial goal? What's an amount that could finish the
work on a current project for you all and get you started onto another?

The SLC Pray the Devil showing, Tuesday Sept. 22

2009-09-28T10:17:00.000-07:00

The SLC Pray the Devil screening was a big success with 85 people showing up and more than $500 raised! Kudos to our new board member, Rai Farrelly, for organizing the event, and also a big thanks to board member Amanda Padoan and former board member Jennifer Graham for donating the film and coming up with the idea for the screening.

Here are some excerpts from a note from Rai with details about the event:

"Props to the venue - Brewvies gave us $50 off the rental as their contribution to the cause!! I sold all 10 DVDs that Caitlin sent me to sell at the event."

"I had a form at the front where my friends were helping sell tickets to see what worked in terms of getting the word out. The majority said they heard it through me or 'a friend'. Several found out on Brewvies website, several on Facebook, two on SL Film Center's site, three from U of Utah mailings and one from another blast from a nonprofit I work with here.... So clearly - word of mouth was best and biggest!"

"Everyone was so touched, moved, inspired by the documentary and several wanted more info about GEI."

Comments from guests who came to the SLC screening:
----------------------------
Thanks for orchestrating the showing of the movie tonight. I am the lady from Zimbabwe and my life's work is to support women in Africa. I did not have my card with me tonight but you can read all about me on my website at www.agift2africa.com. Good luck and thank you for the work you are doing for the people of Africa.
Sabina Zunguze.
-----------------------
Hi,

I had the opportunity to watch the movie today and bought a couple of the DVDs but i did not have time to thank you in person. So, thank you for organizing this, it is a remarkable story that is worth telling. And, the effort that your non-profit is doing is worth supporting.

I could not find the group on Facebook, it would be good idea to have one so we can stay informed of events like this.

Good luck
Renne
------------------------------------------------------------
Rai - Thanks again for the wonderful night at Brewvies. I'm not sure that we weren't being stacktavists still, seeing as we were sitting on our behinds watching a movie. But, I hear you! Thanks to those people who make activism easy! -Alicia
---------------------------------------------------------
Hey girl,
Great event tonight. Props to your efforts and its success. Would love to chat with you more about how you are involved. Time for coffee or a glass of wine sometime?
Cheers.
Rach
----------------------------------------------------------
Rai,

That was amazing..really got me thinking, reflecting, crying, laughing, and appreciating, and hopefully much more after some additional reflection. Thanks so much for hosting this event; it definately reminded me of the importance a single person can make :).

Dominique

Pray the Devil Back to Hell screening at CU

2009-09-22T11:26:00.000-07:00

Girls Education International sponsored a wonderful, intimate showing of Pray the Devil Back to Hell last night at the CU Boulder Old Main Chapel theater. The film was incredible. I highly recommend it. It is uplifting and powerful.

Boulder, Coloardo, screening of Pray the Devil 7:30. Doors open at 6:30

2009-09-17T07:52:00.000-07:00

The Boulder, Colorado, screening is now 7:30. Doors open at 6:30. The show is FREE to the public.

What's new?

2009-09-09T15:48:00.000-07:00

We have a full board of directors now (though we are always looking for more people who are passionate about girls' education). Our latest members are Rai Farelly, a gal out of SLC who is getting a PhD in linguistics and who already runs a nonprofit educating children in Tanzania. Roshan Roghani, owner of Boulder Balm and a student at CU, Boulder, is our other very enthusiastic board member. Welcome to our new board members! I will be posting more information on these ladies on the website later this month.

In other news, we just received a $1000 donation from the new clothing company, 4Knuckles LLC. Thanks to the owner, Scott Strode! Scott also runs the nonprofit, Phoenix Multisports, which helps alcoholics beat their disease by providing them with opportunities to explore the outdoors. Go Scott!

Pray the Devil Back to Hell--Interview with producer, Abigail Disney

2009-09-03T14:00:00.000-07:00

Don't forget about the showing of Pray the Devil, to be held at the Old Main Chapel on the University of Colorado campus, September 21st. Doors open at 5, and the show will start at 7:30.
:) Lizzy

Read the interview below, or listen to Abigail Disney talk about the film at the Radio Without Borders website.

WWTW Interview: ‘Pray the Devil Back to Hell’ producer Abigail Disney
MAY 16, 2009

The women at the heart of “Pray the Devil Back to Hell” craved peace in their native Liberia after too many years of bloodshed.

So they bonded together, setting aside religious differences, to make the country’s raging civil war history.

Their peace effort plays out in “Devil,” a new documentary produced by Abigail Disney and slated for a fall DVD release. It will also be shown during the September Global Peace Tour.

Disney, founder of the nonprofit Daphne Foundation and, yes, the grand-niece of Walt Disney and daughter of Roy E. Disney, checked in with WWTW to share her transformation from social change advocate to film producer and the power of a potent last name.

WWTW: How did you get involved in the project, and was it difficult to find backing for such a remarkable story?

AD: I found the project totally by accident on a trip to Liberia to explore how I could be helpful through my foundation. I just heard some women refer to it here and there and started trying to put together all the pieces I was hearing. Little by little I figured out that something incredible had happened and it was unknown outside of Liberia and that just struck me as so deeply wrong.

WWTW: One of the women in “Pray the Devil …” relates the reasons for the ongoing bloodshed (power, money, greed, ethnic tension …). The film doesn’t delve much deeper into the root causes … or the politics. Can you explain why the film took that approach?

AD: Our feeling was that this film was for the women and should be entirely from their perspective. And to them, those causes were so petty and uninteresting compared with the agony they were suffering. At the end of the day they really believed that it was only a power grab and all the other reasons were covers for that anyway. To go into any detail was to dignify the warlords entirely more than they deserved to be dignified.

To read the complete interview, please visit the What Would Toto Watch Website.

We are looking for a marketing/PR intern

2009-08-20T14:19:00.001-07:00

Intern duties
15-20 hour per week
unpaid, college credit available

Marketing/PR
1. Update the website
2. Manage the donor database for enewsletters (2 this fall) and eblasts (before every event)
3. Writing content for and updating blogs (Girls Ed & Bike for Girls Ed blogs, both Blogger and on Girls Ed website)
4. Update community calendars with information about events
5. Write press releases
6. Initial contacts and follow up phone calls to media outlets regarding press releases distributed for events and other notable news
7. Write press releases
8. Attend some events
9. Attend board meetings and marketing/PR committee meetings
10. Brainstorm marketing ideas

Poor families spend 20% on alcohol and prostitution versus 2% on children (the men, not the women)

2009-08-20T12:16:00.001-07:00

From an article by Nicholas Kristoff:

Our interviews and perusal of the data available suggest that the poorest families in the world spend approximately 10 times as much (20 percent of their incomes on average) on a combination of alcohol, prostitution, candy, sugary drinks and lavish feasts as they do on educating their children (2 percent). If poor families spent only as much on educating their children as they do on beer and prostitutes, there would be a breakthrough in the prospects of poor countries. Girls, since they are the ones kept home from school now, would be the biggest beneficiaries. Moreover, one way to reallocate family expenditures in this way is to put more money in the hands of women. A series of studies has found that when women hold assets or gain incomes, family money is more likely to be spent on nutrition, medicine and housing, and consequently children are healthier.

Girls Education International to host film, Pray the Devil Back to Hell

2009-08-20T11:29:00.001-07:00

On September 21, in conjunction with the African Student Association, Girls Education International is showing the film, Pray the Devil Back to Hell, at the Old Main Chapel, 1202 University Avenue, University of Colorado, Boulder. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the show starts at 7 p.m. $10 per ticket, with $5 discount for students. All proceeds will benefit the organization’s scholarship program currently supporting 47 under-privileged girls in Liberia.

Pray the Devil Back to Hell chronicles the story of the thousands of courageous Muslim and Christian Liberian women who came together to end a bloody civil war and bring peace to their shattered country. Armed only with white T-shirts and the courage of their convictions, they took on the warlords and nonviolently forced a resolution during the stalled peace talks. A story of sacrifice, unity, and transcendence, Pray the Devil Back to Hell honors the strength and perseverance of the women of Liberia. Inspiring, uplifting, and most of all motivating, it is a compelling testimony of how grassroots activism can alter the history of nations.

For more information, visit: www.GirlsEd.org

Biking around China for Girls Education

2009-08-20T11:19:00.000-07:00

A woman named Eleanor Moseman contacted me and Heidi earlier this summer asking about whether or not she could raise money and awareness for Girls Ed (our nonprofit) by doing a bike trip around China. We, of course, said YES, go for it! How cool. Check out Eleanor's new Bike For Girls Ed blog.

