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The mission of this international initiative of the
YOUTH ACTIVISM PROJECT:
To tackle prejudice against girls globally
nd expand their freedom and opportunities through
education and leadership development.
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WINNER OF INNOVATIONS IN CIVIC PARTICIPATION
YOUTH GLOBAL VOLUNTEERING AWARD
School Girls Unite started as a community-based pilot program in the Washington, D.C. area in 2004. An intergenerational team included 12-year-old girls and young African women who joined together with the Youth Activism Project. A natural link existed with Mali because two of the founding members of School Girls Unite are from this West African country. UNICEF identifies Mali as one of the 25 countries needing "emergency action" where less than 20% of girls attend high school and only 2% go onto university. In the capital city, Bamako, two dozen young women who have the opportunity to attend high school or university comprise our partner organization called Les Filles Unies pour l'Education.
Since its inception, School Girls Unite and Les Filles Unies pour l'Education activists advocate for gender equity and universal education in the U.S. and in Mali about the benefits of educating girls and to make an immediate impact on the lives of girls in West Africa. We communicate via emails and Skype.
- School Girls raise money for our scholarship fund and our sister organization, Les Filles Unies,manage and oversee this program that sponsors 70 girls in four villages in Mali by paying school fees, school supplies, books and tutoring.
- We speak to audiences of all ages in Mali and the U.S. including schools and organizations like American Association of University Women to increase awareness and encourage them to be advocates for girls' rights.
- We participate in the Global Campaign for Education Action Week each year and meet with key government officials with the Mali Ministry of Education and Members of the U.S. Congress.
- We have written a bilingual action guide, "Girls Gone Activist! How to Change the World through Education/Les Filles Deviennent des Activistes! Comment changer le monde par l'education" that is a free e-book at www.schoolgirlsunite.org
"The future of Mali depends on an educated society, especially girls, because we know the crucial role of women in eradicating poverty. ~ Bintou Soumaoro, resident of LES FILLES UNIES POUR L'EDUCATION
"School Girls Unite started out wanting to help send girls to school,but just like we've grown up, not it's about larger issues. Educating girls will save the world by creating more more scientists to solve global warming, lawyers to make the world fairer,and leaders to resolve conflicts without war." ~Joanne Conelley, age 18 and founding member of SCHOOL GIRLS UNITE
YOUNG AFRICAN & AMERICAN ACTIVISTS AWARDS & RECOGNITION
2005 - School Girls Unite won "Women of Tomorrow Award" from the Maryland Commission for Women
2005 - First founding member Shannon Sullivan won the Middle School Student Prudential Spirit of Community Award
2006 - School Girls Unite was one of only 8 country teams selected to participate in the International Girls Summit
2007 - Les Filles Unies pour l'Education & School Girls Unite won the Global Youth Volunteering Research Award from Innovations in Civic Participation
2007 - School Girls Unite leader Molara Obe won the Angels in Action Award
2007 - Dandio Coulibaly, the youngest member of School Girls Unite, was selected as Ne Moon magazine's "25 Most Beautiful Girls from the Inside Out"
2008 - School Girls Unite Child Marriage Prevention Project Coordinator Mira Fleming won the U.N. Youth Assembly's Achievement Award
2008- Filles Unies President Bintou Soumaoro invited to speak at the U.N. "Reaffirming Human Rights For All" Conference in Paris
U.S. Congressman Van Hollen says, "School Girls Unite students are very persuasive with many Members of Congress. The last increase of $200 million for international assistance [Education For All] was due to your efforts."
YOUTH TODAY's book review of "Girls Gone Activist!" --"This treasury of encouragement and strategies can serve as a handbook for any youth-led cause."
PLEASE VISIT WWW.SCHOOLGIRLSUNITE.ORG
