“We know that educating girls is the smartest investment of our time. When girls are educated, communities thrive and economies grow. Yet 62 million girls are missing from classrooms worldwide, and tremendous opportunities are lost.
My passion for Poetry for social change and the subsequent birth of Womensvoice1 initially stemmed from my firm belief that a world where more women have a voice would be a very different world.
When Malala was shot by the Taliban in 2012, I wrote a poem Dedicated to Malala, featured on its own page of my blog.
Malala’s bravery and determination to continue with her own education, as well as encourage other girls, despite death threats by the suppressive Taliban regime, was an inspiration to all with a huge Domino effect across the world.
The Malala fund was born, the film Girl Rising was created , conceptualizing the Let girls Learn initiative, and now spawning a new movie about the importance of girls education, called We will Rise.
Michelle Obama’s Mission to Educate Girls Around the World has prompted this new film by CNN.
It is about girls overcoming unfathomable obstacles to achieve their education, and change their lives.
The Documentary Group, which produced CNN’s ‘Girl Rising,’ also produced this one-hour film called WE Will Rise.
The film includes contributions from Michelle Obama, Meryl Streep, Frieda Pinto, and CNN journalist Isha Sesay. The musical theme for the film is “Rise up” written by Andra Day.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“You're broken down and tired
Of living life on a merry-go-round
And you can't find the fighter
But I see it in you so we gonna walk it out
And move mountains
We gonna walk it out
And move mountains
And I'll rise up
I'll rise like the day
I'll rise up
I'll rise unafraid
I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousand times again
And I'll rise up
High like the waves
I'll rise up
In spite of the ache
I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousand times again
For you
When the silence isn't quiet
And it feels like it's getting hard to breathe
And I know you feel like dying
But I promise we'll take the world to its feet
And move mountains
Bring it to its feet
And move mountains
And I'll rise up
I'll rise like the day
I'll rise up
I'll rise unafraid
I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousand times a day
For You”
by Andra Day.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Let Girls Learn is a United States government initiative to ensure adolescent girls get an education. Around the world, young and adolescent girls face many obstacles to an education. Some are forbidden by their "religious" doctrine, such as the Taliban; some are forbidden by certain African Tribal leaders who feel threatened by the prospect of girls learning to read, and their potential to become community leaders. The role of women in many cultures is limited to water bearing, housekeeping, cooking, child bearing and even slavery. Women and girls are responsible for fetching water in many tribal and rural communities, and the long arduous days they face do not allow them the time or the opportunity to go to school. Remote villages and towns where the main source of family income is hard labor often lack schools, and families lack the resources to pay for academic study. Accessing and paying for an education is often affected by complex physical, cultural and financial barriers. Girls are often forced to marry before they have even reached puberty, and many migrate into prostitution to help feed themselves and their family.
"Although the Taliban claims that it acts in the best interests of women, it has cruelly reduced women and girls to poverty, worsened their health, and deprived them of their right to an education..
Since 1998, Girls over the age of eight have been prohibited by the Taliban from attending school. The Taliban jailed and then deported a female foreign aid worker who had promoted home-based work for women and home schools for girls. The Taliban also prohibited women from studying at Kabul University. The Taliban's version of Islam is not supported by the world's Muslims. The Taliban is out of step with the Muslim world and with Islam."
The Taliban’s war against women: http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/6185.htm
Michelle Obama has spoken out about the importance of education for girls, and has dedicated her future to the cause.
An investment in girls’ education yields the best return in the developing world; for each additional year of primary school a girl attends, her future earnings increase by 10-20%. And the return is even higher for secondary school – 15-25%. Educating girls doesn’t just benefit families, it helps the economy. When educated women join the workforce, productivity goes up and GDP increases.