Learning experiences

2009-07-22T10:04:00.000-07:00

Heidi and I have learned a tremendous amount over the past few years, specifically in regards to finding solid NGO partners in other countries. We have screened no fewer than four organizations to potentially partner with in Pakistan, and all those partnerships have fallen through for one reason or another, some at the last minute. We have learned that we need a better way of screening candidates, and so we are beginning to network with other US-based nonprofit organizations in an effort to utilize their contacts in other countries.
In an effort to provide you with more details about the direction our organization is taking, I am going to publish some excerpts from a grant proposal I recently sent off.

-Lizzy Scully

Mission, Vision, and Objective of GEI

Mission: The mission of GEI is to expand and support educational opportunities for underserved females in remote and undeveloped regions of the world.

Vision: Girls Education International (GEI) envisions a world where educational opportunities for women and girls are equal to those typically afforded boys and men, and thus provide the foundation for healthier and wealthier societies that reflect their unique cultural differences.

We fulfill our mission by collaborating with and funding local, predominantly female-staffed Non-Governmental Organizations that wish to develop and implement school-building/renovation projects, scholarship programs, or other congruent educational programs. GEI promotes local ownership of programs by the established community to ensure that programs respect existing culture and values, allowing for synergy and sustainability long-term. Currently, programs are focused on the mountainous regions of the world with school-aged girls, but GEI will consider all compelling female-based educational projects consistent with our mission.

Articulated theory for social change

Girls Education International will improve existing efforts at educating underserved girls by utilizing locally or nationally cultivated educational development models and by supporting the female social entrepreneurs who initiated those models. We believe in offering women and girls the chance to develop educational models tailored to their values and cultural needs, and then giving them the funding to implement those models. We believe that by empowering and challenging women with opportunities, we are unleashing the creative potential of 50 percent of the worldwide population.

Additionally, by focusing on models targeting girls’ education, we are perpetuating female empowerment. Give a woman a fish and she will feed her children for a day; teach her how to fish and she will feed and clothe her children, extended family, and community for the rest of her life. As Kofi Annan stated, “There is no tool for development more effective than the education of girls. No other policy is as likely to raise economic productivity, lower infant and maternal mortality, improve nutrition and promote health – including helping to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.”

Program design

Screening candidates: We rely on a network of professional and personal acquaintances when searching for potential NGO partners in the countries in which we desire to work. We look for NGOs that have already partnered with other organizations and that have existing, proven, and successful models. We don’t require that these models be focused exclusively on girls’ education, but rather that the NGOs have illustrated social entrepreneurship in developing and implementing locally-styled programs that promote education, and that they desire to develop and implement female-focused educational models.

Once we establish a rapport with an individual representative of that organization, typically a program or executive director, we rigorously screen their organization. During our screening process we establish: whether or not we share a congruent desire to educate girls; the potential for 100% transparency in regard to fund transactions; and whether we can endorse that organization through in-person examination of their facilities, government issued certifications, and consistent, ongoing dialogue. Additionally, we submit a lengthy list of questions to assess the organization; we communicate with that organization’s existing partners; and we establish personal contact with a representative of that organization. We strive to make personal contact when it is affordable, but often rely on professional and personal acquaintances to make those initial contacts. We provide these acquaintances with specific directions and evaluative questions to bring to the table with our potential partner, and we rely on their personal expertise and opinions.

We then summarize the information that we have gleaned and bring it to our board of directors for final approval. Further questioning via email and/or phone is sometimes necessary.

Developing programs

We follow the lead of our partner organizations and rely on their expertise in program development, but we also completely review the project plans and budget proposals. We evaluate programs together, utilizing the expertise of our board members and research we done by other reputable NGOs, such as USAID, UNICEF, etc. Key issues we want to understand are: what are the primary goals of a project; what plans are in place to ensure the long-term sustainability of the project; and in what ways will the project be evaluated for success.

Tangible results and future evaluative measurements of success

In addition to providing scholarships for two Nepali girls, who maintain good grades and are on track to graduate from high school, we have implemented one year’s worth of a scholarship program for 46 Liberian high school girls and one middle school girl. Short-term measurements of success for that program include: the current 100% retention rate of girls and the fact that all our girls have maintained a C or better average. Further evaluation of the program will require additional years of operation. However, we have long-term measurement strategies in place based on the past evaluative measures of success implemented by our partner, Common Ground Society (CGS).

CGS has supported a total of 5000 children with more than a half-dozen programs, including a scholarship program for 100 girls and an after-school reproductive health care program for 80 of those girls. One hundred percent of those girls in their scholarship program graduated from high school, 10 of the girls went on to college, and one was hired to work as an administrative assistant at CGS. The after-school program was deemed successful because 80-85 percent of the girls who attended used contraceptives compared to 0 percent prior to the program. Future evaluative measure for our joint GEI-CGS program include: 100 percent graduation rate for our girls, 90-100% remain unmarried and childless until after school, and 10-20% get jobs or additional education. Plus, we set a goal of establishing an endowment fund that will allow the program to be self-sustaining.

Far-reaching results of the GEI model

What happens when you empower women with the resources and support to develop models that support girls’ education? We believe we stretch imaginations, help women to realize new possibilities, and inspire them to expand their work.

On a national and global scale, the overwhelming research illustrates that when given the chance to express or empower themselves on a local scale, most women will take that chance and run with it. For example, a 1995 World Bank Study showed that with each additional year of schooling a girl has, her earnings will increase by 15 percent compared to 11 percent for a man, while a 1997 USAID study reported that women who can read, write, and earn money create more social change through organized and collective actions. I believe the GEI model can offer not only simple educational opportunities to individual girls, but it can create a virtuous cycle of ongoing female empowerment.

Financial support

We plan on raising funds for our programs through events, grants, year-end giving letter campaigns, and the cultivation of donors. We will occasionally do one-off projects, such as paying for the construction of schools, which will then be maintained over the long-term by our partner NGOs, local communities, and national governments. However, with regard to our scholarship programs, long-term financing includes ongoing fundraisers; cultivating long-term sponsorships by individuals for specific girls; and raising funds for endowments, the interest from which will sustain scholarship programs.

Over the next two years, our administrative costs will be about 50 percent of our total income, but by year three that will decrease to 30 percent, and then by years four and five administrative costs will be between 10-15 percent of our total income. Years one and two, all of the money we take in will be paid out for administrative costs and our programs, but by year three we plan on establishing the first of many endowment funds, designated per country to ensure the longevity of our scholarship programs. However, donors can request that funds be funneled directly toward a program rather than toward administrative costs, and their request will be honored.

Article on female philanthropy and how it accelerates positive change

2009-07-21T08:51:00.001-07:00

In recent years, interest in philanthropy for and by women has intensified, accompanied by a growing acceptance of the idea that philanthropic investments in women and girls can accelerate positive change in communities. To understand this evolution in thinking and practice within philanthropy, the Foundation Center partnered with the Women’s Funding Network, a global movement of women’s funds, to chart the current landscape of philanthropy focused on women and girls and document the specific role played by women’s funds. Read more here.

Applying for grants

2009-07-07T12:54:00.000-07:00

Today I'm applying for grants. I am, in fact, sending one off in a few moments. I looked for months for grants that would be appropriate to both fund the programs and also operational costs of Girls Education International. Within a few days of joining PulseWire.com and networking with a dozen women around the world, I had a pretty comprehensive list of grants compiled. I'm impressed with the networking I can do with that organization. Thanks to those ladies from Sudan and elsewhere who helped me. Now, wish me luck in getting some of those grants! I'm sending one off today, and hopefully one per week off for the next few months. I want to make this happen!

On the Way to Improved Legal Reality. Strategies and Instruments Used to Tackle Discrimination Against Women in the Arab World

2009-07-06T16:56:00.000-07:00

'What interventions are needed to improve the legal position of women, especially in Muslim societies, so that women's rights exist not only on paper but are realised in practice? Drawing on interviews conducted in Egypt, Yemen and Jordan in early 2008 with affected individuals, activists and people involved in development projects, this report proposes three key areas of action: formal legal reforms, improving women's access to their rights, and working closely with traditional and religious authorities to spread knowledge about existing laws. It presents case studies of interventions taking place in relation to these three areas, including an example of how the Association for the Development and Enhancement of Women (ADEW) lobbied for gender equality in nationality law in Egypt, a study of a national coalition against underage marriage in Jordan, and an example of how cooperation with male and female Islamic preachers in Yemen was successful in raising awareness of existing laws to protect women's rights. A central factor in the success of all the projects presented was the combination of lobbying with training measures and action research. Documentaries and public hearings at which affected women could tell their own stories proved to be particularly effective in lobbying and advocacy. Projects with judges (male and if possible also female), with employees of the judiciary and with the police force were also found to bring about positive changes.'

