By Kate Schelbe - Executive Director
There’s a lake near my house that I often hike to with my dog. As she chews on sticks near the water’s edge, I toss small rocks into the middle of the clear mountain water and watch ripples radiate out. So it is with girls’ education. Research shows that investing in girls’ education causes a ripple effect that transforms the individual, as well as her family and her community (UNICEF). We generally focus on the epicenter, the positive impact education has on the individual young woman, but it is easy to imagine the ripple effect of each of our students.
When Mareslina was a young girl, a wealthy individual took land away from her friend who was an orphan. This has fueled her drive to become a lawyer. Marselina now studies law at Mwenge Catholic University. She wants to advocate for human rights. Not only will her education increase her lifetime earnings, but her chosen career path will benefit others. Imagine that ripple effect!
Sania is pursuing a bachelors in Social Work at Mwenge Catholic University. As part of her practicum she works in a healthcare office where women and children receive free care. Can you feel the impact of the waves she is making?
Sarafina’s field placement is at Buronge Secondary School in the Kigoma region where she teaches Form I, II, and III biology. The field placement is part of her coursework for a Bachelor's of Education at the University of Dodoma. In her field placement alone, Sarafina has over 100 students. That’s over 100 lives she has already touched, over 100 drops in the bucket of education!
I met Hekima in 2017, her love for education was evident. As one of three females in her class, she demonstrated confidence and leadership skills. In 2020, she passed the national exams and enrolled in high school to study history, geography, and English. Now in 2022, Hekima is balancing the demands of being a student while completing her practicum as a student teacher. As Dr. Jeff Goldstein, an internationally recognized science educator and planetary scientist, states, “A teacher today creates ripples in time that extend to generations yet unborn. Not just impact in the here & now but in the here & forever.” I can’t wait to see the reach of Hekima’s ripples.
As a donor, your ripple effect is extensive. You directly impact these young women’s lives. In turn, they impact the lives of their families, as well as their students and clients. Thank you for making this high-yield investment.
Mareslina reviews her notes in class.
Sania transcribes patients' records at a clinic.