(https://worldschildren.org)
Quoting Unesco.org, these statistics show the benefits of a primary and secondary education in women, worldwide:
“Educated women are less likely to die in childbirth, saving 98,000 lives. In sub-Saharan Africa, if all women completed primary education, maternal deaths would be reduced by 70%, saving almost 50,000 lives. Educating girls can save millions of lives: If all women had a primary education, there would be 15% fewer child deaths. If all women had a secondary education, child deaths would be cut in half, saving 3 million lives. Mothers’ education improves child nutrition. If all women had a primary education, 1.7 million children would be saved from stunting from malnutrition. If all women had a secondary education, 12 million children would be saved from stunting from malnutrition Girls with higher levels of education are less likely to have children at an early age 10% fewer girls would become pregnant under 17 years in sub-Saharan Africa and South and West Asia if they all had a primary education Almost 60% fewer girls would become pregnant under 17 years in sub-Saharan Africa and South and West Asia if they all had a secondary education. Educating girls is a key factor in hastening the demographic transition to lower birth rates. Girls with higher levels of education are less likely to get married at an early age If all girls had a primary education, there would be 14% fewer child marriages If all girls had a secondary education, there would be two-thirds fewer child marriages Education narrows pay gaps between men and women In Pakistan, women with a primary education earn 51% what men earn. With a secondary education, they earn 70% what men earn In Jordan, women with a primary education earn 53% what men earn. With a secondary education, they earn 67% what men earn. Educated women are more likely to find work. In Brazil, only 37% of women with less than primary education are in work. This rises to 50% if they have a primary education”
Statistics taken from http://unesco.org
Girls Not Brides is a global partnership of more than 600 civil society organizations from over 80 countries committed to ending child marriage and enabling girls to fulfil their potential. http://www.girlsnotbrides.org/about-girls-not-brides/
The First Lady, Michelle Obama claims that even though she never imagined as a child that she would become the First Lady of the United States, her own struggles to obtain a good education afforded her an eventual significant voice that she can use to benefit others.
“Education opened so many doors and gave me the confidence to pursue my ambitions and have a voice in the world.
For me, education was power.”
Michelle Obama
Mrs. Obama goes on to say,
“That's why I decided to work on global girls' education as first lady: because right now, there are tens of millions of girls like Malala in every corner of the globe who are not in school -- girls who are so bright, hardworking and hungry to learn. And that's really the mission of the Let Girls Learn initiative we launched last year: It's a global effort to give these girls the education they need to fulfill their potential and lift up their families, communities and countries.”
“We know from statistics that educating girls can transform lives, families, communities, and entire countries. When girls are educated, they lead healthier and more productive lives. They gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence to break the cycle of poverty and help strengthen their societies. It’s time to Let Girls Learn.”
Let Girls Learn initiative https://letgirlslearn.gov/
When Malala was shot by the Taliban in 2012, I wrote a poem Dedicated to Malala, featured on its own page of my blog.
Malala’s bravery and determination to continue with her own education, as well as encourage other girls, despite death threats by the suppressive Taliban regime, was an inspiration to all with a huge Domino effect across the world.
The Malala fund was born, the film Girl Rising was created , conceptualizing the Let girls Learn initiative, and now spawning a new movie about the importance of girls education, called We will Rise.
Michelle Obama’s Mission to Educate Girls Around the World has prompted this new film by CNN.
It is about girls overcoming unfathomable obstacles to achieve their education, and change their lives.
The Documentary Group, which produced CNN’s ‘Girl Rising,’ also produced this one-hour film called WE Will Rise.
The film includes contributions from Michelle Obama, Meryl Streep, Frieda Pinto, and CNN journalist Isha Sesay. The musical theme for the film is “Rise up” written by Andra Day.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“You're broken down and tired
Of living life on a merry-go-round
And you can't find the fighter
But I see it in you so we gonna walk it out
And move mountains
We gonna walk it out
And move mountains
And I'll rise up
I'll rise like the day
I'll rise up
I'll rise unafraid
I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousand times again
And I'll rise up
High like the waves
I'll rise up
In spite of the ache
I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousand times again
For you
When the silence isn't quiet
And it feels like it's getting hard to breathe
And I know you feel like dying
But I promise we'll take the world to its feet
And move mountains
Bring it to its feet
And move mountains
And I'll rise up
I'll rise like the day
I'll rise up
I'll rise unafraid
I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousand times a day
For You”
by Andra Day.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Let Girls Learn is a United States government initiative to ensure adolescent girls get an education. Around the world, young and adolescent girls face many obstacles to an education. Some are forbidden by their "religious" doctrine, such as the Taliban; some are forbidden by certain African Tribal leaders who feel threatened by the prospect of girls learning to read, and their potential to become community leaders. The role of women in many cultures is limited to water bearing, housekeeping, cooking, child bearing and even slavery. Women and girls are responsible for fetching water in many tribal and rural communities, and the long arduous days they face do not allow them the time or the opportunity to go to school. Remote villages and towns where the main source of family income is hard labor often lack schools, and families lack the resources to pay for academic study. Accessing and paying for an education is often affected by complex physical, cultural and financial barriers. Girls are often forced to marry before they have even reached puberty, and many migrate into prostitution to help feed themselves and their family.
