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2011 News Archive WGEP SENEGAL SCHOLARS SUCCEED ACADEMICALLY
Please join WGEP Sisters-to- School Senegal in celebrating:
Scholars Learn About Development Our Senegal scholars recently visited several small local development organizations. Scholars learned about such topics as safe water treatment, milk sterilization, household income generation, and ways to reduce the impact of environmental factors such as water pollution, plastic waste, and refuse dumping. Scholars will be able to bring what they learned back home to villages where the norm can still be to drink untreated pond water, well water, or unsterilized milk, and to help raise awareness around these topics in their community. WGEP Senegal joins national program for girls' education WGEP Senegal has joined the Support Project for the Education of Girls (PAEF), a national project of the Senegalese Ministry of Education to raise awareness and support for the education of girls in Senegal. The project is being piloted in four regions in Senegal –including the Fatick region where WGEP is based—before being expanded nationwide. Participating in PAEF with major players for education policy in Senegal will allow WGEP to help shape the national conversation on education for girls. Please support Lara Burt in the 2011 Chicago Marathon! Please support Lara Burt of Evanston, Illinois, as she runs in the October 9 Chicago Marathon on behalf of WGEP!  Lara
is a senior at the University of Michigan and a passionate supporter of
women's empowerment and girls' education. She says, "My goal is to
complete my first marathon, and I also want to run the race for an even
greater cause. I believe everyone deserves equal access to an education
in order to create an empowered, confident and self-reliant
community." Last summer, Lara interned with KIWODEA (Kilimanjaro
Women's Development Association) in Tanzania, an organization
that works to empower disadvantaged women and children, and to support
individuals affected by HIV/AIDS. During her time at KIWODEA, Lara
started a program to teach basic computer skills to women in the
program. It was through this experience that Lara developed her passion
for women's empowerment. "While I was there, I learned that many girls do not have the access to the education they need to build a brighter, better future," Lara says. "Through this experience, I became an even stronger believer that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poor health, poverty and hunger." Upon her return to the States, Lara has been seeking out more opportunities to continue the fight for women's rights and education even while she finishes her senior year of college. When she graduates, Lara hopes to move abroad and continue working with global education. To support Lara in the 2011 Chicago Marathon, please visit her Active Giving page by clicking here. Good luck, Lara! NEWS FROM THE FIELD: WGEP SENEGAL 16 Scholars Receive Academic Honors WGEP Senegal congratulates our 16 secondary school scholars who received honors for academic achievement in 2010! Special recognition goes out to Maimouna Diallo, a 10th grader from Sokone High School who received four awards for academic excellence. 2010 Retention Rate at 93% Retention rates for WGEP Senegal scholars reached 93 percent by the end of the 2009-2010 school year. Retention rates this high are rarely seen among girls in rural Senegalese communities due to intense family, social and cultural pressures to prioritize other matters--including early marriage or supporting the family--ahead of school. 79% Pass Rate for Baccalaureate National Exams WGEP scholars who took the 2010 Baccalaureate national exams had a 79 percent passing rate, up from 75 percent in 2009. The Baccalaureate is a notoriously difficult exam that is often used to weed students out of the school system. All of the scholars who failed the exam in 2009 retook the exam in 2010 and passed. 185 Scholars Participate in Female Leadership Mentoring Program In 2010, WGEP Senegal enrolled 185 high school scholars in its Female Leadership Mentoring program, where the girls were able to meet and talk with female role models, many of whom successfully broke into traditionally male-dominated fields. The students got to meet Dr. Marie Sarr, one of the head doctors of the Fatick medical district and had the opportunity to visit Senegal's Goree Island and visit the national Women's Museum there. 300 Scholars Receive Health Training 300 WGEP Senegal scholars and their families participated in our 2010 health training programs, receiving health education on a variety of health topics like sanitation, nutrition and disease prevention. Additionally, the program treated 120 cases of illnesses ranging from earaches to bronchitis, reducing health-related absences from school. NEWS FROM THE FIELD: WGEP KENYA 145 Women Participate in Adult Literacy Classes WGEP Kenya's Adult Literacy program held classes for women in six villages with 145 total attendees. In addition to studying basic literacy and math, the women share ideas and tips for income-generating activities, and for managing family commitments to prioritize study time for their children--especially their daughters. They also collectively vowed to refuse female genital mutilation for their daughters and serve as role models for the empowerment of women. Gatunga Scholars Receive De-wormers In 2010, Gatunga Primary School received health information and de-wormers