This is Malala Yusufzia, a very courageous 15 year old Pakistan campaigner and peace activist whose only crime was to speak out against the destruction of girls schools in Pakistan and to advocate for the rights of girls and women to be educated. On October 9th while on a school bus Malala was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman to silence her voice. Today Malala is recovering in a UK hospital and the world has become aware of the plight of women and girls around the world whose voices haven't been heard.
I know first hand about those girls and women in the developing world who do not have access to education. In many countries boys are the first to be educated in their families, yet it is girls turned women who really support their families financially. In Kenya primary education is provided by the government but secondary education is not. If your family has funds then as a girl (and even boys) you might be able to attend school, but if your family runs out of money in second term, you stay home until funds can be acquired. This means that education is not consistent or that you may never go to secondary school. Then a girl might be relegated to a life working as a housegirl and perhaps even getting pregnant and having to tend a family of their own, even though they might still be a teenager. The propsects are not bright for these girls.
When I was in Wongonyi Village, Kenya this June I met with the members of our Sere Girls Club and they told me of their daily challenges with regards to schooling. Even for these girls who are in school, life is not easy as often it is a long walk to school (sometimes 1-2 hours each way) and then at night when they get home they have chores to do (get firewood, make the evening meals, clean the utensils, feed the livestock and perhaps put younger siblings to bed) before they can get to their own homework studies.
To this end we support education scholarships that keep girls in school so they can have the prospect of a brighter future and we supply resources like IKEA solar desk lamps that we are giving to girls so they can study at night without having problems like eye strain and respiratory illness that results from using paraffin lamps. Here Emily and her brother receive an IKEA solar desk light that provides 4-5 hours of light at night.
Abigail, an alibino girl is considered by her uncle with whom she lives to be cursed and he refuses to pay for her secondary school fees. Thanks to caring donors in Muskoka Abigail is able to attend Allan Mjomba Secondary School and pursue her dreams.
We urge you to think about Malala and all the girls and women of the world who are being denied and education or have challenges in accessing educational resources. Here in the West education is considered a right for all and so it should be around the world. We all have the right to an education so girls and women are not kept in positions of oppression but instead can be the best they can be - the bright new leaders of the world. Do what you can to support educational programs for girls!
And sign the petition currently being circulated to nominate Malala for the Nobel Peace Prize. Do not let her voice and the voice of millions of girls across the globe be silenced!
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