Strength, Beauty, Courage and Power!

From the CEOs desk

The Newsletter team Education among girls and women in the Delta State is frugal, at best. The cumulative consequence of low access to education, cultural and socioeconomic barriers and governmental policies that do not promote the cause of education of girls and women, are major deterrents to the inclusion of women in educational curriculums. In terms of Cultural Obstacles to Education of Women, one prominent cultural view is that it is better for the woman to stay home and learn to tend to her family instead of attending school. 'Nigerian tradition' is explained as a tradition that attaches higher value to a man than a woman, whose place is believed to be the kitchen. The Economic Obstacles to Education of Women are a culmination of past and present incidents. Since Nigerian parents invest in children according to sex, birth order or natural endowments, girls and boys are not treated equally. The process of affording education is difficult. Often the family can only afford to send one child to school. Social Obstacles to Education of Women revolve around a system of stereotypical social stratification. Gender stereotyping begins at the family level, and women are not educated simply because the social ideas are that women need not and will not be educated, for their roles are completely tied to being home makers, extra hands for work, and child bearers. Governmental and Policy Obstacles to the Education of Women include infrastructural issues, manifesting themselves in the form of shortage of schools, knowledgeable staff, properly drafted curriculums and education policies. Education providers themselves confine their spectrum to educating boys. Education empowers. No matter what your cultural background may be, no matter how economically viable your situation may be education is what sets you free. The power of a knowledge driven household is sublime, and easily capable of fighting all odds. Rise, be educated, set yourself free! Stay Strong, Be beautiful, keep courage and feel the power! Elsie Ijorogu-Reed CEO: Organizing Editor: Writers and Contributors: Elsie Ijorogu-Reed Kirthi Jayakumar Achilla Imchen Carmen Sanchez Obi Madukoma Rohit Kumar Stephanie Smith Tiera Schneider

Printed and Published as an Online Newsletter by Deltawomen NGO.

Contents The Girl Child and Access to Education...................................................Achilla Imchen Chinma..Obi Madukoma The Education of a Girl Child.... Rohit Kumar Education and its Rewards for Nigerian Women..Stephanie Smith Financial Independence: Starting Your Own Business....................Carmen Sanchez Campaign Round-up Volunteer of the Month

SEPTEMBER 2012

The Girl Child and Access to Education By Achilla Imchen Education is a crucial investment in the development of a country. Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, has some 80.2 million girls and women, a number that accounts for 49 per cent of the total population. Thus the education of the girl child in Nigeria represents tremendous potential for the countrys future development. Yet, the education of girls is a major gap in Nigerias development. Statistical data on education reveals that the national literacy rate for female is only 50 per cent, compared to 72 per cent for male. A lot of girls drop out of school before reaching Class Six. The education of girls is particularly a problem in Nigerias Northern states, where only 20 per cent of women in the North West and North East have attended school. Moreover, the proportion of girls to boys in school ranges from 1 girl to 2 boys. (UNICEF Nigeria, 2007) The reasons for such disparities are numerous. While poverty and economic issues are prevalent, social issues such as gender discrimination, early marriages, cultural and religious misinterpretations also play a role. Nigerian parents, especially in large families with limited resources, enroll their boys in school rather than girls. In a country where 70 per cent of the Nigerian population lives below the poverty line, girls are often sent to work in the markets and on the streets. A multi-pronged approach, involving not only educational policies, infrastructure and access to schools, but also a proper orientation in the mind-set of social factors, such as parents, community leaders, and the like is necessary to tackle the disparities in the education sector. The education of a girl is an investment for the future, and must be seen thus by the larger Nigerian community. Chinma - By Obi Madukoma (Based on a true life story; Chinma not real name) That morning as Chinma left for school, she was filled with uncertainty. This could be my last day in school, she said to herself as she trekked along the path. Tears rolled down her face as she thought of her mother who died barely a year before. Her father had told her that morning that he could no longer afford to keep her in school since his new wife had increased his financial responsibilities. It wasnt long before Chinma realized that her education was not the only thing that would be neglected. As young as she was, this girl had to make life altering decisions that even adults would find extremely difficult. Forced to choose between school and food, she left school and began the hard life of farming for sustenance. Today, Chinma is a great-grandmother in her late 70s. When asked to recount her childhood, Chinma appears deep in thought and with a smile she tells you it was hard. She does not enjoy recalling memories of lost opportunities, but her story must be told. The education of the girl child is often neglected for many reasons. In the case of one girl, her school fee was used to

