Gender Equality Sierra Leone Project #3935

Educate a Girl, Educate a Nation - Sierra Leone

by Develop Africa, Inc.

Project Report | Jun 10, 2010
Women - True Agents of Change, Scholarships Distributed and Visit from GlobalGiving

By Sylvester Renner | Project Leader

Britt, Scholarship Beneficiaries, Janet and Joanne

Dear friends,

Excerpts From a Recent Speech: We would like to share with you excerpts of a recent, relevant speech on "Women as Agents of Change: Advancing the Role of Women in Politics and Civil Society" by Esther Brimmer, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Organization Affairs - USA. (The link to full speech is provided below).

"In March at the UN Commission on the Status of Woman Secretary Clinton said, “The status of the world’s women is not only a matter of morality and justice. It is also a political, economic, and social imperative. Put simply, the world cannot make lasting progress if women and girls in the 21st century are denied their rights and left behind.”

We believe that investing in the education of women and girls is not only the “right thing to do; but it is the smart thing to do.” That is why we are committed to working with the United Nations and the international community in the lead up to 2015 to promote gender equality and the global empowerment of women and the education-related Millennium Development Goals."

What We are Accomplishing Together: * Here are the specific things mentioned in this speech that we are accomplishing together:

1. We are helping girls to stay in school

2. We are helping ensure their literacy. This is a critical first step for acquiring the skills needed to participate fully in one’s society. Of the 759 million adults who lack basic literacy skills around the world, two-thirds are women.

Together, we are a powerful force for change, helping to shape their lives! These girls are the future leaders of Sierra Leone. By investing into their lives, we are helping to advance the role of women in politics and civil society.

GlobalGiving Visit: On another note, on May 5th, scholarship beneficiaries had the unique opportunity to meet Britt Lake, the Program Operations Manager of GlobalGiving. Britt spent a day visiting Develop Africa's projects in Sierra Leone. A picture of Britt with a few of the beneficiaries is provided below.

Janet and the Sierra Leonean team were honored to host Britt. The visit involved a review and general monitoring of the different projects that Develop Africa has on GlobalGiving. We are happy to report that Britt was happy to see the progress being made and the work that we are doing with your support.

Thanks / Feedback / Upcoming Matching Opportunity: We continue grateful to you for your support which means more to these girls than you would ever imagine. We would appreciate hearing from you and receiving additional support from you in the next month as we plan towards the new academic year. And don't forget that June 16 is GlobalGiving's Matching Day, where they are matching all donations at 50% up to $1000 per donor per project. Thanks for your support.

cordially and best wishes

Sylvester

Scholarship recipient with her mother

Links:

Women as Agents of Change: Advancing the Role of Women

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Mar 9, 2010
Celebrating Great Women in The Making - International Womens Day - March 8

By Sylvester Renner | Project Leader

FAWE head teacher and students

International Women's Day (IWD) is marked on March 8 every year. It is a major day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women. A quote online says: "There is no Mother's Day without them. There is no Father's Day without them. There is no Children's Day without them. There will be no life without them. Yes, today is the day to celebrate Women!" As we celebrate the achievements of women worldwide, we are reminded that there are many more budding women – young girls who are earnestly seeking the opportunity to rise up and take their place on the world stage and in history. They are great women "in the making". Your donations are helping enhance the education of these young girls. You are helping them complete their education. Your financial influence is shaping the lives of these girls – who may possibly invent something radically life-changing, become the President of a nation, find the cure for cancer – who knows? I also wanted to take the opportunity to share with you some additional photos that I just received in the past week from the FAWE school - an all-girls school in Freetown Sierra Leone. Students from this school are directly benefiting from the funds that you have donated and continue to donate through GlobalGiving. As you think over the influence of women in your life - on this International Women’s Day, join us in investing into the future of these young girls. Please invite your friends and family to donate towards this project in your honor or in honor of a special woman, mother in your life. Once again – thanks for your on-going support. It means more to us and the beneficiaries than you will ever realize. We welcome your feedback and comments. Best wishes as you celebrate the special women in your life. Sylvester

Students at FAWE school

Links:

Flickr Photos - FAWE School

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Feb 8, 2010
The single highest returning social investment in the world today

By Sylvester Renner | President

Girls - Scholarship Beneficiaries

Kofi Annan, former secretary general of the United Nations has called the education of girls, "the single highest returning social investment in the world today."

Clearly we are together on the right track – investing into the future of these girls and Africa. Your investment in the girls benefiting from this project is already bringing returns in terms of their education, development and preparation for leadership and responsibility.

Thanks to your on-going support, Out of the 15 scholarships provided to children in Sierra Leone, the majority - 8 of them were girls. Your support helped make this happen!

The children were also provided with basic writing instruments, pending the arrival of our next shipment of school supplies, books which left the US in January 2010. Thanks for helping us provide these scholarships, books and school supplies

The scholarships were provided at a scholarship award ceremony that was graced by the parents, friends, teachers and staff of the school and the recipients of the scholarship award. The students and parents were delighted to receive the financial assistance that is making education a possibility for them. Together we are influential and effecting real change, one girl child at a time.

Marie Mansaray, one of the beneficiaries, gave a vote of thanks and asked local Develop Africa representatives to convey their heart-felt gratitude to GlobalGiving and other donors. Thank you Globalgiving partners, friends and family for helping further their education. We are together truly making a mark that cannot be erased.

Additional information and a link to photos taken at the award ceremony are available here - http://bit.ly/phs2009 .

Group - Scholarship Beneficiaries

Links:

Additional Information about Scholarship Ceremony

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