Why The Tahirih Association educates girls . . .
FACTS:
 |
Education increases women's status and decision-making power. Women with
6-10 years of education are 47% more likely to make decisions about
resources than women with little or no education. |
|
Investing in girls' education reduces poverty and expands women's economic
opportunities. |
|
Educated women tend to invest their earnings in child well-being which
reduces poverty for the next generation. |
|
Researchers observed that education changes a girl and her life. It
results in later marriage, fewer children, and improved knowledge of child
health care. |
|
Between 1985 and 1997 there were declines of girls' enrollment in secondary education in: - 11 out of 33 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa - 7 out of 11 countries in Central and Western Asia - 6 out of 26 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean - 6 out of 9 countries in Eastern Europe |
|
Only 8 countries have achieved a level of 30% of women's share of seats in parliament: Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland,
The Netherlands, Germany, and South Africa. |
|
Only 4 countries have simultaneously achieved gender equality in secondary education (95% or above); and achieved 30% female share of seats in parliament; and 50% women's share of paid employment in industry and services: Sweden, Denmark, Finland,
and Norway. |
|
Improving economic literacy of women leads to equitable economic governance. |
|
Education is the #1 means of pulling people out of poverty. |
 |
Shelly
Ngubene, South Africa Seventeen year-old Shelly Ngubene lives in Mamelodi, the third largest township in South Africa. Shelly lives in this brightly painted house with no plumbing, kitchen or bathroom. She lives with mother, father, two brothers, sister, nieces and nephews. Education is the key for women to rise above poverty in South Africa, which boasts more educational facilities than any other country in Africa (81 universities and 153 technical colleges) but with a population of 40 million, most are too poor to afford school and education remains elusive. Shelly’s parents are struggling to educate their children. Shelly is a talented performer who initiated a Sunday school reading class for younger children which has grown into an organized activity for the entire community. Shelly aspires to be an accountant. Her college costs are $1,000 per year. |
 |
Luisa
Maria Garcia, Honduras Luisa-Maria Garcia Madrid is 16 years old and lives in the city of Santa Rosa de Copan, in the western part of Honduras. Luisa-Maria lives with her mother and two sisters, ages 23 and 4 years old. Although her family has limited resources, this family of all females possess highly ingrained moral and spiritual values. Luisa-Maria has always maintained an excellent grade average of over of 90%, taking theoretical courses on the mechanics of calculation even though her school didn’t have computers. This mature and selfless young woman is also sensitive to the needs of others. She visits a home for the elderly as well as the pediatric ward of the public hospital, taking food, games and decorating their rooms. She is also involved in many community activities which include a community reforestation project that planted 15,000 trees. She also represented her class in her State Science Olympics, winning first place in mathematics. Luisa-Maria wants to become an engineer in Computer Science, which is not offered by the national public university but only in private colleges whose fees are $4,500 per year. This scholarship will help Luisa-Maria study the career she has chosen rather than having to choose another career because of lack of financial means. She will also be able to finish her career sooner, and therefore will be able to become socially useful and financially independent. This is a great achievement for a young woman in a developing country. |
 |
Pte
San Hinapa Win Poor Bear, Lakota/Oglala Nation Pte Saw Hinapa Win Poor Bear, 23 years old, was born White Buffalo Calf Woman on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. She is one is one 8 children who is lovingly called “Babe.” Her reservation is located in the poorest county in the United States. Growing up on a reservation has provided Babe many hardships which have taught her strength and perserverance. Babe practices the Lakota way of life, believing that “the Creator's gift to you is your life - what you do with your life is your gift to Creator.” Babe is a full-time college student who also works with autistic children 25 to 30 hours a week. She is a single parent who is looking forward to attending the University of Southern Colorado where she will finish college with her MBA in business. Then she will attend law school. Babe believes that if she can succeed in business, and create economic development opportunity for her people. She says she wants to do something for the betterment of her people. Babe told us that when she heard she won this scholarship she was excited and overwhelmingly honored . She explained that the Tahirih scholarship has made her feel so special that she is now committed to live in the spirit of Tahirih and become a role model to others. We think she is already is! |
| Cheng