Mainstreaming Gender into Trade and Development Strategies in Africa

2009-07-06T16:54:00.000-07:00

'Trade liberalisation - the lowering of restrictions on goods for import and export - is increasingly being taken up across the world because of its association with high economic growth. With a specific focus on Africa, this paper notes that, within the context of trade liberalisation, women can be both winners and losers. They may benefit - for example through greater access to paid employment opportunities in manufacturing of garments and other goods. Yet they are not able to seize the opportunities provided by trade expansion to the same degree as men. For example, women farmers are often constrained from entering export-oriented markets such as cotton or sugar production due to a variety of factors, including caring responsibilities which limit the time they can devote to paid work and make it difficult for them to travel far from home, low levels of education, and lack of access to credit or land. In manufacturing, women often receive lower wages than men because of assumptions that they are not the main breadwinners, and may work in poor conditions. The paper notes that, in order to achieve high growth with gender equality, certain elements need to be in place.'

Language: English

Added by Imran Uddin

July 1, 2009

News on Girls Ed, looking for office space, and more!

2009-07-02T22:42:00.001-07:00

There is a lot of cool stuff happening with Girls Education International right now. We have just had two computers and a printer donated, and we found some very reasonable office space that we can have if we can come up with between $810-$900 for the next six months. We sent out our first comprehensive enewsletter last month, we finished up a full year of our Liberia Scholarship Program and await our girls' grades, and we completely renovated our website. Check it out: www.GirlsEd.org.

Heidi and I have both committed to working hard on Girls Ed. We were inspired by our recently deceased friend, Jonny Copp, who pursued his passions and lived his dreams. Though always motivated, we both feel an a renewed sense of dedication to our cause. My feeling is, why waste my time doing other things when what I really want to do is spend the rest of my life educating as many girls as possible around the globe.

Our renewed excitement is manifesting in various ways. Heidi is focusing on fundraising efforts, such as developing our signature events and speaking engagements, while I continue to build the infrastructure of the organization and develop an effective and efficient board of directors. We have two new members and are talking with two other potential members over the next few weeks!. Additionally, we have a number of valuable professionals advising us on everything from our business plan to mission statements. This is the most exciting time I've ever experienced in regards to Girls Education International.

We are also focusing on building a relationship with a nonprofit in Pakistan so that we can start a program over there this summer. We are close. I can feel it. Heidi is spearheading the effort. Wish us luck! And, if you know someone who is as passionate about our cause as we are, please connect them to us! Thanks so much.

-Lizzy Scully

Executive Director

Help us help educate girls around the world!

2009-07-02T22:27:00.001-07:00

We've found some great shared office space in downtown Boulder. The total cost will be between $135 and $150, which is a screaming deal. However, we still need some support to pay for this initially. We're looking for six months of cash support, which is just $810 to $900. Is there someone out there who wants to help me and Heidi educate underserved girls around the world? If so, please drop us a note! We're waiting for you! Thanks. :)

Neda Agha-Soltan, Iranian woman shot

2009-06-30T07:26:00.000-07:00

I know this goes a bit beyond the subject of girls' education, but I was touched by this video.

Neda Agha-Soltan, an Iranian woman, was shot to death during one of the recent protests against the election results in Iran. She was studying philosophy at the university. Many Iranians are calling her a martyr because she died for "freedom." To watch the New York Times video on this woman's death, please click here.

Giving by and for women increases since 1990

2009-06-29T13:52:00.000-07:00

According to a Foundation Center and Women's Funding Network study, charitable giving by and for women has increased significantly since 1990. In fact, "... funding for women and girls by the broader foundation community has grown at a faster rate than foundation giving on the whole, although as a share of overall foundation giving, it has remained below 7.5 percent for over a decade-and-a-half. Giving by women's funds in particular has grown even more rapidly."

The study concurs with countless international studies that illustrate social change can be accelerated by investing in women and women-led organizations.

"Private and community foundations throughout the U.S. awarded almost $2.1 billion in 2006 for activities benefiting women and children, up from about $412 million in 1990, says the report from the Foundation Center and the Women's Funding Network. That's an increase of 223 percent, after adjusting for inflation, compared to growth of 177 percent for overall foundation giving" (The Foundation Center).

To read the complete study, visit the Foundation Center Website. Or, for a quick article, visit the Philanthropy Journal's Website.

Computers, printers, health insurance, oh my!

2009-06-28T21:28:00.000-07:00

In the past week we've had a very nice printer, two computers, and health insurance for me donated by various people. We are currently looking for some donated office space for three to six months until we can afford to pay for our own office space. We hope to find something in central or north Boulder, Colorado.

In other news, we are coming closer to solidifying our relationship with the Abbott Foundation of Abbotabad, Pakistan. They requested our assistance with building a girls' middle school that will serve a dozen communities in the Northwest area of Pakistan. We still have a few details to work out, and then we have to get board approval, but we are finally on our way to doing a project in Pakistan! Heidi and I are both thrilled at the prospect as that country for which we started our nonprofit in the first place.

On the other hand, during this tedious process of finding an NGO partner in Pakistan, we have learned a heck of a lot, and we were privileged to be able to meet and work with Emily Sherman-Davis of Common Ground Society, Liberia. That project would not have happened had we jumped straight into the Pakistan project.

Emily has been a valuable teacher for me, and she has done a dynamite job running our scholarship project in Liberia. She will be getting us additional photos and stories of our girls in the next month or so.

-Lizzy

New Logo

2009-06-25T15:03:00.000-07:00

I don't think I ever posted the new logo. It's really cool.

Computer, office space, and other stuff

2009-06-25T14:40:00.000-07:00

It looks like we may have someone donating an older MAC to Girls Ed. Heidi Wirtz and I are now looking for office space. We are hoping someone in the Boulder, CO, area can donate some space to us for three to six months until we can raise enough funds to pay rent somewhere. We prefer being in north to central Boulder, as it is sort of half way between where Heidi and I live. We are also looking for a printer.

Heidi has expressed her desire to focus 100% of her work effort (when she is not working for The North Face) on raising money for Girls Ed, it's projects, and its administrative needs. This is exciting news. Watch out for news of our future fundraising events!

Lumo

2009-06-24T05:49:00.001-07:00

I just watched the film "Lumo," which is about women in the Congo who have suffered from brutal rapes that have led to fistula (rips in the vaginal wall where rape tore out chunks of flesh separating the bladder and rectum from the vagina). The movie was touching and powerful, reminding me of the importance of empowering women around the world. For more information on fistula and the Congo, check out this Ms. magazine article.

Interesting statistics on how educating girls improves overall community health, economy, etc

2009-06-22T05:00:00.001-07:00

An education provides security and support to girls and enables them to make informed life decisions. In addition, education is critical to improving the status of women, which provides a ripple of positive effects throughout society.

Providing girls one extra year of education beyond the average boosts eventual wages by 10-20 percent.
Infant mortality decreases by 8 percent for each year a woman stays in school.

In Africa, children of mothers who receive five years of primary education are 40 percent more likely to live beyond age five.
Family health and nutrition rise in the home of an educated woman.

Multi-country data show educated mothers are about 50 percent more likely to immunize their children than are uneducated mothers.

An educated woman has fewer children, so population growth is slowed in resource scarce countries.

A 65-country analysis finds that doubling the proportion of women with a secondary education would reduce average fertility rates from 5.3 to 3.9 children per woman.

Want to know how Girls Education benefits communities? Read here.

2009-06-22T04:07:00.000-07:00

Financial Times seasonal appeal: Report on Zambia
Published: September 26 2008 18:53 | Last updated: September 26 2008 18:53
Note from Lionel Barber, Editor

The Financial Times is proud of its partnership with Camfed, the educational charity. Camfed targets women in an effort to lift economic growth, reduce family size, and cut child and maternal mortality. In the past two years, we have raised more than £2.2m in our annual seasonal appeal. Caroline Daniel, the FT’s op-ed editor, visited Zambia earlier this year to see Camfed’s work in action. Her account can be read below. The individual portraits of women who have overcome incredible odds are inspiring. Last year, Caroline produced a similar riveting account of Camfed’s work on the ground in Tanzania.

After two years, the FT is now adopting a new partner for our seasonal appeal: WaterAid. We believe WaterAid’s work – just like Camfed’s – is making a real difference in some of the poorest communities of the world, from sub-Saharan Africa to South Asia. We hope you will support our charitable effort with the same generosity that you displayed in the past.

Report and pictures by Caroline Daniel

“This is my home”, says Gift Namuchimba (pictured left) with such raw pride that she initially looks down, embarrassed to reveal so much. Then she cannot contain her feelings any longer. “There isn’t a lady building a house like this in the district. I am the first one. It is the only home with a tall roof here. I slept in it last night for just the tenth night. The first night I could barely sleep.”