"Although the Taliban claims that it acts in the best interests of women, it has cruelly reduced women and girls to poverty, worsened their health, and deprived them of their right to an education..
Since 1998, Girls over the age of eight have been prohibited by the Taliban from attending school. The Taliban jailed and then deported a female foreign aid worker who had promoted home-based work for women and home schools for girls. The Taliban also prohibited women from studying at Kabul University. The Taliban's version of Islam is not supported by the world's Muslims. The Taliban is out of step with the Muslim world and with Islam."
The Taliban’s war against women: http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/6185.htm
Michelle Obama has spoken out about the importance of education for girls, and has dedicated her future to the cause.
An investment in girls’ education yields the best return in the developing world; for each additional year of primary school a girl attends, her future earnings increase by 10-20%. And the return is even higher for secondary school – 15-25%. Educating girls doesn’t just benefit families, it helps the economy. When educated women join the workforce, productivity goes up and GDP increases.
(https://worldschildren.org)
Quoting Unesco.org, these statistics show the benefits of a primary and secondary education in women, worldwide:
“Educated women are less likely to die in childbirth, saving 98,000 lives. In sub-Saharan Africa, if all women completed primary education, maternal deaths would be reduced by 70%, saving almost 50,000 lives. Educating girls can save millions of lives: If all women had a primary education, there would be 15% fewer child deaths. If all women had a secondary education, child deaths would be cut in half, saving 3 million lives. Mothers’ education improves child nutrition. If all women had a primary education, 1.7 million children would be saved from stunting from malnutrition. If all women had a secondary education, 12 million children would be saved from stunting from malnutrition Girls with higher levels of education are less likely to have children at an early age 10% fewer girls would become pregnant under 17 years in sub-Saharan Africa and South and West Asia if they all had a primary education Almost 60% fewer girls would become pregnant under 17 years in sub-Saharan Africa and South and West Asia if they all had a secondary education. Educating girls is a key factor in hastening the demographic transition to lower birth rates. Girls with higher levels of education are less likely to get married at an early age If all girls had a primary education, there would be 14% fewer child marriages If all girls had a secondary education, there would be two-thirds fewer child marriages Education narrows pay gaps between men and women In Pakistan, women with a primary education earn 51% what men earn. With a secondary education, they earn 70% what men earn In Jordan, women with a primary education earn 53% what men earn. With a secondary education, they earn 67% what men earn. Educated women are more likely to find work. In Brazil, only 37% of women with less than primary education are in work. This rises to 50% if they have a primary education”
Statistics taken from http://unesco.org
Girls Not Brides is a global partnership of more than 600 civil society organizations from over 80 countries committed to ending child marriage and enabling girls to fulfil their potential. http://www.girlsnotbrides.org/about-girls-not-brides/
The First Lady, Michelle Obama claims that even though she never imagined as a child that she would become the First Lady of the United States, her own struggles to obtain a good education afforded her an eventual significant voice that she can use to benefit others.
“Education opened so many doors and gave me the confidence to pursue my ambitions and have a voice in the world.
For me, education was power.”
Michelle Obama
Mrs. Obama goes on to say,
“That's why I decided to work on global girls' education as first lady: because right now, there are tens of millions of girls like Malala in every corner of the globe who are not in school -- girls who are so bright, hardworking and hungry to learn. And that's really the mission of the Let Girls Learn initiative we launched last year: It's a global effort to give these girls the education they need to fulfill their potential and lift up their families, communities and countries.”
“We know from statistics that educating girls can transform lives, families, communities, and entire countries. When girls are educated, they lead healthier and more productive lives. They gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence to break the cycle of poverty and help strengthen their societies. It’s time to Let Girls Learn.”
Let Girls Learn initiative https://letgirlslearn.gov/
And now for my own poem, composed after watching the film Girl's Rising.
I found it a powerful and moving documentary about contemporary young girls who are striving to rise in their own worlds, and become free of the bondages of poverty or cultural shackles, to become educated and self actualized.
It is a moving film that everyone should watch, and all proceeds go towards educational initiatives.
