Partnering with replyforall not only helps Circle of Women to raise awareness of the importance of women’s education in the developing world, but also allows hundreds of women around the world to join our circle of support without leaving their desks. It is in this spirit of dialogue and exchange that Circle of Women’s mission is best understood, shared and effected. Elizabeth Brook, Circle of Women
In a world where 855 million people are illiterate, 70 percent of those illiterate are women, and international aid dedicated to education is declining, Circle of Women asks donors to support the right to possibility.
A nonprofit organization that aims to build schools for girls in developing countries, Circle of Women works in conjunction with local expertise and the help of donors and volunteers. These schools are to be self-sustaining, and because no member of Circle of Women is compensated for their work, donations bring the maximum possible impact to future students.
Why women, you ask? As one of the founders of Circle of Women, Britt Caputo, says, the education of a young girl serves both the particular woman she will become and the family, community, and world that she shapes through participation.
Aside from the fact that the majority of illiterate persons in the world are women, Circle of Women believes that a womans education has a long-term impact on communities. An educated girl is likely to marry later, have fewer kids, and watch those kids escape the cycle of poverty. She is more likely to have her own income and spend it on her children’s health. She will have better opportunities to improve her community, whose needs she knows best. In other words, educating women can create a ripple effect that benefits her entire community.
Currently, Circle of Women is dedicated to building a school in Afghanistan where, of the 12,000 public schools in the country, only half of them have a building. The literacy rate for women of Afghanistan is 12 percent. The building is complete, and now Circle of Women is working to supply textbooks and resources for the classrooms. You can follow Project Wonkhai in this blog which has photos and updates about their progress.
If you would like to contribute directly to Circle of Women’s project, check out this page. For those of you who aren’t able to contribute directly, replyforall offers you a way to effect change right from your computer screen. Were asking you to spread the word about this project and Circle of Women and support their cause through your email signature. Remember, just 30 people using the support educational resources signature in their emails supplies one student with educational resources for an entire year.
Fight the Good Fight,
Johanna Hudgens
Wellesley College 2009
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This May at replyforall, were focusing on another of the big issues in our time: education. After all, education impacts the lives of everyone, in both its presence and its absence.
April is almost over and replyforall is wrapping up our spotlight on the fight against global warming. Thank you to all of the users who joined replyforall or spread the word about us to their friends, family, and coworkers.