The house is one storey and is set in a plain of long grass that gives way to a distant blur of blue hills. It is made of mortar and brick with a corrugated iron roof. The sitting room is gloomy – the windows are still bricked up as she does not have money for glass. Above the fridge are three Campbell soup cups. She lives here with four people, including her older sister and her sister’s children.

In a different setting the house might seem unfinished. But here, it is the best house in the area, in robust contrast to the dozens of squat straw and clay structures nearby (pictured below). The house is a vivid testament to Namuchimba’s determination. At just 24, she has paid for it all herself. In her business clothes of brisk white shirt and black skirt, she has a simple elegance. Her house represents a powerful victory over her childhood in Mpika, Northern Zambia, where she brewed beer to make her way through school. Yet her success is also due to the work of Camfed, the educational charity that the FT has supported for the last two years in its seasonal appeal.

Sylvia back at school

FT’s seasonal appeal and Camfed enable an aspiring journalist to finish her studies and achieve her dream
Namuchimba’s achievement offers vivid proof of the value of a focus on gender in development. Targeting women directly is increasingly seen as the best means, in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, to lift economic growth, reduce family size, cut the rate of Aids and reduce child and maternal mortality. This agenda – an ideological domain that used to be marginalised as “women’s issues” – is now moving not just into the development mainstream, but corporate boardrooms, including that of the most hard-headed investment bank, Goldman Sachs. In March Goldman said it would invest $100m in 10,000 women from developing countries to improve their access to entrepreneurial education.

Namuchimba has transformed the life of her family. She also offers a symbol for her community. On one of her first nights in the house, she invited her childhood neighbour to see it. The woman had five daughters, all of whom became prostitutes, plying the local truck route. Namuchimba recalls an episode from her childhood, when the mother taunted her with chickens paid for with her daughters’ earnings, even as Namuchimba starved. None of the five daughters went to school. Instead they teased her asking, “Have you ever tasted a man before?” When she said no, they would say, “You are behind the times.” Three of them have now died of Aids. “I invited her to my house and made her enter it. I wanted her to learn something. She was amazed, as she knew my poverty as a child and when I had been starving. I said to her, ‘Look at what Camfed and education has done for my family’.”

. . .

Zambia is one of the poorest countries in Africa. Since independence in 1964, its economic fortunes have fluctuated with the price of copper, its only significant resource. The proportion living below the poverty line has risen from 33 per cent in the mid-1970s to 74 per cent today. The average life expectancy is 41 years (against 78 in the UK), and average per capita income is $1,140 compared with $69,560 in the UK. The incidence of Aids is high, at 17 per cent.

Namuchimba lives in Mpika, at the junction of the Great North Road and the Tanzam Highway to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. The town has the restless feel of a place that is a staging post, not a destination; where trucks pass through, and locals try to escape. It is the largest district in Zambia, at 41,000 sq km (the size of the Netherlands), and has a population of 145,000. A third of the children do not attend school. By the side of the road, people with bundled belongings wait for trucks. For the drivers there is Twins Fast Food – the Tummy Fillers, and the Decent Guest House. Five kilometres away is the railway station, built with Chinese aid in the 1970s – a grandiose testament to authoritarian architecture and an earlier wave of hope for African development. Only a few trains pass through in a week. An apt welcome sign on the road into town reads: “Mpika, Development through Self Reliance”.

The foreword of Women and Human Development, a book by Martha Nussbaum, the American philosopher, published in 1990 that sought to shake the complacency of western feminists into focusing on the practical problems for many women on the ground was bleak then. It could serve as a description of women in Zambia today. “Women are less well nourished than men, less healthy, more vulnerable to physical violence and sexual abuse. They are much less likely to be literate, and still less likely to have pre-professional or technical education ... women have fewer opportunities to live free from fear and to enjoy rewarding types of love – especially when, as often happens, they are married without choice in childhood and have no recourse from bad marriages. In all these ways, unequal social and political circumstances give women unequal human capabilities.”

As I travelled across Zambia over two weeks, this poverty of expectation for women is clear. Even if they marry, women often retain few property rights. Only a quarter of the girls receive secondary education. Customary law supports both polygamy and child marriage. Women walk miles carrying heavy loads of wood or water. For many, their lives are lived in the shadows cast by men, eked out in a continuous present dominated by the demands of subsistence farming, a life that precludes time for regret or hope of a different future. There are moments in my conversations with rural women when the past overflows into the present, when a revived pain appears in the eyes, or sometimes expressed only with a clenched fist held next to a heart.

In 2001, Camfed began work in areas such as Mpika and Samfya, a fishing village 100km away, targeting them because they are some of Zambia’s most disadvantaged districts. In Mpika, 84 per cent of the population is engaged in informal agriculture. The central idea behind its work is that improving girls’ education – especially at secondary schools where gender differences are more pronounced – is the first, most critical step towards the economic empowerment of women. Camfed now sponsors 6,374 vulnerable girls in Zambia, and 18,730 across Africa, making a three-to-five-year commitment to each girl to cover the costs of uniforms, school fees and exercise books.

It is a philosophy that now enjoys wide acceptance and stretches back to work done in the 1980s that proved the critical role of women in development. Even so, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, managing director of the World Bank, who was herself the first woman to hold the position of finance and foreign minister in Nigeria says: “This was still very much marginalised as women’s issues. It was not part of the mainstream. People mentioned gender, but there was a lot of tokenism to it.”

In the 1980s, there were tensions at the Bank between those who wanted to do things on the ground, sometimes dismissed as “sandal-wearing stuff”, and those who believed it made more sense to fund big infrastructure projects. Few would describe Lawrence Summers, the former US treasury secretary and chief economist of the World Bank, as a hardline feminist, yet he has played a key role in shifting this work into the economic mainstream. In 1990, Amartya Sen, Indian economist and philosopher, published the article More than 100 Million Women are Missing. It found that women did not make up 50 per cent of the world’s population; while they substantially outnumbered men in the US, Europe and Japan, in other regions that was not the case. He attributed the gap to the fact that “women are neglected compared with men.”

Mr Sen’s work on gender and a growing number of studies at the World Bank on girl’s education prompted Summers to look more closely at the data. “I was mindful that things can have an impact when it is against type,” he says. “You had the hard-headed World Bank and the super hard-headed position of chief economist, who did not have a touchy-feely persona.”

That interest led to his seminal 1994 World Bank paper, Investing in All the People, in which he argued that “hard statistical evaluations fairly consistently find that female education is the variable most highly correlated with improvements in social indicators. The benefits of education have a multiplier effect because they empower women to bring about other necessary changes.” Moreover, this investment was “far more productive than other social sector outlays and the vastly larger physical capital outlays that are projected over the next decade.”

The irony that it took a powerful white man to make this case is not lost on Geeta Rao Gupta, president of the International Center for Research on Women, who first got involved in women’s issues in Bombay 32 years ago. Nonetheless it made a difference. “His statement on the returns of girls’ education caught the attention of a higher level of policy makers,” she says. “The evidence was known before he articulated it, but it mattered who the messenger was.”

Even so, it took time for political support to grow in the early 1990s. Gene Sperling, former director of the National Economic Council for President Bill Clinton and director of the Council for Foreign Relations Center on Universal Education, recalls: “Foreign aid was demagogued. It was the era of the Republican party of Newt Gingrich and some denounced aid as dollars for dictators. Although there were some groups campaigning for a greater focus on gender, they were not powerful. There was little advocacy for universal education in the US, even though during the 1990s there was rigorous data that showed proof of its broader impact.”

Since then the evidence has only built, Sperling says. “Two 1999 World Bank studies found that closing the education gender gap in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa would have led to faster growth between 1960 and 1992. Even more impressive are the gains to health. An extra year of female education can reduce infant mortality by 5-10 per cent. In Africa, children of mothers who receive five years of primary education are 40 per cent less likely to die before age five than those of uneducated mothers”.

This led Kofi Annan in 1999, when he was still secretary-general of the United Nations, to describe girls’ education as the “single highest returning social investment in the world today”.

. . .

To reach the school near Lubwe, about 10km from Samfya, involves driving along an uneven road beside a large lake that stretches to the horizon. A low mist hovers over it. Boats are visible – angular lines of timber gently disturbing the water’s surface. A woman walks by carrying a freshly watered giant lettuce on her head. Pigs root in the wet sand. The scene is languid. Before you even enter the classroom, a greeting song is audible through the open windows. As the chorus fades, two dozen adolescent girls, self-conscious in brown and white uniforms, retreat into awkwardness. None of them would be here without Camfed’s support. As the girls file out one remains. Her name is Cindy (pictured left).

