Heather Plett invites you to a different sort of party for her birthday: a party to empower more girls via education by building a school in Uganda.
This weekend I had the remarkable experience of attending the 136th graduation at Smith College, a premier women's college in Northampton, Massachusetts. It felt very brave to bring my daughter here four years ago, especially since I live three thousand miles away in Bakersfield, California.
This prestigious institution has always believed in the power of educating women. As an institution, they go out of their way to reach those who might not have had access to such high quality learning as they offer.
I took notes as I listened to the inspirational words from graduation speaker and former President of Smith College Ruth J. Simmons. Over and over again she urged the graduates to tae care of their voice, to continue to speak up even and especially when one's opinion is unpopular and to allow others the same respect and space to speak their words and take care of their voices.
She reminded graduates that knowledge only advances without asking questions, persistently, and to never be satisfied with the status quo.
Ruth J. Simmons as seen over the Jumbotron at the Smith College Commencement this weekend.
Over and over again I witness the fear of using one's voice with one's unique thoughts. Even educated individuals stay silent.
Have you noticed this, too?
Girls the world over need to be taught to use their voices. Girls the world over need to be taught to ask questions, persistently. Girls the world over need to be taught their value, their worth and the reality that each of us shares in this power to transform this planet.
The #BringBackOurGirls campaign has swept social media and is now finally filtered down into conventional media. Heather Plett reminded me this weekend that while we may not have the power individually to bring the Nigerian girls back to their families on our own, we do have the personal power to educate more girls in Africa.
Heather is celebrating her birthday by helping to build a school for girls in Uganda. In Heather's words:
Nine years ago, when I was working in international development, a young woman named Nestar Lakot came to work with me for a year as my intern. Born and raised in Kitgum District, Northern Uganda during the two decades of civil war between the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and the government of Uganda, Nestar experienced firsthand life in the midst of civil war. Her family was displaced from their ancestral farm-home after losing two of her brothers to the brutality of the LRA. Their home and possessions were reduced to ashes.
Nestar is one of the most wise and articulate young women I have ever met - so wise that when she worked with us, we sent her on a speaking tour across Canada. I used to tell her that I thought she might run the UN some day - she's that smart.
Nestar moved to The Netherlands to get her Masters Degree and ended up marrying and having two beautiful children. She longed to go back to Uganda, but then her son got sick and needed open heart surgery. It seemed wise to stay in a place where they had access to modern medical care.
Because she couldn't go back right away, Nestar started sending money back to Uganda to educate children in the region where she grew up (Kitgum).
And then she dared to dream a big dream.
What if she started a foundation to build a school for underprivileged children?
So she started Uganda Kitgum Education Foundation.
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Now is the time to make changes in the status quo and #educatemoregirls. You, too, can join the movement and dream this big dream along with Nestar and countless young women in Uganda whose voices are waiting to be used and heard for positive world change.
Visit Heather today to see the video she made this weekend with Nestar and consider joining this grassroots movement. You do have the personal power to #educatemoregirls.
Maybe you are one of the women who longs to deepen her education. What can you do
The Young Women Graduates of Smith College 2014 from Hubbard House, including my daughter, Katherine
today to respond to that calling within you and strengthen your voice for the good of the many?
This is an exciting time for women and girls. While we continue to urge the safe return of the young women in Nigeria, we may simultaneously urge the return of both our own voices and to nurture the voices of others. Together, we have have so much more influence as we continue to #educatemoregirls.
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Julie Jordan Scott is a writer, creative life coach, speaker, performance poet, Mommy and mixed-media artist whose Writing Camps and Writing Playgrounds permanently transform people's creative lives. Watch for the announcement of new programs this Summer & Fall, 2014 and beyond.
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