SOROPTIMIST NEWS PROGRAMME FOCUS
Helen Owen, Assistant Programme Director, reports on SIGBI activity in the extremely important area of
Programme Action: Education THE FACTS
On world population day, 11th July 2009 Ban Ki–moon said
“Investing in girls’ education delivers well-known returns. When girls are educated, they are more likely to earn higher wages and obtain better jobs, to have fewer and healthier children and to enjoy safer childbirth.”
This statement is further reinforced by
the United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative (UNDEI) in a report published in May this year to mark ten years of work. In the executive summary the report
states; “Numerous studies have shown that educating girls can make more dramatic, positive changes for both the individual and society than any other single intervention. Education expands social and economic opportunities and promotes participation for both boys and girls. Girls’ education, furthermore, has cascading effects on the family, community and nation.”
Bangladesh
EDUCATION
THE CHALLENGE Since the UN Millennium Summit in 2000
access to education for girls has improved, many more are receiving a basic primary education. However many barriers still exist. These include poverty, low expectations for women and girls, low numbers of trained female teachers, poor and inadequate buildings, lack of essential resources, lack of separate sanitation for girls, the impact of Aids, early marriage and pregnancy.
THE ACTION Undaunted by the facts and the challenge of
meeting Programme Objective 9, Soroptimist Clubs throughout the Federation work hard on projects that are making a difference to the educational opportunities of women and girls. An enduring image from the Programme Action presentations at the Cardiff conference is of a small girl carrying a brick on her head, she was part of a human chain of children who were moving the bricks needed to build the next part of their school. Look more closely at the girl and you see that also on her head, under the brick is a bag containing her precious school books. SI Bangor and District helps to support this school in Zambia by providing funds to train a female teacher at the school. She became a role model for others and women and girls were encouraged to start or continue with their education. This photograph could well be a metaphor for all we do as Soroptimists to meet Programme Objective 9. Projects are wide ranging and
4 SEPTEMBER 2010 Soroptimist News
directed at all age groups and situations. Clubs support nurseries and kindergartens and provide after school care. SI Ipsae set up the ‘Tilapia Project’ to provide a safe environment for children after school where they are kept busy and can have help with homework.
Clubs and Regions raise funds for children with
special needs, whether it be physical, intellectual or emotional.
SI Fishguard and District recently made a big difference by raising over £4,000 for a children’s home in Mongolia which had very basic conditions and nothing to stimulate the children’s learning. Members of SI Burnley are responding to the needs of visually impaired children in Nigeria by collecting and sending them Braille books and educational equipment.
Clubs in India are aware of reduced educational opportunities for children especially girls who live in poverty. SI South Kolkata continues to help children with their Beyond School project. This helps to build the children’s confidence and self esteem. SI Pune Metro East ran a two day workshop to give girls confidence and knowledge as they move from school to the wider world. SI Calcutta’s ‘Hold My Hand’ project also aims to strengthen academic and personal skills for primary children so they remain in school. Recently all 192 UN Member States adopted a
resolution that underscores the fact that education is an essential and integral part of any sustainable post-crisis humanitarian response strategy. SI Newcastle upon Tyne has recognised this fact since 2000 when they made the decision
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28