The United Nations has declared Oct. 11 the International Day of the Girl.
UN International Days inspire action groups and charities to fulfill the meanings of these special days. Possibly none will prove as important to the development of a more peaceful, fulfilling life for humankind than the International Day of the Girl.
The importance of ensuring the freedom and educated contribution of more than half the population of the world from tyranny, bondage and ignorance can scarce be understated.
Educating and empowering women to freely utilize their ideas and skills greatly increases the health, welfare and living standards of their society. Education without religious or political bias for all children is difficult to obtain in any culture, but striving for such a lofty goal that would free the huge intellect and energy of educated girls will put the world on another level of kindness and co-operation. Who could ask for anything more?
The Canadian Harambee Education Society (CHES), founded in New Westminster, has educated girls in Kenya and Tanzania for 30 and 20 years, respectively.
CHES director Penny Lyle recently moved to Sechelt and is continuing the work here and promoting International Day of the Girl.
You can learn more at www.canadianharambee.ca and review the CBC documentary Educating Margaret on YouTube at http://youtu.be/_V-ba9iwzoc. Margaret was CHES’s first student who is now a professor of nursing in Nairobi.
“Our students are bright, poverty-ridden students who score high on national tests upon completing state-paid elementary school,” said Lyle. “Secondary school is expensive — it’s not for poor girls. If funds are available, boys are educated, which may raise one family’s living standard. Educate a girl, and the ripple effect goes much further than her family. “
For more information on CHES, contact Lyle at 604-740-9819 or email penjon539@gmail.com.
— Submitted
