Empower Women Leaders April 2015 Newsletter: Bridging the Educational Gap

Published: Tue, 04/21/15

USAID #LETGIRLSLEARN initiative highlights the importance of EWL's Bridging the Educational Gap program

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has been working in Liberia and its programs under the #LETGIRLSLEARN initiative shares many of the same goals as EWL's Bridging the Educational Gap. It is encouraging to EWL as we share this focus.

This month Shelly's Looking Forward provides an update on EWL's program while Vicki's Views shares Theresa's story, a poignant look at the struggles of Liberian women.

Finally, this USAID well produced, heart-tugging 3 minute video below tells the story of the importance of education in breaking the cycle of poverty and disadvantage, especially for women and girls.

Click to see video or click on image below

Donate Now to EWL's Bridging the Educational Gap

Vicki's Views

Theresa's Life has not been easy

Her beautiful ebony skin glistened as she bent forward and concentrated on cutting the cloth. Like so many African women while she worked she gracefully supported a child swaddled on her back. Hearing a noise, she looked up and smiled. Her eyes reflected the look of a woman who had been through much, had survived and continued to persevere.

Theresa had weathered a storm early in her life by overcoming an obstacle that no young girl should have to face. At 14 years of age, her stepfather began to pressure her to go out and earn money for the family “by getting into this man’s business” (a euphemism for prostitution). After all that was what other girls were doing, including her older sister, why should she be any different?

Looking Forward

Lessons Learned - Leaders Emerge - Moving Forward

Delegating important tasks to a coworker can be difficult because it involves a certain degree of “letting go”.

It also involves a certain degree of trust that your coworker will and can get the job accomplished. In a normal working relationship these are challenges that can be discussed over a cup of coffee in the break room or a visit to a staff member’s desk.

Imagine the challenges of delegation when your coworkers live in a foreign culture that has experienced immense suffering and deep poverty – and there is an ocean separating you from where they live.

Women's Bucket Brigade Epilogue

A few dollars goes a long way in Liberia, the fourth poorest country in the world where people make less than $2 per day.

With leftover Women's Bucket Brigade funds, EWL's on the ground team was able to provide some relief to Ebola survivors who lost everything and those orphaned by Ebola in the Monrovia area including counseling.

Click below to see the 3/22/15 update and captioned photos.