fund her older brothers marriage ceremony. For many others, because the male child inherits and the girl will marry, investing in a girl is seen as waste because it will go with her to her husbands place. Many communities have not yet realized the immense value to be gained when the girl child is educated. The future generations need women who will bear the torch of progress and light the way for others. We at Delta Women hope that our light will lead future generations to progress. The Education of a Girl Child - By Rohit Kumar Education is a fundamental human right and essential for the exercise of all other human rights Sixty-one years ago, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed that everyone has the right to education." However, that ambition has yet to be realized. Of the 72 million children currently out of primary school, nearly half of them live in sub-Saharan Africa and 11 million live in a single country, The African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (the Charter) was adopted in 1981 by the Organization of African Unity, the forerunner of the African Union. It entered into force on 21 October 1986. The Charter contains a brief right to education provision, together with an over-arching prohibition on discrimination based on race, ethnic group, color, sex, language, religion, or political or any other opinion, national and social origin, fortune, birth or other status. The instrument is strongly African in focus, aiming to further African values and build on the virtues of African historical traditions, while alleviating human rights violations, which are of growing concern to Africans today. In Nigeria, the federal government argued that education was not a legal entitlement, but the court found Nigeria in breach of Article 17 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, which states that, "every individual shall have the right to education, The right to education is already enshrined in the national laws and constitutions of many countries around the world, In recent years, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania have made important progress toward achieving universal primary education because of the combination of expanded domestic and increased donor financing, If the right to education is to be realized in the rest of Africa, The Delta states will achieve the Millennium Development Goal of universal primary education Education and its Rewards for Nigerian Women - By Stephanie Smith Education is often seen as being optional for women. There are views that women do not need an education, after all, they are just going to stay home, cook and care for the children, and many of these life skills can be taught at home anyway. However, those that hold these views often do not see the negative impact that denying a girl an education can have. These impacts can have a tremendous impact on culture and the development of a society. Lets have a look at the impact of education on health. Girls who complete their primary, and later, secondary level of education have a better and healthier life for themselves and

their children. Today, Nigeria has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. Hundreds of women die each year simply because they are unaware of the safe and protective contraceptive levels available to them. According to the World Bank, some 131/1000 infants in the poorest and least educated areas die every year. Compare to the rich and more educated in Nigeria 86/1000 infants die. Nutrition and education also go hand in hand. Women who receive an education see a 9% malnutrition rate. While this seems high, compare this with the 20% of children under 5 who are malnourished because their mothers were unable to receive an education. Healthier mothers and children mean longer lives and more able bodied contributors to society. Up until 2006, there had been a steady rise in the enrolment of girls in primary school, at 62%, but as of recently girls enrolment has dropped to 58%. There needs to be a reversal of this trend. Six years ago, Nigeria was heading in the right direction for women and girls. In order for the Delta Region to bring itself out of its economic crisis more girls need to be enrolled in school and complete their education. Currently, there is a program run by UNICEF, the Nigerian government, and British development assistance called the Female Teacher Training Scholarship Scheme underway in the Katsina state. Girls are taken from rural villages and trained to be teachers. One from this region, Maimunatu Abdulrazet, would likely have been married off at the age of 14, and she says this is a terrible thing for girls in her region, as they are not equipped to deal with the many difficulties of giving birth and raising children at this age. More such programs need to come into existence so that the Delta State can become a stronger, healthier, and better contributor to Nigeria as a whole. Financial Independence: Starting Your Own Business - By Carmen Sanchez Many women are using their talents to achieve economic freedom by starting their own business. Remember, all the businesses that we think of today as vast enterprises were once only an idea in someones mind. The key element of starting your own business is not money but passion combined with creativity and resilience. Having a passion is fundamental. What do you enjoy doing (or making)? What is the activity where you find that time just flies by for you? The answer to these questions will define your business. For instance, if you enjoy making your childrens clothing and you find that your friends and neighbors compliment you on them: you could duplicate your designs for your neighbors children or you could teach your neighbors how to make them. Whether you duplicate your designs or teach your skill, you can charge for either service. Creativity is important. Developing a product (or service) that others find desirable requires creativity. Likewise, finding the capital to start your business also requires creativity. Continuing with the childrens clothing scenario: Lets pretend that your neighbors ask you to duplicate your designs for their children. How would you get the money to buy the textiles you need to make the clothing? Perhaps you can ask each

