Her mother explained that the girl was not intelligent and would probably fail. She stated that she would let her finish this school year, then keep her home to teach her how to be a good wife and mother. I could not accept that fate for a little girl who only wanted me to assist her. I asked her mother to allow me to work with her.
I researched the whys and wherefores of the little girls' educational failures and I discovered that many girls do not have books and school supplies, or the time or a place to study after school. I began haunting all the public and private development agencies, local and national government institutions, asking for assistance to support our little girls. I was refused. So we started teaching ourselves.
The girls wanted me to continue the program but I informed them that I hadn't been able to find the money. They said they could raise their own money. They raised enough to buy their school books and supplies. The little girls brought in older siblings and relatives who had already failed and been expelled from school. The older girls did the cooking and selling. They became our financial support and grew into our entrepreneurs. We export five blended hibiscus teas, dolls and household products to pay for the schooling. We have decided to become green, with an aggressive environmental education and agricultural development entrepreneurial program.
Eventually we got public and private financial and technical support to expand the number of girls that we teach each year. We now have 3,383 girls and want to increase our numbers to 5,000 this year.
To read the full story, please go to:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/10/21/vaughn.senegal.education/index.html?hpt=Sbin
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