Empower women in Africa through higher education!

These Numbers Have Faces believes strongly women are the secret weapon to fighting poverty. We work hard to make sure that at least half of the students in our University Leadership Program are women. Currently, 57% of our students are female. These young women are poised to lead their communities and countries to a new era of peace and prosperity. Through access to a university education, Leadership Development Workshops, and our women's mentorship program, we empower Africa's brightest young women to cultivate thriving communities. We also recognize that, if we are working to empower strong female leaders in a culture where gender roles remain very traditional, we must also work with the young men to learn how to work well with and alongside strong, empowered women. Sylvia is a wonderful example of the young women in our program. 

Sylvia grew up in a poor, rural village in Uganda. Her parents are farmers. There are seven children in her family. She is the only girl, born fifth. Her brothers never finished high school, so Sylvia’s grandmother advised Sylvia’s parents to send her to Rwanda to give her a better opportunity to finish secondary school and maybe even go to university. Sylvia made the most of this opportunity. She graduated from secondary school with excellent grades. And now she’s the first in her family to attend university!

Sylvia attends the Institute of Applied Sciences in Ruhengeri, Rwanda. She is studying Law. In addition to building her career, Sylvia’s dream is to work with teenage mothers, helping them build better lives for themselves. She also wants to be an advocate for the prevention of teen pregnancy, as well as for the education of girls. Both of these issues are huge, especially in rural communities. Outside the classroom, Sylvia participates in a local club for teen mothers. She also volunteers at a nearby primary school, tutoring young children in first and second grade.

Sylvia recently shared this about her experiences as a TNHF scholar:

“My education gives me hope because it equips me with the legal skills and knowledge I need to become a competent lawyer – someone who can uphold justice and help my community. As the student leader of Alternative Dispute Resolution at our university, I help mediate conflicts before they reach court, ensuring fairness and peace in our community. I dream of a country, a community, and a family free from injustice and legal ignorance. Being a These Numbers Have Faces scholar has sharpened my leadership skills and given me the mentorship and support I need to pursue my goals. Without this program, I would face many challenges – especially in continuing my education and accessing guidance.”

Currently, Sylvia and the rest of the young women in our University Leadership Program are busy finishing their academic year. Sylvia and her fellow TNHF students are also finishing their Community Impact Projects for this academic year.

These Community Impact Projects are a key element of our success. These projects require our students to take what they are learning in their classrooms and what they are learning in our Leadership Development Workshops and then apply it to real-life needs within their. We ask all of our students to identify, plan, and then devote at least 50 hours each academic year completing a Community Impact Project that will make a transformational difference in their communities. Over the past 5 years, our students have impacted significantly the lives of more than 30,000 people!

Here are just six examples of last year’s projects: 1. Eradicating malnutrition in Rwanda.   2. Teaching female secondary students the importance of social justice through debates designed to encourage public speaking and critical thinking skills. 3. Teaching computer skills to young girls. 4. Teaching reproductive health to female secondary students to reduce the risk of early pregnancy and dropping out of school. 5. Working with vulnerable families to improve their nutrition through kitchen gardens. 6. Teaching female secondary students how to build an excellent career profile, including an effective CV, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile, as well as teaching effective interviewing skills.

Links:

• http://www.thesenumbers.org