Here I go, ONCE AGAIN.
I know what you are all thinking but no I’m NOT crazy and no I’m NOT going to single handedly stop Kony. (he is not even in Uganda people!)
I am going back to Africa again because three years ago I left my heart there and now I cant seem to get it back.
People may think it is impossible to make a difference but I know otherwise. To me SUSTAINABLE development, like education, is something that can work- even if it’s a slow process. But it’s still moving forward and that’s better than nothing right? Even aside from that I sometimes like to just look at the little picture first. If I can make a difference in one persons life- change an attitude or teach them something that no one else would have, that maybe changes their life forever- well then that person can go on and change someone else’s life too! It’s all a change reaction…
So exactly why am I going back this year? I’m going to continue what I was only able to start last year with my “I’m Proud to be a Girl” campaign. It started as an idea from a local Ugandan NGO named Wilson who has seen the suffering of the women in his country and needed a girls help to get this campaign going.
Women in Uganda are often looked down upon and are expected to do most of the work in a family. Many work to provide and then come home to collect water from a river or well, cook, clean and look after the children. (Keep in mind all of those tasks are a lot harder when you don’t have electricity.)
For a woman to have a fighting chance at a successful career, and possibility get out of poverty, she needs to go to school. Unfortunately it is expensive and sometimes means giving up your safety to do so.
Male teachers and classmates often abuse female students. Girls feel the need to have a boyfriend in order to be “cool” (sound familiar?) and then aren’t confident enough to say “no” to them. And how could they be when they’ve been told their whole life that they’re not worth it?
They also hear myths through gossip like; “if you don’t have sex before your 18 then you will never be able to bear children.” Or “you can’t get HIV/AIDS if you have sex when you’re not on your period.” These falsities lead down dangerous paths that could be avoided if they knew the truth.
Then there’s the whole problem of periods in general! (and basic health of a woman) They are just not educated on these basic things. They will miss school for a whole week just because they are on their period- that can really set a girl behind and start a vicious cycle.
To these Ugandan women it may seem like the world is against them. They have no one to turn to for advice or even just to feel loved. No wonder they feel they are below men and their confidence lacks…
So what can we do about it? That’s what our campaign asked and then started taking action. We can educate! Both men and women! and for even just a day give girls an opportunity to talk with someone who cares and can answer their questions.
Last year this was our model: (blog post by me in July 2011)
“Can you imagine living somewhere where as a girl you were treated as an object and told you had no worth? Can you imagine wanting an education so badly but being forced to have sex if you wanted to get an "A"? You can't go to school when your on your period, you don't even know what a period is... The list goes on and on!
The young women of Uganda are facing these challenges and more everyday!
After seeing this need I teamed up with a local named Wilson and created the "I'm proud to be a girl" campaign.
My team and I travel around Uganda to high schools where we divide the boys and the girls into different groups and while Wilson teaches the boys we teach the girls. The lesson plan is designed to inspire these girls to know that they are not a mistake and have SO much potential. Wilson works on teaching the boys to have respect for the girls and more.
Our lesson not only talks about confidence but goes over HIV/AIDS, pregnancy, and feminine health. During the lesson it is an open discussion for these girls to ask or say whatever they want! And after the lesson is finished they are invited to come speak one on one with one of the volunteers.
We have had tremendous success with this project in just the few weeks its been going. These girls never have the opportunity to talk about these issues and they are so open with us. It can be discouraging to hear their tragic stories and problems they are having that don't have solutions but they are so happy to have someone who will just listen to them and offer some comfort.
I love hearing the girls yell, "yes!" in agreement to my speech, "We should all have confidence. We don't need a boy to tell us we are beautiful to know that we are! All of us in this room are beautiful and smart and talented. If we know that for ourselves we can walk in confidence no matter who tells us otherwise!"
I am trying to travel to as many schools as I can before I leave but I hope this campaign will continue for years to come.”
That was a great start to the project but this year I want to do even more! I am hoping to start an after school club that will go throughout the whole year, even when I’m not there. It will be a time where all the girls can get together and form a strong support system for each other. Games will be played that encourage confidence and friendship and lessons will be taught. The girls will be able to feel more loved and will be able to learn and grow together, empowering each other and setting goals for the future.
We will still travel from school to school, like we did last year, but hopefully this will establish something that will be a constant help in the girls lives.
So now I need your help. If your proud to be a girl (or proud of girls) and believe every woman should feel the same, then help with the cause and help me get back to Uganda and donate now! Two options: go to http://help-international.org/donate-now and follow the instructions to “invest in a HELP participant.
Or go to http://igg.me/p/82113?a=506803
I will be leaving April 25th 2012 so I don’t have a lot of time, please help me help others.
Thank you to everyone who is always so supportive of what I do, I love you all!
Ps I will also be working with Musana Jewelry again this year as another project that also empowers women
http://musanajewelry.org/
check it out!!!!