from a health community workerwith the Ministry of Health, Marimanti Hosptial. Molding Clubs Reach 500 Children WGEP Kenya's "Molding Clubs" program reached 500 boys and girls from eight villages in 2010. This is up from 350 participants and five villages the year before. Molding Clubs provide girls and boys with opportunities to break down gender barriers and work together on community issues important to them. This year Molding Club participants learned and worked together on topics such as health, adolescent well-being, personal relationships, decision-making skills, girls' education, women's rights, and ecological and economic projects such as chicken rearing and tree planting. Vote for WGEP in Oak Park Apartments Charity Drive Oak Park Apartments is celebrating its 25th Anniversary by donating $2,025 to one local Oak Park charity a month for the next six months. Each month from April to September 2011, the charity that receives the most votes wins $2,025. Oak Park Apartments is the largest renter of apartments in Oak Park and Forest Park in suburban Chicago and also manages many local condominium associations. Oak Park is the physical home base of WGEP in the United States. Vote at: http://www.oakparkapartments.com/poll.htm , click "Other" and write in Women's Global Education Project! Join WGEP at the 2011 WBEZ Chicago Public Radio Global Activism Expo Saturday, April 30 2011 @ 12:00pm - 6:00pm FREE Admission Derived from the “Global Activism Series” hosted by Worldview’s
Jerome
McDonnell,
the Global Activism Expo has become WBEZ's largest
event of the year. This remarkable
celebration – complete with music & food – features the gathering
of literally
hundreds of Chicago-area global activists like WGEP and thousands of
Chicagoans interested in making a difference locally and globally.WGEP
has been part of the Global Activism Expo since it was started in 2008.
Doors open at NOON on Saturday and stay open until 6 pm; it’s FREE – so bring your classes, your children, your neighbors, your friends and family. HELP SPREAD THE WORD: download the Global Activism Expo 2011 flyer here.For more information, visit http://www.wbez.org/event/2011-04-30/global-activism-expo-2011. WGEP IMPACT TO DATE: We are making a difference! Thank you for supporting
the mission of Women's Global Education Project to fight global poverty
by educating girls! These recent numbers show that we are making a real
impact:
Thank you for being part of this life-changing work! Sisters-to-School adds 120 new girls to scholarship program Our Sisters-to-School program is now helping more girls than ever before! For the 2010-11 school year, our Senegal and Kenya projects added 120 new girls to their scholarship programs, with 370 total girls now receiving full or partial scholarships to attend school. Specifically, in Senegal we now have 110 girls receiving full scholarships and 160 girls receiving partial scholarships. In Kenya, we now have 60 girls receiving elementary school scholarships and 40 girls receiving secondary school scholarships. To read more about our Sisters-to-School program, click here.  WGEP
Exec. Dir. Amy Maglio receives Chicago Foundation for Women 2011
Impact AwardChicago Foundation for Women honored WGEP Executive Director Amy Maglio with a 2011 Impact Award! Amy is one of 10 local individuals being recognized for making a positive difference for the lives of women and girls locally and globally. The 2011 Impact Awards ceremony was held on Thursday, March 10, 2011, at the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts, 777 N. Green St., Chicago. ABOUT CHICAGO FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN Chicago Foundation for Women raises money to fund and support organizations that help women and girls--it's all about making smarter connections between need, money and solutions. We believe that when women and girls are secure, whole communities are made better. We improve the lives of women and girls through grants, advocacy, leadership development, and public and grantee education. Since 1985, we have given over 2,800 grants totaling more than $18 million and helped thousands of women and girls become philanthropists. We envision a world in which all women and girls have the opportunity to achieve their potential and live in safe, just and healthy communities. Watch CFW's 2011 Impact Awards video featuring Amy and her co-honorees: CLICK HERE. READ MORE ABOUT CHICAGO FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN 2011 IMPACT AWARDS REPORT FROM KENYA: 75 girls say "No!" to genital cutting  Peace
Corps Volunteer and WGEP Intern Hayley Webster (left) spent 10 days in
Tharaka, Kenya in December 2010 with WGEP Kenya, helping to facilitate
the 2010 annual “Circumcision With
Words” Alternative Rite of Passage ceremony. Hayley has been an
intern with WGEP since 2008 and is currently serving as a public health
Peace Corps Volunteer in Kakamega, Western Province, which is about 230