“Coco” Xinglian, China Cheng Xinglian, better known as “Coco” to her friends, is 23 years old and lives in Yangjiang City, Guangdong Province. She is a professional educator who wants to advance her education in psychology. On weekends she goes to her village to help children with their English, and on nights she attends a gathering called the English Corner. Here she studies English and practices reading, writing and speaking English so she’ll be able to communicate when she comes to America to study one day. This is her dream. Coco believes that this will help her to help her country. Her parents are proud of her, and she is happy that they respect her opinions. Among those opinions is that every family member should be equal to express themselves. She loves her parents very much for the support they give her. She has no siblings, which is the standard in China since citizens there are only allowed to have one child per couple. Coco explained to us that women's education in China is better than before, and that many girls in the developed areas of the country can now get a college diploma. But girls in the villages still remain illiterate. This is why she believes so strongly that she must teach them literacy in Chinese and English. Her continuing education will cost $973 each year. |
 |
 |
Tjireya Tjitendero, Republic of Namibia
|
Susan on the Left and Marlen on the right |
Susan Carney |
| Marline McCurtis
She conceived the idea of turning the "Wednesdays" story into a documentary after reading an article about the project in the NAACP Crisis Magazine. She has over 20 years of documentary production experience. She worked as a producer/writer at Arnold Shapiro Productions for 10 years. There she produced several documentaries including the award winning film "Hidden Victims: Children of Domestic Violence". Recently, she has directed and written for the Discovery Channel ™ documentary series "Adoption Stories" and for the Peabody awarding winning PBS educational show "A Place of Our/Los Ninos en Su Casa". |
Susan on the Left and Marlen on the right |
|
Cathee Weiss |
photo not available |
| photo not available | Joy Slivermen She is a Presenter and Producer of nationally recognized cultural programs in the arts, education, and for television. She was the Executive Director of Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions(LACE); founder of onramp@sunset a community computer access center for at risk youth and artists and the Co-Founder and Director of the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression. She has served on many grant making panels, exhibition selection panels, Boards and committees of local, state and national organizations such as the National Endowment for the Arts, LA Mayor's Blue Ribbon Committee Task Force for the Arts, J.Paul Getty Fund for Visual Arts, National Association of Artist's Organizations. |
 |
Kate Murphy When Kate Murphy approached the Tahirih Associtaion for help, she had just lost her job as well as a long standing marriage. She was 61 years old and unsure about what direction her life would take. She had always given to her community and was selfless in her service to others. She knew that she wanted to continue her service work but recognized that it would require further education. She turned to the Tahirih Association. After explaining her circumstances and plans for higher education the Tahirih Association granted her scholership to get her on her way. Kate worked hard while studing managing a mobile home park for seniors, forming a women's quartet that performed through out Los Angeles, and teaching piano to children. Two years latter completed a Masters Degree in Counseling from Holme Institute in Los Angeles With her new education Kate began working as the Coordinator of a 12-Step Program for prisoners at a medium security federal prison on Terminal Island in Long Beach. Kate's enthusiasm quickly led to another opportunity in New Orlean ( before Hurrican Katrina devestate the area). There, Kate realized her passion to provide the less fortunate woman. Kate says she lives her life knowing that "each of us is whole, perfect and complete just as we are". |
| Gay Brazil She has always fought for equal rights as well as human rights. At 70 years old she promotes social change throught out the world. Now retired in the county of Los Angeles Social Services Department, she continues to with the work she did when she administered programs for Angeleno women of domestic abuse Gya was determined to continue to make a difference, but new she would need to complete her Masters Degree in Counseling from Holme Institute in Los Angeles. The Tahirih Association strongly believed that a person such as Gya, who had given life-long service to so many, deserved at least the small contribution we could make helping her attain a higher education. We wanted to recognize Gya not only becuase she was a woman dedicated to further education, but becuase she was a mature women in distress. She had given direction and guidence to countless women and children who faced a future of uncertainty. Gya was tireless in her support and attention given to women who had been batterd by their husbands. The Tahirih Association felt strongly that we should acknowledge such a deserving and admirable woman elder whose contribution to helping others had gone unrewarded for so long. |
photo not available |