I know what you are all thinking but no I’m NOT crazy and no I’m NOT going to single handedly stop Kony. (he is not even in Uganda people!)
I am going back to Africa again because three years ago I left my heart there and now I cant seem to get it back.
People may think it is impossible to make a difference but I know otherwise. To me SUSTAINABLE development, like education, is something that can work- even if it’s a slow process. But it’s still moving forward and that’s better than nothing right? Even aside from that I sometimes like to just look at the little picture first. If I can make a difference in one persons life- change an attitude or teach them something that no one else would have, that maybe changes their life forever- well then that person can go on and change someone else’s life too! It’s all a change reaction…
So exactly why am I going back this year? I’m going to continue what I was only able to start last year with my “I’m Proud to be a Girl” campaign. It started as an idea from a local Ugandan NGO named Wilson who has seen the suffering of the women in his country and needed a girls help to get this campaign going.
Women in Uganda are often looked down upon and are expected to do most of the work in a family. Many work to provide and then come home to collect water from a river or well, cook, clean and look after the children. (Keep in mind all of those tasks are a lot harder when you don’t have electricity.)
For a woman to have a fighting chance at a successful career, and possibility get out of poverty, she needs to go to school. Unfortunately it is expensive and sometimes means giving up your safety to do so.
Male teachers and classmates often abuse female students. Girls feel the need to have a boyfriend in order to be “cool” (sound familiar?) and then aren’t confident enough to say “no” to them. And how could they be when they’ve been told their whole life that they’re not worth it?
They also hear myths through gossip like; “if you don’t have sex before your 18 then you will never be able to bear children.” Or “you can’t get HIV/AIDS if you have sex when you’re not on your period.” These falsities lead down dangerous paths that could be avoided if they knew the truth.
Then there’s the whole problem of periods in general! (and basic health of a woman) They are just not educated on these basic things. They will miss school for a whole week just because they are on their period- that can really set a girl behind and start a vicious cycle.
To these Ugandan women it may seem like the world is against them. They have no one to turn to for advice or even just to feel loved. No wonder they feel they are below men and their confidence lacks…
So what can we do about it? That’s what our campaign asked and then started taking action. We can educate! Both men and women! and for even just a day give girls an opportunity to talk with someone who cares and can answer their questions.
Last year this was our model: (blog post by me in July 2011)
“Can you imagine living somewhere where as a girl you were treated as an object and told you had no worth? Can you imagine wanting an education so badly but being forced to have sex if you wanted to get an "A"? You can't go to school when your on your period, you don't even know what a period is... The list goes on and on!
The young women of Uganda are facing these challenges and more everyday!
After seeing this need I teamed up with a local named Wilson and created the "I'm proud to be a girl" campaign.
My team and I travel around Uganda to high schools where we divide the boys and the girls into different groups and while Wilson teaches the boys we teach the girls. The lesson plan is designed to inspire these girls to know that they are not a mistake and have SO much potential. Wilson works on teaching the boys to have respect for the girls and more.
Our lesson not only talks about confidence but goes over HIV/AIDS, pregnancy, and feminine health. During the lesson it is an open discussion for these girls to ask or say whatever they want! And after the lesson is finished they are invited to come speak one on one with one of the volunteers.
We have had tremendous success with this project in just the few weeks its been going. These girls never have the opportunity to talk about these issues and they are so open with us. It can be discouraging to hear their tragic stories and problems they are having that don't have solutions but they are so happy to have someone who will just listen to them and offer some comfort.
I love hearing the girls yell, "yes!" in agreement to my speech, "We should all have confidence. We don't need a boy to tell us we are beautiful to know that we are! All of us in this room are beautiful and smart and talented. If we know that for ourselves we can walk in confidence no matter who tells us otherwise!"
I am trying to travel to as many schools as I can before I leave but I hope this campaign will continue for years to come.”
That was a great start to the project but this year I want to do even more! I am hoping to start an after school club that will go throughout the whole year, even when I’m not there. It will be a time where all the girls can get together and form a strong support system for each other. Games will be played that encourage confidence and friendship and lessons will be taught. The girls will be able to feel more loved and will be able to learn and grow together, empowering each other and setting goals for the future.
We will still travel from school to school, like we did last year, but hopefully this will establish something that will be a constant help in the girls lives.
So now I need your help. If your proud to be a girl (or proud of girls) and believe every woman should feel the same, then help with the cause and help me get back to Uganda and donate now! Two options: go to http://help-international.org/donate-now and follow the instructions to “invest in a HELP participant.
Or go to http://igg.me/p/82113?a=506803
I will be leaving April 25th 2012 so I don’t have a lot of time, please help me help others.
Thank you to everyone who is always so supportive of what I do, I love you all!
Ps I will also be working with Musana Jewelry again this year as another project that also empowers women
http://musanajewelry.org/
check it out!!!!
I know exactly how you feel. I totally left my heart in Africa. I hope the project goes well. I think it is such a worth while goal. Good Luck!!
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