The Pakistan Project
We provide scholarships to 30 Secondary School girls from the villages of Sar Kalan and Laphi so they can travel to another village where there is a secondary school for girls. Support Rifat, Gulzar, Farzana, and the other girls today by clicking on this banner’s title!
Read MoreBoulder Athlete Raises Money by Running Boston Marathon
Caolan MacMahon is running the Boston Marathon this weekend and is raising money for Girls Ed. We just wanted to extend our best wishes to Caolan and thank her again for supporting Girls Ed! Watch out for an interview with Caolan later this month. You can still donate to her First Giving fundraising campaign!
Read MoreVeronica goes to Nursing School!
Liberian student, Veronica, is the only one in her family to go to school, but the costs were still too high for her family’s budget. When her brother died and her father lost his job, she faced an uncertain future. Veronica approached her principal for help, who connected her with Girls Ed. With a GEI scholarship and living stipend, Veronica can continue her passion for school, while also living in an area that allows her to focus on her studies. The devoted student loves learning and is forever expressing her gratitude for her scholarship, “I am so appreciative, I would not be able to...
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“Just A Couple Of Climbers” – The History of Girls Education International
Craig Muderlak captured the history of Girls Education International in this short film fall 2011. He interviewed Heidi & Lizzy explaining how and why they started this 6-year-old nonprofit among the cliffs of Eldorado Canyon, Colorado. Lizzy in front of the Ogre’s Thumb just before their unsuccessful attempt to climb it Mountains off the Biafo Glacier Lizzy Scully & Heidi Wirtz, founders of Girls Education International Farzana went to the boys’ school...
Read MoreThank you for the Support!
Girls Education International’s film screening of “A SMALL ACT” drew a small, but enthusiastic and generous crowd. We want to thank ALL of our sponsors, especially Bhakti Chai, The North Face, Brunton/Primus, Davies Creative Photography, FasCat Coaching, Boom Yogurt Bar & Boldface Design Group, Inc. We’re returning the ‘shout out’ favor with a spotlight on Bhakti Chai. If you haven’t heard about Bhakti Chai – learn more here: Bhakti [Sanskrit] means Devotion through Social Action and we are devoted to sustainable practices, socially...
Read MoreMad Tour = Big Success!
Professional rock climber Madaleine Sorkin’s multi-media slide show tour across the Midwest and East Coast earlier this summer was a huge success raising $2,700! The climbing community turned out in force to hear about Madaleine’s climbing adventures and to support Girls Education International. Several thousands of dollars were raised to continue our programs in Liberia and Pakistan. A huge thank you to everyone who donated, the awesome sponsors, and to Madaleine and Lizzy Scully! Join us this October 12th in Boulder for our screening of “A Small Act,” a film about...
Read MoreA Man with a Vision Educates a Village
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...
Read MoreDC-area Climber Organizations to Host The MAD Tour, a fund-raiser for Girls Ed
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...
Read MoreZofishan – Delighted to Attend School
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...
Read MoreWelcome Steve Murchie to the Girls Education International Board of Directors!
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,...
Read MoreGlobalGiving Matching Funds Opportunity for Girls Ed on Wednesday, March 16th!
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...
Read MoreClinton Global Initiative Acknowledges Education
Exciting news for girls across the globe. It is now widely acknowledged that education, particularly of women, is the single most important key in pulling communities out of poverty. Recently the Clinton Global Initiative acknowledges the importance of education in this video presentation. Featured: Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State, United States of America Lisa Jackson, Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Katie Couric, Anchor and Managing Editor, CBS Evening News Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of...
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Welcome Mary Ann Williamson to the Board
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...
Read MoreGlobal Giving Open Challenge Results
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...
Read MoreLeaving the Fields to Follow Her Dream – Riffat’s Story
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,...
Read MoreGEI and the GlobalGiving Open Challenge
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...
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Welcome Our Newest GEI Board Member!
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...
Read MoreSend a Girl Back to School
This back-to-school season, help Girls Education International send a girl to school in Pakistan or Liberia. An often-overlooked solution to peace and poverty is as simple as books, teachers and opportunity. The vast importance of girls’ education has never been as understood and valued as it is now. According to former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, “When women thrive, all of society benefits, and succeeding generations are given a better start in life.” For many, the popular book “Three Cups of Tea” brought to light to the imbalance in, and...
Read MoreFozia rejoins her school & other news in Pakistan
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...
Read MoreHigh schoolers raise money for Girls Ed project in Liberia
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...
Read More$820 raised at IMCD Women’s Rock Weekend.
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 MoreHeidi & Lizzy off to New Hampshire for Women’s Rock Weekend & fundraising event
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...
Read More40th Anniversary, May 2010 issue of Climbing Magazine Features Heidi Wirtz and GEI
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...
Read MoreCycling Across China for Girls Education International
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...
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