At 15, an age where her counterparts in the developed world are on the cusp of adulthood, Cindy has already been forced to make a number of adult decisions about the direction of her life. Each choice was driven by her desire to go back to school. Her story is Cinderella in reverse. Her father was wealthy. She grew up in a big house in the Copper Belt. “We had several bedrooms, a sitting room, bathroom, electricity and a seesaw. We had leisure time and I went to a private school. For fun we would go a jumping castle.” Her father’s infidelity, buoyed by his fortune however, exposed both her parents to HIV. As Cindy explains “he went out with different women so caused the illness on my mother. He died. Her property was all grabbed leaving her with kitchen assets and clothes. She baked scones to sell but wasn’t strong and got tuberculosis and died.”

Sitting in her chair, Cindy is shy and girlish. Her feet do not reach the floor. She radiates a ready and easy affection and shows no signs of a cynicism that could have been the legacy of the life she has known. After her mother died, her circumstances deteriorated. She moved to her uncle’s farm near Samfya, and walked 5km to school every day. (Some children often walk as far as 10km to school). Like many orphans, she was an unwanted burden. Her uncle’s children bathed in warm water, but she and her younger brother were told they could only use cold water. “When we came back from school we found only small sweet potatoes left for us to eat. We couldn’t enjoy being there. They would not leave nice food a person could deserve.”

Aged 13 she walked out and found her way to an aunt in Samfya, taking just a few clothes. She did well at school until another relative, who was pregnant, promised to send her to a better one. Instead she ended up doing chores, washing nappies. “One day I woke early and was worried that these days would just go on and on. I wanted to go back to school. I cried a lot and my eyes were sore. So I said to myself, if I don’t decide now, when will I decide? I left with no clothes and only carried my toilet bag.”

She returned to Samfya, where Camfed agreed to sponsor her. Even with that help, her aunt hounded her to do more chores and complained if she used candles to study. The day before her grade nine exams, Cindy failed to return promptly with some money. “When I got home she had sold all my clothes and uniform because I took so long. She had burned my books, my textbooks, my exercise books and pass papers, everything I needed to learn. She poured kerosene on them so they burned fast.”

To sit her exams, Cindy had to borrow a shirt and a skirt. She moved to Lusaka and found out she had failed some exams. For the next seven months she was not at school. “I was just at home, knowing I had failed. I thought even dying was better, but then I thought that meant Satan would win. If I even heard the word, ‘exams’, I would cry.”

Still, she continued to study, reading the education section in the local newspaper. Camfed found her again. She is now second or third in her class and wants to be Zambia’s chief justice. “I want to sue people who take advantage of orphans. I will be judged on this issue. It is not the end of the world to be an orphan. It will not be the end of me. I’m a girl who has seen a lot of things and I haven’t lost determination. I want people to see my vision and learn from me. Now, Camfed is my mother.”

Cindy’s drive to make something of her life is typical of the girls Camfed supports. They know that education offers their best, perhaps only, route to a life beyond rural subsistence. Without her own actions – to leave two of her relatives – Cindy would not have made it this far. At another Samfya school, 14 year old Cecelia (pictured left), another Camfed beneficiary, is also ambitious. Her parents died of Aids and she was the only one of her siblings born with the disease. Her friends encourage her “not keep it too much in my mind and say you are not the one who has caused the problem”, she says, her head bowed as she fiddles nervously with a strand of cotton. She is on anti-retro viral drugs, except they are hard to take. “The problem I have of taking the medicine is that there is no food or I may have nothing to drink. If I take it then, in the morning like that, my heart starts bumping very fast.” Cecelia is first in her class in four subjects. “When I look at the easy lives my friends have, it makes me feel even stronger. I would like to have something to show at the end of this. I want to pass my grade 12 exams and go to college. When I start working it will be worth everything I have been through. In the future women will hold powerful jobs.”

. . .

For Cindy and Cecelia’s hopes to be realised, however, Zambian families need to see that they will benefit directly from girls’ education. That challenge was clear in a meeting at Chisakana basic school. It is miles from the nearest large town, and has neither electricity nor a protected water hole. The school has 400 pupils, half of whom have lost one or both parents. It has just three teachers for them. In spite of the lack of resources, the head teacher, Mrs Batista Kalembo, is energetic and optimistic. She brings out ground nuts and sweet potatoes for her visitors. On her office wall is a list of do’s and don’ts for pupils: fighting is an offense, all pupils should be neat and using vernacular in classes is punishable. For the teachers there is a list too: they should refrain from immoral conduct with pupils and avoid absconding from work.

A chart also shows enrolments at the school. There were 33 boys and 38 girls in grade one. By grade nine, however, that had dwindled to 25 boys and 14 girls. ”When I first opened the school in 1999 there were very few girls. We had only boys. They wanted their girls to get married, so I started a meeting every Sunday after church services to talk about girl child education. I lost my parents in grade one, but I offered myself as an example of what women can do. Most of the children fail to come to school because their parents cannot afford to buy pencils or textbooks,” she says.

In the classroom next door, 18 adults are squeezed in behind school desks to attend a meeting on the “formulation of strategies to increase attendance, retention and the progression of girls in education.” “Does it make more sense to send a boy or a girl to school?” asks the local education officer. The response of the two village women is striking. “If I send a boy he will not get pregnant,” says one; the other says: “The boy, he will finish school and so will start supporting us again.”

Such views are also why Camfed created Cama, a group for women school-leavers which includes basic business training, social networking and community outreach in villages, where the women discuss issues such as child marriage and the need to educate girls (pictured left). Its creation is supported by academic evidence that increasing women’s economic productivity has a welfare boon. “From studies in the 1980s, we know that women typically spend their income on food and healthcare for their children. This is in sharp contrast to men, who spend a higher proportion of their own incomes for personal expenditures”, says Gupta. ”A study in south western Kenya showed that for a given household income level, female-controlled income had a positive and significant effect on household calorie consumption, while men’s income had a negative effect.”

I interviewed Miriam, a mother of five, in a Samfya classroom. Outside, boys played football in their bare feet, kicking up swirls of dust in the fading light. Inside, signs hung on the wall saying: “Education is breast fed,” and “Educate women and you educate the teachers of men”. Miriam can write only her name. She married young herself and, in turn, married off her first three daughters – at 18, 19 and 15 – for cash. For her first-born she was promised fishing nets, but they were given to her husband’s family; the second son-in-law was taken to court for not paying the bride price; and for the “third we did not get anything; the man is crooked.” Miriam is now envious of her younger sister whose children finished school. “She is getting a lot of things from them compared with me; people think I am useless. Maybe if I sent the girls to school, I would be counted as somebody.” Her last two children are at school. “Maybe it will change my life. Girls’ education is very good as it is women who help parents; the males don’t.”

But in rural areas, with few alternatives, marrying girls off can seem to make calculated economic sense. Muhammad Yunus has sought to address that gap. The Bangladeshi founder of Grameen Bank, which makes very small but potentially life-changing loans to the very poor, received a Nobel Prize in 2006 for his work on microcredit. More than 94 per cent of Grameen loans have gone to women. The Nobel Prize Committee noted: “Microcredit has proved to be an important liberating force in societies where women in particular have to struggle against repressive social and economic conditions. Economic growth and political democracy cannot achieve their full potential unless the female half of humanity participates on an equal footing with the male.”

This work on microcredit has helped to widen the coalition in favour of girl’s education and targeting women in development. “Then you had the Muhammad Yunus strain and microcredit, which basically worked. It wasn’t socialism or market fundamentalism. Being for women as entrepreneurs with microcredit made it easier to convince people of things that they wanted to be for anyway. The fact that it worked was breathtakingly congenial,” notes Summers. ”What then happened with development in general is that you had stars like Bono and Angelina Jolie come in and made it cool. A debate that used to be about warring bureaucracies over foreign aid, became suffused with a moral energy. Targeting girl’s education, in particular, is appealing as it can be seen as hard-headed and soft-hearted. It is hard to find development actions that are both.”

Namuchimba (pictured right), now the national chair of Cama in Zambia, is proof of the power of such small interventions. With a small grant from Cama she created a shoe stall. It is in the market, opposite a popcorn stand and a man whose business may be undermined by his spelling – “RM Signs and Paiters.” Namuchimba’s initial investment of 450,000 kwacha yielded a profit of 1m. Her business has only expanded since then. However, her success, notably the fact she has built her own house, has been met with some disbelief. “Some people were jealous and asked how a woman could build a house of this stature. People said I couldn’t have done it on my own, that I must have had a boyfriend. I told them how I had done it, but there was no reaction so I keep quiet. Some challenges do not deserve answers.”

