Yesterday I posted a quote up on Facebook for International Women’s Day:
I didn’t think it needed any explanation, but it looks like it did …. so here we go 🙂
EDIT: One more piece of info, although many teachers often use Genki English in the the US or UK I don’t usually work on the education systems there. They usually don’t need English programs and change in those countries is dominated by politics. And they already have all the resources they need, they just often misuse them. My focus is on developing countries, the places I can have the biggest impact with the small program I have.
Ok….
In any education project where we have finite resources we want to make sure we get the biggest advancement for the energy expended. Very often when boys are educated they leave their communities to go work in the larger cities. This effectively leaves the local community worse off.
However if you educate a girl, very often she will stay in the community and pass on the skills she has learnt, especially literacy and confidence, to other women and children she comes into contact with. This effectively improves the development of the community.
Note: This doesn’t mean we want to encourage the low wages and disparity between male and females teachers in schools. The option of becoming a paid teacher usually isn’t even an option for these women.
The problem is that in many places far too many people still believe that educating girls is of no value at all.
They believe that limited resources should only be used to educate boys.
This is what we fight against.
In order to get education for girls accepted in these communities we need to show that educating girls is not only of equal value, in many causes it can be even more valuable, than educating only boys.
And this old African proverb is one very effective way that has helped many girls get the access to the education they need and deserve.
I hope that helps explain where this is coming from.
And if you want to see some examples of projects I’ve worked with, check out some of my blog posts on projects in Africa, Cambodia, Thailand, in the slums of India and of course the many communities we’ve helped with the Buy one, give one free project and of course if you are working on any development projects where people could benefit from increased literacy, English speaking or confidence skills that Genki English can provide then please do get in touch.
Hi Richard!
Things you do cannot be overstated!
Your program trains the mind and body, it develops personal qualities and team spirit.
Thank you for your hard work!
Truly, it needs no explanation. Women are the first educators of the child, and if she be deficient, so will her children!
Absolutely disagree. Regards.
Hi Richard,
I completely agree with your point of view. If some people still don’t get the idea, it just demonstrates how much your project is needed. Open-minded people are the key to human equality.
Best regards
Hi Richard… I have been teaching English in various countries for more than 35 years…What you say is 150% true…The problem is that in Esucating Girls there is a great backlash from the Male students & their parents… I have used the girls in my classes in an attempt to encourage the boys to study harder… Girls learn quicker & better than boys…. & the boys hate it….yes some boys just give up… but many will improve greatly not because rey want to… but because thry consider it is “Shame” on them if the girls are better than them
Yes, I agree with your words
Marcela
This is something I totally agree with but the way I’ve heard it, is not town but family. Education through the mother, sisters, etc is truly the way to spread more education for all. However, when I’ve tried in several countries, Albania, Viet Nam, Africa, to get girls to send to high school and then university, I’ve had resistance from families who just want the girls married so they’re off the hook for them financially. This is traditional and it’s hard to fight it. I taught English and other subjects for 33 years in the US and some vol. teaching overseas. I’ve succeeded in sending boys and girls but it’s easier to get boys and then the countries are so poor, they often go on with “We only hire family or friends” when the graduates try to get jobs. That’s hard to deal with as my idea has been to change someone’s life so they and their families have a good chance not to be poor anymore. When the grads can’t get jobs or decent ones, it’s too bad.