miles from the WGEP site in Tharaka.Alternative Rite of Passage Program to combat female genital mutilation (FGM) The 2010 “Circumcision with Words” Alternative Rite of Passage (ARP) ceremony was attended by 75 girls ranging from Class 3 (3rd grade) students to secondary school students. The participants in our ARP program became involved in the ARP after being WGEP Kenya scholars and through their participation in activities run by WGEP Kenya partner Tharaka Women’s Welfare Programme. Many of the girls in this year’s ARP also have older sisters who have undergone FGM, but after participating in WGEP Kenya programs, these girls decided not to follow in the tradition of their sisters. Three families pulled out their girls at the last minute because they wanted them to be circumcised; TWWP went to visit and talk with the families and succeeded in persuading them to let their girls opt out of circumcision. These girls will participate in the 2011 ARP program. The 5-day ARP program was designed to mimic a traditional circumcision ceremony in which girls are first secluded for several days with other women and girls for the cutting, capped off by a celebration with family and friends at the end of the seclusion. The girls in the ARP were “secluded” for four days of awareness and empowerment workshops. Topics included health awareness, interpersonal relationships, conflict management, and empowerment for women, which were discussed in sessions designed to help girls feel empowered in their decision to forgo FGM and continue with their education, as well as to be empowered in all aspects of life. After the workshops, a formal ceremony was celebrated with family, friends and neighbors with songs, dances and speeches. According to TWWP member and WGEP Project Coordinator Aniceta Kiriga, a significant change in attitudes in the community since TWWP was first founded, with children now taking the initiative to refuse FGM and many men publicly supporting ARP programs. Our program has also inspired two local churches to host anti-FGM projects of their own. The program has seen great success in the immediate area, and TWWP is hoping to replicate the program in the interior of Tharaka, where FGM is still widespread. The Tharaka Women’s Welfare Programme (TWWP) is a local , woman-led community organization that facilitates the WGEP Kenya Sisters-to-School program. TWWP was established in 1995 with the aim of eradicating female genital mutilation in Eastern Province and was the first such program in Kenya. To date, TWWP has helped more than 2,500 girls and their families to say “No!” to female genital mutilation. Drip irrigation, IGAs and sack gardening During her visit to Tharaka, Hayley also worked with TWWP to investigate opportunities within the community for drip irrigation, sack gardening and other income-generating activities (IGA). Drip irrigation can allow farmers to grow crops using a minimal supply of water, which can be especially helpful to families in an area like Tharaka which has been plagued by drought. Sack gardening can help families easily grow additional vegetables to improve nutrition especially during times of drought, famine and failed harvests. Additional income-generating activities, such as developing handmade goods from easily obtainable local materials for tourists/export, can give women an additional source of income for their families. In addition to enhancing the financial stability of local families, these practices can also help keep students, especially girls, in school, since many parents in the area will have their children drop out of school during times of financial hardship or famine so they can assist with providing for the family. The hope is that practices such as drip irrigation, sack gardening and other income-generating activities will help families stay financially stable and allow them to keep their children in school. Many thanks to the Rubens Family Foundation for sponsoring our "Circumcision with Words" program. See photos from the 2010 "Circumcision With Words" program. READ MORE ABOUT WGEP SISTERS-TO-SCHOOL KENYA. WGEP Exec. Dir. Amy Maglio was on 91.5 FM WBEZ Chicago's Worldview! WGEP
Executive Director and former Peace Corps volunteer Amy Maglio was a
guest on 91.5 FM WBEZ Chicago's global affairs show Worldview
last January 27.
The Jan 27 show spent
some time looking back at the legacy of the late Sargent
Shriver, the first director of the U.S. Peace Corps. Amy and other
panelists shared about how their experiences in the Peace Corps
inspired them to pursue careers in humanitarian and social justice
fields. In particular, Amy's Peace Corps experience led her to found
WGEP and work in girls' education.
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST ON WBEZ.ORG
WGEP Senegal reaches out to community The 2010-11 school year is well underway in Fatick, Senegal, and in addition to providing tutoring, health and mentoring support to our scholars, WGEP Senegal is reaching out to the local community to promote and strengthen support for girls’ education in the area, meeting with local government, health and education officials, including the Regional Council of Fatick, the new Inspector of Education for the region, and the Project of Support for the Education of Girls run by the Senegalese Ministry of Education. WGEP Senegal Project Coordinator Adji Senghor also participated in a community round table hosted by the Regional Council of Fatick last November 11, 2010, to mark the National Day of Education for Girls. Adji raised awareness for the importance of helping girls stay in school amidst all of the issues that can pressure girls into dropping out such as early marriage, overreliance on girls for house and farm chores, and preference on boys for education. Community awareness, support and buy-in is key to the success of our scholars in school, which is why it constitutes a major part of our work. READ MORE ABOUT WGEP SISTERS-TO-SCHOOL SENEGAL 2010 News Archive TOP
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