As she shows off the unfinished hallway of her house, three of her friends break into a song in Bemba. ”Gift ilange ailanga ilanga lelo ailanga/ Abamwamona ailanga/ Niba Cama ailanga/ Baileilanga ailanga ubukali bwoabo ailanga (Gift show how strong you are. You see these are Cama members, showing off their strength, showing how strong they are.) Namuchimba sways her hips, simultaneously embarrassed and proud, both part of the song and recipient of it. She has done much to deserve the homage. She also pays for her five brothers and sisters to go to school.

Her story – of women devoting their money to supporting others – is echoed throughout Camfed’s work. In Samfya, Foster Lengwe, 23, can now support herself from a hair salon run from her back porch (pictured above left). The Cama group in Mpika has donated funds to help more than 100 children at the Chengelo community school (pictured below) get shoes and school basics, such as pens. None of the pupils have uniforms and teachers at the school are unpaid. The girls received letters of thanks from the pupils sent to: “Dear Mr Cama.”

Namuchimba also takes me to meet Brenda Fufu, who is 25. Her business has also transformed the lives of her family. Fufu’s house does not strike you as unusual from the outside. The roof is made from thatched grass, the walls from mud. It has three small rooms. On one wall, is a clock – the only sign of technology. Yet there is vivid evidence of ambition. Covering another wall is a giant poster. It depicts an idealised living room from a western furniture catalogue (pictured below). It shows a beige sofa, a television, and framed pictures of an orange flower, all colour-coordinated in muted pastels. Fufu bought it in the local market. She put it there simply because she was inspired by the sofas: “I want my mother to sit on a sofa like that. It will make her feel very good.” Her mother, Theresa, who when asked her age, gives only a date – that she was born in 1959 – also scrutinises the poster. “I pray to god in his mercy that one day my daughter may be able to live like that.”

Fufu, a subdued young woman (pictured left and below), with neat hair and chequered western shirt done up to the top button, is not an obviously frivolous person. Her story can be told in a few sentences. She left school, got married – encouraged to do so by her mother who believed that marriage was the only option for a woman. She had a child, who became ill. She moved in with her mother. Her husband never visited. The child died. The couple divorced. At a loss, she joined Cama and received a grant of 250,000 kwacha. She used it to buy caterpillars, from 40km away. She sold them for 750,000 kwacha and then set up a shop in the market.

A local expression is that educating a girl is “like having a granary of maize behind the house”. That has been brought to vivid life in the Fufu family. Brenda used her profits to buy fertiliser for her family’s farm. In 2007, they harvested 10 bags of maize. This year they are now hopeful of 86, with a profit of 1.8m kwacha. Brenda has used some of the money to buy the first chairs for her family to sit on since the death of her father in 1993. Although the family had initially experienced a better life, her father’s family sold the house and furniture on his death, leaving her with nothing. Such cases are typical – often wives have no property rights. Her mother recalls: “The transformation was hard. I had a husband who provided for us. Then I came back here and life was tough; things like soap were scarce, but the Lord God sees. I cried a lot and thought of the three children and that our relatives would support them but they did not. Women have no rights in Zambia”.

To pay for their education, Theresa would wake at 4am ”when it was still cool and work until lunch, then eat and continue with the work. One day I did not have the money and Brenda was chased from school, so I went to the local education officer and I was crying that my child was going to miss writing her grade 12 exams and was chased from school.” Fufu, who has been listening intently, knows the debt she owes. “That day was just like I had been to my own funeral. It did affect my performance. Now I want to be a teacher if I do well in re-writing my exams, because of what my mother went through.”

The new chairs are just the first step for Fufu. “I was very happy when I bought them. When we didn’t have chairs it was hard when visitors came; at least the fact that we slept on reed mats could be hidden away.” Fufu supports her mother and Anna, her 77-year-old grandmother. “What surprised me most is that I thought my son-in-law had come back to earth through Brenda. God has made it possible. Now I expect to see even more changes for women and them going onto greater things. This is just the beginning,” says her grandmother, with a mixture of awe and tenderness.

In a further sign of the family’s change in fortunes, their old reed mats are now beneath the bags of maize outside.

While Fufu’s business has enabled her to find a route to economic independence after a failed marriage, Namuchimba has avoided early marriage and unlike many of her contemporaries, has no children. “I want a man,” she says, before a pause. “But only if he is quality.” Cindy too says, “I don’t want to marry early and have a child.”

Their experience confirms that education can address population issues. According to Goldman Sachs, for every two or three years of education, a woman is likely to have one less child. Women with secondary or higher education also delay marriage. In contrast, male schooling has an insignificant or even positive effect on fertility (one male teacher in Samfya in the local bar boasted that he had seven children. Asked why, he shrugged: “I have to show I am a real man.”)

The impact on population has widened the coalition of support for girls’ education. When Sperling left the White House he got funding for his new organisation from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. Its interest stemmed from the population-control benefits. Girls’ education offered a politically convenient way to move beyond the sterile political debate of the 1980s. As Summers argues: “It had been stuck between the right-wing, ‘growth is the best contraceptive’ people, and the ‘let the condoms reign, family planning’ people. Empowering girls was a softer, more liberal formulation.”

. . .

Lloyd Blankfein, chief executive of Goldman Sachs is one of the highest paid executives on Wall Street. He is one of the least likely people to find at the frontier of women’s rights issues, least of all in developing countries. He presides over a bank that last year generated bonuses of $12.1bn and total compensation of $20bn – more than the gross domestic product of Zambia, at $14.7bn.

Blankfein’s New York office, on the 30th floor, with a view over the Hudson River, is dominated by books such as the Last Tycoons and Wikinomics. He is dressed simply, in a dark suit and leather loafers. On a table is a framed Farside cartoon: a kid sorrowfully looks over the fence at his neighbours. The caption reads: “I know you miss the Wainwrights, Bobby, but they were weak and stupid people – and that’s why you have wolves and other large predators.”

“Can you believe someone gave that to me?” says Blankfein with a mock-outraged laugh. He has a keen enough sense of both irony and humour to know the cartoon reinforces his image as a tough former commodities trader. Yet he has also just initiated the largest private sector initiative focused on women in developing countries to help create a management class, and sees such philanthropy as central to the bank’s future. The bank is to spend $100m over five years on 10,000 women to improve their managerial and entrepreneurial education. It will create partnerships between universities, such as Harvard and Cambridge, and ones in countries such as Rwanda, Kenya and Afghanistan. The aim is to create business education certificates, train professors and develop a curriculum suited to local economies. The focus is on practical skills, not theory.

If access to secondary school is hard, even fewer women make it to the higher education. Across Africa’s 50 leading business schools, only 2,600 women are enrolled in MBA programmes in a continent of 900m people. Goldman sees management education as critical to accelerate growth in new markets. “We need to create growth, not just follow it,” says Blankfein. “If you look at the history of aid to Africa, an impressive amount of money has not accomplished an impressive body of work. Look at the poverty. What these countries need are more managers and entrepreneurs.”

One of the reasons for the initiative, he concedes, is that “being on the side of the angels matters. What people think about us in public places matters.” But the thinking runs deeper than just buffing Goldman’s reputation. “I don’t think we are going to make a lot of money in Zambia. Whether Rwanda or Zambia like us is not going to have a big impact on our fortunes; whether 1,000 people at Goldman Sachs get motivated by this and feel better about their firm and stay and express pride, does.” This effect on employees is critical. “We lose people to government, public service and philanthropy more than to our competitors. People want to feel good about where they work, and put time and emotion into it. They don’t just want to feel they are merely earning a living.”

So rather than just write cheques, Goldman Sachs is developing a mentoring scheme to connect its employees with the women it supports, who will receive email advice on how to build their businesses. The first meeting to attract mentors was held in a room for 200 people; 700 showed up. ”Right now we can give every woman in the programme three mentors [from Goldman]. There is a really big appetite to get involved.”

One of those was Michelle Pinggera, a Goldman Sachs managing director. At the launch event in London, she admitted that at first she had been dubious about what someone with more a decade of experience in the securities division could teach a woman in Nigeria about the African fashion sector. ”What did I know about running a fashion business, an IT consultancy or a fish farm?” However, her enthusiasm is contagious. She has found her time as a mentor so far, ”truly one of the most inspiring experiences of my career,” while the woman she advises confessed to having been in awe of the CVs of the mentors.

For all the engagement of development groups and advocacy by the World Bank, intervention by the private sector has the potential to make the most difference. It has moved the agenda from the margin into the mainstream. More companies are introducing programmes, including Standard Chartered Bank, Nike and Avon.

According to Melanne Verveer, co-founder of Vital Voices and a former chief of staff to Hillary Clinton, there is a convergence of likely suspects and unlikely partners. ”Business support used to be viewed as a nice thing to do; now businesses view it as the smart thing to do. It is real money when Goldman Sachs makes a $100m investment and their chief executive likens it to a no-brainer – like the low hanging fruit to be picked to promote economic growth. The fact these things are happening now suggests to me that we are at a turning point in the debate about investing in women to improve the world.”

