Girls

Lucky. Blessed. Fortunate. One adjective cannot accurately represent the educational freedoms I have experienced as a woman in twenty-first century America. But growing up, I never once thought myself fortunate because my experiences seemed ordinary. Average.

I received the typical public K-12 schooling, used the public library, read voraciously and always kept a diary. My love of English and literature eventually incited my dream of becoming a children's librarian. Through the Running Start program, I tucked two years of undergraduate work under my belt. At Everett Community College, I was even able to receive my Associate's degree by the time I finished high school.

Only average. So I thought.

Average ceased to exist when my sixteen-year old self stepped out of a small plane and onto the tarmac of Chileka International Airport in the land of the flaming waters. That summer, my family participated in a service trip to Blantyre, Malawi. There, the opportunity arose to speak with four girls who were about my age: Caloreen, Elebe, Freely and Rebecca. We talked about their dreams of becoming nurses and teachers, and the difficulties that hindered them from achieving these goals. I saw how earnestly these girls endeavored to stay in school despite the many obstacles. After meeting them, I could no longer take my education for granted when these sisters were struggling to obtain theirs.

Over the years I have acquired various and seemingly disconnected interests in Malawi, poverty, human trafficking, Cambodia, gender issues, etc. But these are all connected by education. And girls.

Today marks the start of the 2011 Girl Effect Blogging Campaign. So here we are.

The Girl Effect is an organization working towards empowering and aiding girls in developing countries. They believe girls can change the world.

 

And I agree. 

According to Girl Effect, "out of the world's 130 million out-of-school youth, 70 percent are girls."* Just think about what all those girls could accomplish if they were fully educated! 

My travel experience has taught me that education is an effective strategy for resolving social justice issues and promoting peace. Girl Effect agrees. Here's what they call the "Ripple Effect":

• Girls in the developing world that have seven or more years of education, will most likely marry  four years later and have 2.2 fewer children.*
• Having an extra year of primary school can raise a girls' future wages by 10 to 20 percent. Another year of secondary school: 15 to 25 percent.*
• There is a relationship between better infant and child health and higher levels of education among their mothers.*

Not only is it a matter of "every girl deserves an education" (which is completely true), but also girls with an education can help make this world a better place. 

I've received my education. I'm here at university paying money to, essentially, read books and talk about them (and we'll get to the English major loveliness later.. I have much to write about). But now it's my turn to give. Use what I've received to help other girls around the world. I suppose you could say that's one my life goals. 

That's why I'm blogging today. To spread the word. 

Check out Girl Effect. Give to them, if you can. For those here in the U.S., don't take your public education for granted. Many are not as fortunate. 

And lastly, invest in girls all around the world. We're where it's at.  

*All facts from Girl Effect Fact Sheet