For Senna, by Susan Golden
Trudging through toxic mud
that sludges over frozen rock
jagged with the dark grey mountainside
burdened with muted pain
She tumbles into mud holes filled with the poorest but bravest hearts
Her father slowly gasping his last breath
midst eighty thousand swarming bodies in the mines
Sweat soaked
for one small fleck of golden glitter
The black heralds of death fold their wings around
and suck him under the mountain
leaving her stranded
Stunned
unable to move
Slowly
she reaches deep down into her own heart
to discover a cache of buried gems
Pearls of poetic expression
Citrines of courage
Diamonds of determination
Her tongue becomes a sword of tempered words
Sparked by the blow of the pick axe on hard rock
Cutting like finest steel through the railway tracks
to switch the course of life and join the education train
I can do this!
I Will rise, she cries!
Child of the dump
Hunting in the rot
Daydreaming of the alphabet
Blooming like a flower without water
in a sea of dry sand
Skipping through life
Holding on to hope
Images in her head
of wonder
what could be
Her future painted with colors
festooning grey skies
Another unlucky girl
bonded to her master
begins to sing
so that others can break loose
the bonds of slavery
Cycling to break the cycle
Turning heads to turn tradition
A new perspective
New angles in a Yang dominated world
Breaking their ride at each domicile
The power of educated persuasion
over blind belief
An early morning marriage
Aged 13
Trapped in a blue embroidered cage
Forcibly split by the heavy piston of penetrating dogma
Fearing for her life
yet fueling the force of change
like a thousand rivers birthing through her womb
turning ugliness into art
darkness into light
fear into will
until that shroud of blue
once masked and muted
begins to break song
like a nightingale for all to hear
a song that pierces the darkest night
and wakens the deepest sleep
I know I can
I know I can rise!
She hears the rhythm of the train
As it gathers momentum
And the roar of the train becomes deafening and irresistible
Education becomes her POWER
The train picks up speed
POWER can change the world.
I will Rise
She will rise
They WILL rise!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Poem written by Womensvoice1
I found it a powerful and moving documentary about contemporary young girls who are striving to rise in their own worlds, and become free of the bondages of poverty or cultural shackles, to become educated and self actualized.
It is a moving film that everyone should watch, and all proceeds go towards educational initiatives.
For Senna, by Susan Golden
Trudging through toxic mud
that sludges over frozen rock
jagged with the dark grey mountainside
burdened with muted pain
She tumbles into mud holes filled with the poorest but bravest hearts
Her father slowly gasping his last breath
midst eighty thousand swarming bodies in the mines
Sweat soaked
for one small fleck of golden glitter
The black heralds of death fold their wings around
and suck him under the mountain
leaving her stranded
Stunned
unable to move
Slowly
she reaches deep down into her own heart
to discover a cache of buried gems
Pearls of poetic expression
Citrines of courage
Diamonds of determination
Her tongue becomes a sword of tempered words
Sparked by the blow of the pick axe on hard rock
Cutting like finest steel through the railway tracks
to switch the course of life and join the education train
I can do this!
I Will rise, she cries!
Child of the dump
Hunting in the rot
Daydreaming of the alphabet
Blooming like a flower without water
in a sea of dry sand
Skipping through life
Holding on to hope
Images in her head
of wonder
what could be
Her future painted with colors
festooning grey skies
Another unlucky girl
bonded to her master
begins to sing
so that others can break loose
the bonds of slavery
Cycling to break the cycle
Turning heads to turn tradition
A new perspective
New angles in a Yang dominated world
Breaking their ride at each domicile
The power of educated persuasion
over blind belief
An early morning marriage
Aged 13
Trapped in a blue embroidered cage
Forcibly split by the heavy piston of penetrating dogma
Fearing for her life
yet fueling the force of change
like a thousand rivers birthing through her womb
turning ugliness into art
darkness into light
fear into will
until that shroud of blue
once masked and muted
begins to break song
like a nightingale for all to hear
a song that pierces the darkest night
and wakens the deepest sleep
I know I can
I know I can rise!
She hears the rhythm of the train
As it gathers momentum
And the roar of the train becomes deafening and irresistible
Education becomes her POWER
The train picks up speed
POWER can change the world.
I will Rise
She will rise
They WILL rise!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Poem written by Womensvoice1
Join the Girl Rising community and become a champion for girls’ education. “Use your voice and talent to help us create meaningful change: spread the message, raise funds, and rally your community to advocate for policies supporting girls' education. Now is the time. “
http://girlrising.com/grow-the-movement/index.html#a-call-to-action
You may contribute to Girl Rising here :
http://www.katahdin.org/sponsored/10x10/contribute.html
http://girlrising.com/grow-the-movement/index.html#a-call-to-action
You may contribute to Girl Rising here :
http://www.katahdin.org/sponsored/10x10/contribute.html
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