Intellectual ballast for Goldman’s initiative came from two research reports. One, Womenomics, looked at the decline in population in Japan and the need to exploit the country’s untapped resource: women. The second, Women Hold up Half the Sky, linked the education of women to economic growth. It noted that narrowing the gender gap in education could push income per capita as much as 14 per cent higher than Goldman’s own baseline projections by 2020 in the BRICs and the N-11 set of developing countries, and highlighted the wider benefits, such as lower maternal mortality. “The only things that work at the bank are those that are smart to do,” says Blankfein. “Womenomics was a piece of economics research. It was not a woman’s piece. It didn’t come out of our corporate engagement programme, it came out of our research area. What struck us most is that investing in women offers the best return in developing countries.”

The women the Goldman project will help, Blankfein acknowledges, are a rare group who have already overcome harsh odds: “The group we are seeing is self selected, very committed and very hungry. Those are great attributes. If you like, we are seeing the salmon which made it upstream against tremendous odds. Every one of these 10,000 women is one of 10,000 who made it that far.” Blankfein, a modest man who shuns talk about his family background, says he is not motivated by aspirations for his own legacy. ”There is no cult of personality here. I am not at the point yet where I think I invented helicopters or penicillin.” His definition of success, then? “It looks like 100m women.”

. . .

For women in rural Zambia, success will be defined on a much smaller scale. Not whether they have boosted their national economies, nor whether the incidence of Aids has declined. It is simply whether they make it through school and get a job that gives them a life beyond that which their mothers have known.

There is another instinct that has driven girls such as Cindy or Namuchimba. It is as basic, but just as important. On my first day in Samfya I saw this sign: “I wish a long life for my enemies that they can all see my successes.” I wrote it down out of curiosity then – along with the names of two shops: Sweet After Sweat Wholesalers, and Watch Me Grow Investment. This emotion unites these young women: an anger transmuted into something quieter, more productive. Success is the best form of revenge over those who shunned them, teased them for lack of shoes at school. It is a drive to prove that they are worthy of attention, even as they accept the shifts of fate in a country where early death is a next-door certainty and the insecurities of subsistence living a fact of life.

For Cindy, it lay in her determination that people should not define her merely as an orphan, an object of pity. For Fufu, it came from the assurance that everything in her house she had earned herself. “No one can take them away from us.” Of her relatives who dispossessed them, she says: “They made us suffer and even caused me not to go to school. Yet I would invite them to my house and cook Nshima [the staple food of Zambia] for them. With my mother, we now say we can show them we can make it by constructing our own house.” And for Namuchimba, it was the emotion that lay behind her invitation to her childhood neighbour to visit her newly built house. And for those who question whether women can make more of themselves, could ever become the first female president of her country, Lydia, a woman sponsored by Camfed in Tanzania, told me last year: “Just before the sun sets.”

Caroline Daniel is the FT’s comment editor

FT readers donated more than £1.6m for last year’s seasonal appeal on behalf of Camfed International. For a more detailed account of Caroline Daniel’s time in Zambia examining Camfed’s rural development programmes, including individual stories of those women who were the direct beneficiaries of the FT’s appeal, go to www.ft.com/appeal2007

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Educating girls yields a higher rate of return than any other investment available in the developing world

2009-06-22T03:34:00.000-07:00

MONDAY JUNE 22, 2009
Obama's Call for Educating Women

The Huffington Post
JUNE 05, 2009 —
As part of his historic Cairo address, President Barack Obama raised the hopes of millions of women around the world by highlighting how educating women can change the economic future of nations and promote equality. "I do believe that a woman who is denied an education is denied equality . . . countries where women are well-educated are far more likely to be prosperous" proclaimed President Obama. The president has a unique opportunity to fulfill these hopes by delivering on earlier promises to create a new Global Fund for Education and contribute $2 billion so that all girls can go to school.
University graduates attend their graduation ceremony in Sanaa, Yemen.

Education, especially for girls and women, is the most highly leveraged investment now available for developing countries. Obama's top economic adviser, Lawrence Summers, has found that "educating girls yields a higher rate of return than any other investment available in the developing world." Women's education is a key driver for the economic growth of countries around the world. A 100 country study by the World Bank found that every 1 percent increase in the level of women's education generates .3 percent in additional economic growth. Educating women increases their wages by as much as 20 percent for every additional year of schooling. Women's education is a key driver for the economic growth of countries around the world.

Educating women is also essential for ensuring food security and protecting recent gains in global health during the current economic crisis. Educated women use their expanded knowledge and improved financial situation to provide for their children. One study of 63 countries found that women's education accounted for 43 percent of all progress in reducing child malnutrition. In Africa, the children of mothers who received five years of primary education are 40 percent more likely to live beyond the age of five. Education is a "social vaccine" against AIDS, dramatically reducing the risks of infection, especially for girls.

Despite all the incredible returns that come from educating girls and the world's commitment to the U.N. Millennium Development Goal that all girls should have equal access to education as boys, more than half the countries in the Arab world, in South and West Asia and in Sub-Saharan Africa have yet to achieve gender parity in education. In Afghanistan, for example, fewer than 70 girls enter school for every 100 boys. Overall, 75 million primary school age children are still out of school and most of them are girls.

Reducing the cost of education, employing an adequate number of teachers and creating safe environments for girls to learn are essential strategies for expanding access to education for girls. A number of countries have eliminated school fees in recent years, catalyzing dramatic expansions in enrollment and achieving gender parity in primary education. Bangladesh closed the education gap for girls by providing stipends for attending secondary school to cover the costs of supplies, textbooks and uniforms and more than tripled the number of girls enrolled.

Creating safe environments in which girls can effectively learn is also vital to promoting educated women. Training more female teachers is especially important in countries, like Pakistan, where many parents are reluctant to send their girls to schools with male teachers. Burkina Faso recently made substantial gains in the enrollment and performance for girls by building schools in rural areas that included separate bathroom facilities for girls and provided lunch for students.

In an earlier speech, President Obama promised to create a Global Fund for Education and pledged to invest $2 billion in order to "erase the global primary education gap by 2015" and ensure that every child can go to school. By fulfilling these commitments, Obama could leverage investments from the rest of the world and actually achieve the Millennium Development Goal of education for all by 2015. Obama's words in Cairo have raised the sights of millions of girls around the world, and creating a Global Fund for Education holds the promise that they will finally get the chance to learn.

Originally submitted to the The Huffington Post by David Gartner on June 5, 2009.

Obama's promise to partner with Muslim world to further girls' education

2009-06-22T03:22:00.000-07:00

The Brookings Institution posted this article on their website recently.

JUNE 05, 2009 —
President Obama pledged to “seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world” in his highly anticipated speech in Cairo. In addition to signaling important shifts in America’s approach to political challenges, such as the Arab-Israeli conflict, he also signaled a new path for supporting crucial social and economic development for millions of Muslims around the world. Recognizing that education is central to any long-term progress in the 21st century, he promised to partner with “any Muslim-majority country” to improve girls’ literacy and women’s employment.
Girls attend classes during first day of primary school in Kerbala.

This is a welcomed promise. The focus on supporting “any Muslim-majority country,” not just those of particular geo-political interest to the U.S., to improve the chronically underfunded area of education is an important step toward improving U.S.-Muslim relations today and especially in the future. Investing in education, particularly for women and girls, is one of the smartest investments the president can make if he is serious about working with Muslim communities to improve their quality of life. Educating women and girls has one of the highest rates of returns in terms of development outcomes and has been proven to improve economic productivity, lower infant and maternal mortality, and prevent HIV/AIDS. Many countries in the Muslim world are eager to see increased gender equality in education. Public opinion polls in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Morocco show that 98 percent of the population support equal access to education for girls and boys.

The Muslim world is diverse and subjected to multiple definitions—most notably, it is defined as the member countries of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), which includes 57 countries spanning four continents. Despite the heterogeneity across and within these countries, there are four elements important to developing an effective education strategy for the Muslim World.

Inclusion
Many countries across the Muslim world are characterized by patterns of educational exclusion. Girls are less likely to have access to education than boys, rural children are less likely to be educated than those living in urban areas, and older children and youth have much fewer educational options than young children. For example, in Egypt 96 percent of the 232,000 children not in primary school are girls. According to UNESCO, Arab States, of all the regions in the world, have the highest percentage of primary-age girls not enrolled in school. In Pakistan, rural girls and boys are enrolled in primary school at much lower rates than their urban peers. In the province of Baluchistan, for example, 85 percent of girls in urban areas attend school while only 40 percent in rural areas attend. In many countries, such as Cote d’Ivoire, girls and boys who have missed years of education or start late are “aged-out” of school, leaving them with few, if any, options for learning essential literacy, numeracy and critical thinking skills. Illiterate young people and adults have even fewer choices for improving their knowledge-base and skills. Across the OIC countries, 293.9 million people aged 15 and above are illiterate, the majority being women. Any sound education policy for the Muslim world will need to ensure that educational investments address patterns of exclusion across not only gender but also location and age.