customer to pay half of the price for each item they order at the time they place the order (and the other half upon delivery). Once you accumulate sufficient orders, you can use half of this cash to purchase the textiles you need to fulfill the orders. Once you deliver the product, you are able to collect the other half. Encourage these buyers to spread the word that you are welcoming new as well as repeat customers. Positive word-of-mouth is free marketing! Resilience is an indispensable quality because starting and maintaining a business in reality includes encountering stumbling blocks along the way. For instance, keeping to the scenario, you survey your neighbors and find that what they can afford to pay is much less than the cost of the textiles, such that you would lose money on each sale. However, the textile vendor tells you that if you buy the textiles in bulk, you can buy it at a significant discount, which would make your products profitable again. Where do you find the money to buy the textile in bulk? Perhaps a neighbor promises to loan you the money interest-free. But what if the neighbor is ultimately unable to do so? Dont be discouraged, be resilient - perhaps microfinance is the answer. Find your passion and start building your business you have what it takes! You can even use your mobile to learn about business development. And if you ever find yourself discouraged take a minute to read about Mama Joy, a widow, who was able to raise and send her six children to graduate level in the university by growing her own business, despite various obstacles. Find out More! Ehidiamen, J. (2011) Women Entrepreneurs in Nigeria Encourage Government to Develop Support System, http://www.globalpressinstitute.org/africa/nigeria/womenentrepreneurs-nigeria-encourage-government-developsupport-system PM News (2012) Cherie Blair Foundation, MTN, Nokia Empower Nigerian Businesswomen, retrieved from http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2012/08/31/cherie-blairfoundation-mtn-nokia-empower-nigerian-businesswomen/

The DeltaWomen Digital Media Education Project Being an organization devoted to the goal of supporting and empowering women to become complete women, Deltawomen serves to contribute to the all round well being and success of women by shaping her Mind, Body and Spirit! In pursuit of these goals, Deltawomen will be offering online Courses in the following disciplines: Self-Help and Development: This course will offer you a personal guide to grooming yourself, developing your softskills and interpersonal skills. Each month will comprise a different accentuation, and will work on different aspects. The courses can be tailor made to suit any specific issues you wish to address. Dance: This course will offer you lessons in six styles of dance (Bollywood, Hiphop, Jazz, Contemporary, Salsa and Jive). Each month will involve a different dance style, and you will have six choreography routines to your credit at the end of the period.

Arts and Crafts: This course will offer you lessons in Origami, Jewellery making, Bead making, Cooking, Painting, utility-craft making and in a wide range of creative endeavours akin to these. The course will require you to get your own materials, though the lessons themselves will be provided by us. Languages: This course will offer you lessons in helping you develop speaking, writing and reading skills in English, French, Basic Spanish, Hindi and Bahasa Indonesian. The program will be spread over six months and teach you basic speaking, writing and reading in the language of your choice from the above set. Entrepreneurial Skills: This program will inculcate business skills and a learning routine that will teach you the ABCs and more, of starting and running a successful business. These courses will comprise online sessions through Skype and our e-learning platform, along with written material wherever applicable. Students will be coached online along with video demonstrations. The courses will be spread over a span of six months. The courses begin on October 1, 2012.

Campaign Round Up NO WOMAN LEFT BEHIND! At Delta women NGO, we see ourselves as a partner for progress to our women. We work with them to discover their unique abilities, talents and potentials. Our drive is to build in our women the essential skills required to do business in a world class way, making them creators of their own destiny and pillars of transformation in our society. The "NO WOMAN LEFT BEHIND" campaign needs YOUR support. Help Deltawomen by providing women the Technical and Vocational Skills Acquisition to overcome the challenges in todays world so that they can be useful to themselves rather than be used as agents of violence. FREE EYE TEST The Deltawomen Eye-Care Campaign in the Delta State serves to provide free glasses and eye check-ups. Our sponsors have helped us by providing 466 glasses! In Okuijorogu, a total number of one hundred and forty six persons were examined, screened, at of which 86 prescription glasses given out for free after Deltawomen's Optometrist test, while 29 patients were refereed accordingly. Our free eye test event at held Obiaruku took place on September 15, 2012. WELCOME, NEW VOLUNTEERS! Deltawomen welcomes 10 new volunteers, who join our team this month to work on our various projects. VOLUNTEERS OF THE MONTH Deltawomen selects both Lylin Aguas and Elaheh Zohrevandi as Volunteers of the Month for September! Their contributions to designing and maintaining Delta Womens online collaborations have made Deltawomens activities all the more successful. CONGRATULATIONS!

Deltawomen serves:
To initiate policy changes to maximize opportunities and equality for women. To associate with other women related NGOs whose visions and services are at the centre of public attention and for women benefit. To build the capacity of women to escape poverty and deprivation through self-sustaining by empowerment and education. To play a critical role in securing inclusive growth for women. To meet the needs of the women by wealth creation. To empower women by capacity building.