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TAHIRIH SCHOLARSHIPS |
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Why The Tahirih Association educates girls . . .
FACTS:
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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.
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Investing in girls' education reduces poverty and expands women's economic
opportunities.
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Educated women tend to invest their earnings in child well-being which
reduces poverty for the next generation.
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Researchers observed that education changes a girl and her life. It
results in later marriage, fewer children, and improved knowledge of child
health care.
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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
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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.
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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.
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Improving economic literacy of women leads to equitable economic governance.
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Education is the #1 means of pulling people out of poverty. |
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TEACH A GIRL, CHANGE THE WORLD Program |
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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. |
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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. |
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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! |
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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.
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Tjireya Tjitendero, Republic of Namibia
Tjireya Tjitendero is 19 years old, and has achieved some
of the highest test scores ever recorded in Namibia,
where most women rarely receive a formal education beyond primary
school. Those who do, are not encouraged to pursue mathematics or
science. Tjireya wants to make history by breaking barriers
in the science profession for African women. She has been pursuing
her Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Engineering. Her ultimate
goal is to work in her own country in the field of Sustainable Development
with an emphasis on ecology and water conservation. Namibia faces
major challenges with droughts, hunger and AIDS. Tjireya is the
last born of a large family with a house full of relatives and other
dependents. Her parents recently became guardians of 7 more children.
Tjireya considers herself a social butterfly, and loves socializing
and dancing, and is an active member of a performing arts workshop.
In September she begins classes in Environmental Engineering and
will complete her studies in the United States. Her education will
cost $28,000. Tjireya wrote us this letter: “I am extremely thankful
to be a recipient if the Tahirih Scholarship. Through your endeavors,
and the words, actions, and courage of the example of Tahirih, you
are bringing young women like myself into our rightful place of
this global society. One day I hope to make a lasting contribution
to our world. It will be thanks to the Tahirih Association when
I do. I will be able to say that I stood on the shoulders of giants.”
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Susan on the Left and Marlen on the right
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Susan Carney
She directed numerous TV documentaries including; "The Children
Are Watching", for PBS, and "Betrayal: The Truth About
Acquaintance Rape" for MSNBC. Susan is currently producing
documentary series for Court TV, MSNBC and Discovery Channel. She
has also worked very closely with Marlene McCurtis as a director
and producer on several projects including, "Hidden Victims:
Children of Domestic Violence" and "Adoption Story". |
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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 |
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Cathee Weiss
She has produced of numerous award-winning television specials for
ABC/Disneyland the Harvard School of Education. She also managed
the non-fiction division of Mozark Productions where she oversaw
and collaborated on numerous nationally recognized political films,
including the 1992 and 1996 National Democratic Convention films,
"The Man From Hope". Cathee has also produced pieces for
KCET award-winning show, "California
Connected".
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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. |
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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".
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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.
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