Hi all,

I thought I would expand on the other thread and see if we can develop some real actions and/or ideas for the organization. Someone jump in and start the conversation.

One of mine would be related to literacy, I'm a big reader myself and love the idea of introducing girls to new ideas through books....

Anyone else?

Renee

thanks Renee for starting this group...I agree with you all that education SO important for young women all over the world, My experience has been in South Africa and Kenya and I have developed relationships with many girls and women and have been learning about the challenges they face and how significant access to education can be to provide them with hope and opportunity for their futures and for their families and breaking the cycle of poverty.

My friend and I have provided financial support and mentorship to a number of girls in Kenya as they pursue computer courses, internship opportunities, secondary school, college and university programs. We have been depending on friends and family and our own resources so far, but are looking at some options for how this can be more sustainable and so that we can support more girls in the future. We have looked into existing organizations doign similar work, but haven't found any that really match our vision. Our next step is to bring together a group of people that are interested in this work and to make some decisions about possibly starting a not-for-profit organization and what that might look like.

I am really interested to hear more from this group and I am wondering if we might be able to collaborate in some way as we seem to be workign towards a similar goal?

I could go on and on about these issues and some of the ideas we have had...but I just wanted to get in on the discussion and I look forward to hearing more, this is clearly a group of passionate and creative people...let's keep the momentum going!

oh i guess one idea of impact, and a necessary part of any initiative like this would be scholarships/financial support for school fees and other related costs (i.e. transportation, books, food, accomodation etc.) that is assuming we are talking about getting involved in countries where poverty is a major issue (although that is a reality everywhere unfortunately)

jenn

I cannot agree more that education is pertinent for young girls across the globe. I feel that one of the most important issues facing young women is their lack of education by means of improper resources, poverty, societel standards and so on. We educated women need to draw awareness to this issue by using our resources and connections to filter into our goal.

Jenn, i am very impressed with work in Kenya and think we can absolutely collaborate our ideas and resources to make it work.
If education is our goal in the form of a non-profit organization, we need to decide what specific location we are targeting first and then work our way forward, touching base on financials, and drawing awareness to the right crowd who can provide sponsorship and/or a means by financing our vision.

Renee , i cant remember if you had chosen a specific location of girls where you wanted to implement this vision?

hi all,
nice to be here.
i don't believe education alone can bring salvation to global women.
simultaneously we must create awareness and educate young children
about the plight of their mothers,sisters and so on.
in fact, i strongly believe that the young children are the real saviours of women.
therefore,we must educate both children and women simultaneously.

by
m.manoharan

Hi All,
Recently I came across a very interesting video, which I believe can help us in formulating our vision and strategy for the betterment of women on global scale.
The idea is about the best ways to make changes in a society. Since our goal is to make a dramatic change in disadvantaged lives of women, especially young girls, I thought the idea of introducing educational TV or audio programs materials would be very effective way to go.
In this video, a well known professor, Albert Bandura, Univ of Pennsylvania, gives a speech, where he explains his research work in trying to make positive changes in disadvantaged societies. In this case his team introduced educational serial dramas, shown on local TV stations. These episodes in an attractive, but educational ways, show local actors in different adverse situations, who in the end overcome their problems by exhibiting positive lifestyles. These positive actions in turn end up in beneficial outcomes and they represent a good model for local population to be involved in making changes for themselves and for their society.
The link is a youtube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjIbKaSXM3A
It lasts about 93 minutes but it is well worth watching. In fact it was a complete eye opener to me and I hope you too will like it. You can also find out more about Albert Bandura and his work by typing his name on google.
I hope this will prompt more of good ideas from our small, but determined group.
Azra

Hi All,

For anyone who is in the Toronto area and would be interested in taking part in a "Dreaming/Brainstorming" session as part of a Girl's Education Initiative that a friend and I have started for girls in Kenya, please let me know. I can send you more details. We are meeting on December 5th downtown Toronto. Also, if you know of anyone in the area that might also be interested, please let me know! I can also share some of the ideas that come out of this for this group.

Thanks!
Jenn

Hi my fellow Idealists,
A thousand miles journey starts with just a step and it's better to dig a well early in advance before you get thirst, many good ideas have been raised, now its the turn to make this ideas a reality. Many girls out there are suffering due to discrimination, sexual abuse ,early marriage, child labor and so on and because of this many have dropped out of school
We should join hands and initiate a project to assist this girls back to school as many girls even as young as 10 years have started to join commercial sex work.
Thanks
Benedict Musyoka
Mombasa Kenya

Hi Benedict (and all)

thank you for your post, and for the call to action! i am excited to hear from you and share your concerns about all of these devastating realities for girls in kenya (and around the world). I am involved in an initiative with girls in Kenya to support them in their education and to provide mentorship. Are you currently involved in working with girls/young woman? maybe we will meet one day when i am in Kenya (i may be there in april) to talk more about how to support more girls to avoid all of these issues through education.

jenn
Toronto, Canada

Hi Jenn and others,

Thank you for your efforts and especially helping girls and young women in Kenya and around the world, In fact I do support your Initiative and encourage you to move on with this good work. If you will be around during April definitely we shall meet and discuss more.(Just email when you confirm your coming). In fact this chance may be the opening of other meetings to follow with other Idealists.
Kind regards,
Benedict
Mombasa, Kenya