Education
Soroptimist International states in the second paragraph of its Vision for 2007 to 2011 that:
“We are committed to a world where women and girls together achieve their individual and collective potential, realise aspirations and have an equal voice in creating strong peaceful communities world wide.”
Clubs can help to realise this vision by working towards objective 9 of the Programme Focus:
“Ensure equal access to education and training for women and girls throughout their lifespan.”
Clubs throughout the Federation should never underestimate the projects they support that provide access to education especially for women and girls – they do make a difference. There is no doubt that the majority of education projects do support women and girls. However it is increasingly apparent that girls are now being educated alongside boys and are receiving the same education.
Despite progress towards education for all since 2000, the stark facts are that 775 million adults are still illiterate (two thirds of them women) and currently one out of three children never sees the inside of a classroom.
In his message for International Literacy Day 2008 Ban Ki-moon Secretary General of the UN said;
“These would be devastating numbers at any time, for individuals and societies alike; that they occur in the context of today’s information society should drive home the urgency of efforts to promote literacy throughout the world,”
UNESCO’s Education for all Global Monitoring report provides evidence that children of illiterate mothers often miss out on schooling but that investment in education, and particularly in girls’ education, brings high development returns in the form of:
- higher earnings
- lower fertility
- later marriage
- better health.
Education is also a determining factor in the level of individual income with each extra year of schooling resulting in a 10 per cent increase in earning.
Literacy is the key that unlocks the door education and training.
Being Literate does not just end with learning the basics of reading, writing and communicating, it means having the ability to develop skills to a level that will allow everyone (our focus is women and girls), to achieve their full potential or to put it another way to be allowed their human rights.
This requires access to books and learning materials at every age and at all levels; from early years right through to primary, secondary school and on to tertiary education. Books and materials for vocational training and adult education are needed, just as much as those for children seeking information and reading and of course books should be accessible for the life enhancing activity of reading for pleasure!
Could clubs think about the education projects they support, do those projects have access to the necessary books and resources to develop skills and learning potential? Can those who have acquired basic literacy skills practice and build on those skills? It is a sad fact that, like any other newly acquired skill it is lost in a very short time without practice – and in the case of literacy skills that means having a constant supply of appropriate books.
If clubs are not able to give money for books or provide the actual books, perhaps they can research from where grants, funds or sponsorships are available. Would it be possible for clubs to research the possibilities of applying to charities, charitable foundations or NGO’s for help towards books and learning resources?
8th September is the UN International Literacy Day
Clubs are encouraged to use this date to hold awareness raising and fundraising events to highlight the need for literacy in all countries and cultures and for all people. www.UNESCO.org
With steady and reliable access to books literacy levels should improve.
Literacy unlocks the door to learning throughout life, is essential to development and health, and opens the way for democratic participation and active citizenship” Kofi Annan
I look forward to hearing from clubs and reading reports about ways in which they support Education projects during the coming year.
Helen Owen
APD Education
Helen Owen
I am very happy to be working with Federation Programme Team for a second year and look forward to working with the new members of the team. As a member of the group I hope I will be able to encourage clubs to work towards the Programme Focus goals and to tell us about their wonderful projects and submit their reports to Federation by using the online reporting system.
I was so impressed by Soroptimist project work described to me by a close friend (a Soroptimist!) that I joined my club SI Runcorn, Frodsham and District eleven years ago. I was lucky enough to become involved in the Programme Action work of the club from the very beginning and have been committed to it ever since. I was club Programme Action Officer before being elected to that role within my region of Cheshire, North Wales and Wirral.
As a result of this I spent four years as a member of UK PAC - the liveliest and most dynamic committee I have ever joined, where, I was involved with some very interesting national and international projects.
I am married to Ted who has encouraged and supported my Soroptimist activities. We have two sons and two delightful grandchildren.
I have been involved in Primary education for most of my working life. Although officially retired I still undertake some supply teaching and still volunteer at the school where I previously worked. It has never ceased to impress and move me the profound and positive effect of acquiring basic skills, particularly literacy skills has on children. It is because of that experience I feel very strongly that a basic education is a human right for all.
Helen Owen