Quality
For those who are able to access education, the quality is often low. Poorly trained teachers, over-crowded classrooms, and a dearth of learning materials are common problems hindering students from learning. In many countries in the Muslim world, students have to repeat years of schooling because of the poor quality of education services. UNESCO estimates that 4 percent of all students in primary school in the Arab region repeat a grade. Interestingly, although they have less access to school, girls appear to be better students than boys—only 3.3 percent of girls repeat classes whereas 4.6 percent of boys do. Improving the quality of the education provided is essential to not only ensuring that students are actually learning the key skills they need but especially to ensuring parents keep their girls in school.

Relevance
Any effective educational strategy for the Muslim world needs to ensure that children, youth and adults are acquiring the relevant skills and knowledge needed to improve their lives. To do this, multiple learning pathways are needed. Too often educational investments focus on formal schooling and not on other alternatives such as the winning combination of technical training, functional literacy and numeracy, and business skills development—all of which should be closely linked to labor market demands. The majority of the 1.5 billion people in the Muslim world (835.7 million) are under the age of 24 and many are unemployed. In the Middle East, 25 percent of youth are unemployed. While formal school credentials are often highly valued by youth, their acquisition do not always help with productive employment. In Egypt, adults with a secondary school education account for 42 percent of the population but 80 percent of the unemployed, indicating a crucial need to review many aspects of the education system, especially school curricula.

Conflict-sensitivity
Unfortunately, the presence or significant threat of armed conflict is relatively common in the Muslim world and faced by two out of three countries. This has profound implications for how to approach educational investment. Not only must any effective educational strategy contend with displaced populations, disrupted schooling, and unsafe learning environments, it must also be acutely sensitive to the political nature of education itself. More than any other sector, a country’s education system is tool for influencing and in some cases creating national identity. Who can access education, in what language, and what is taught are all aspects of any given education system that can be manipulated to either promote divisiveness, oppression, and exclusion—common drivers of armed conflict—or to mitigate them. For example, under Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi education curriculum heavily promoted the Ba’ath party, a legacy the country is still struggling to sort out. Conflict-analysis, which is rarely done in relation to education, should be part of any design and implementation of educational interventions in the Muslim world.

To begin a new relationship with the Muslim world, President Obama must fulfill the promises he made in Cairo on June 4, 2009. He should partner with the Muslim world to develop a concrete and effective education strategy, one that is well-funded, seeks to support countries based on need, advances stability and peace, and promotes the long-term development of children, youth and adults.

Sources

UNESCO Global Monitoring Report (2009); UNDP Arab Human Development Report (2005); UNICEF Investing in the Children of the Islamic World (2005); World Bank, Investing in All People: Educating Women in Developing Countries (1994); Brookings Institution, Change We Can Believe In? The Muslim World, America, and Obama’s Promise (2009); Brookings Institution Ending Poverty, Promoting Peace: The Quest for Global Security (2006).

GEI Newsletter #1, In other news...

2009-05-18T17:12:00.000-07:00

In other news…

2009 year-end giving letter a huge success
GEI brought in nearly $2,000 with its year-end giving letter, including a $500 donation from Jacqui Hudson. Additionally, we received a $2,500 donation from Laura Molinari. Thanks to these ladies alone, we can pay for two entire semesters of the Liberia Scholarship Program. A huge thank you to all our donors! If you would like to donate, please visit our site (http://www.girlsed.org/Donate.htm). It costs just $71 to pay for one Liberian girl to go to school.

GEI’s new and improved website!
As GEI evolves and progresses, we feel our website should reflect these changes. Built by Mick Follari and the Trakkware team (www.trakkware.com), the new site retains its design, but will be moved to an easy-to-update content management system. Check the Web site www.girlsed.org in late May to view our updates.

Girls Ed welcomes three new volunteers
Over the past six months, three new volunteers joined the GEI team. Jancy Quinn is working on the five-year marketing plan and is responsible for the new logo. Stephanie Maltarich is providing valuable assistance with the newsletter. Luisa Giles is searching for potential donors and/or partners to support GEI projects.

GEI Enewsletter #1, section B

2009-05-18T17:11:00.000-07:00

Grant finished, grantors needed
In December, GEI co-founder Lizzy Scully finalized a grant proposing the expansion of the GEI-CGS Liberia Scholarship Program. The program currently provides school fees to 47 girls in the mountainous regions of Liberia. The proposed grant seeks to garner funds to provide a total of 50 girls in Bong and Margibi counties with scholarships, stipends for uniforms, books, ID cards, a daily meal, and an after school Reproductive Health Education Program. GEI is currently searching for donor organizations and foundations that might be interested in supporting this expansion.

GEI welcomes new board member
A mediator and facilitator for Colorado-based CDR Associates, Jennifer Graham brings a wealth of experience to GEI. In addition to earning an M.S. at Cornell University in natural resources and receiving two Ford Foundation Fellowships, she has spent four years with the Peace Corps and the German Technical Cooperation in Malawi, Africa. She has both a command of Chitumbuka (a Bantu language) and an understanding of non-governmental organization work. Additionally, she facilitated the creation of Liberia’s first trans-boundary Peace Park with its neighbors in Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire in the Nimba region of the country.

Enewsletter #1, section A

2009-05-18T17:09:00.000-07:00

Girls Education International Enewsletter #1, section A

Girls Education International news
Newsletter #1

Scholarship Program helps 11-year-old Liberian
The youngest child in the joint Girls Education International-Common Ground Society Liberia Scholarship Program, 11-year-old Jennie Flomo expected to drop out of school by third grade. The burden of school fees overwhelmed her family. Like her older sister, she would instead sell small condiments door-to-door or at the market, do laundry, find firewood, and cook.

The CGS Project Manager in Liberia, Emily Sherman-Davis, met Jennie at the Methodist School while doing the assessment and selection of the girls in Bong County, April 2008.

“On my way outside the building I met Jennie, a shy little girl in an worn-out dress outside the verandah,” Sherman-Davis says. “She walked up to me, greeted me with her head bowed, and asked: ‘Are you the woman that has come with the scholarships?’”

That day, Jennie had come to school to register, despite the fact that she wasn’t sure if her parents could pay the school fees. When she heard Sherman-Davis was in town, she asked for help.

“It is not a normal thing for a young person to easily approach an older person and make a request,” she explains. Moved and impressed, Sherman-Davis approved Jennie’s scholarship. When Jennie personally received her acceptance letter, Sherman-Davis says, “She ran up and down the school campus exclaiming, ‘I am so happy I want to run home and tell my parents that I got a scholarship that will pay my fees!’”

Jennie is now in Grade four and is among the first three students in her class. Her second period average is 85 (B+).

Please check out our blog (www.girlseducationinternational.blogspot.com) for photos of our Liberian girls.

Pakistani Women discuss the Taliban in Pakistan

2009-05-12T19:42:00.000-07:00

Part One: Pakistani Women Panel

As the fighting in Pakistan's Swat Valley rages on, hundreds-of-thousands of civilians are just trying to stay out of the cross-fire. At least 360,000 people have fled their homes since a military offensive that began last week.

And according to the United Nations Refugee Agency, more seem likely to follow. The Pakistani Army is trying to push back Taliban fighters after they got within 65 kilometres of the capital, Islamabad. Government officials say more than 700 militants have been killed along with 20 soldiers.

Many Pakistani women support the government's bid to oust the Taliban from the Swat Valley. But as in many conflict zones, women are also among the most vulnerable once the fighting starts.

For their thoughts on the fighting and what's at stake for women in Pakistan, we were joined by Kamila Shamsie. She is a Pakistani-born novelist who now lives in the United Kingdom. Her latest novel is Burnt Shadows and she was in Ottawa this morning. Shahina Siddiqui is a Pakistan-born Canadian and the President of the Islamic Social Services Association in Winnipeg. And Fatima Bhutto is a Pakistani journalist who writes for the country's largest Urdu-language newspaper as well as The New Statesman magazine. She's also the niece of Benazir Bhutto and she's currently working on a book about Pakistan, her prominent family and the violence that connects them. She was in Karachi.

For more information, listen to this CBC radio show. Click here.

Afghani Women Determined to Learn

2009-05-11T09:19:00.001-07:00

This is a wonderful article about the fortitude of Afghani women and girls. Click here to read and/or view it.