What Being a Teaching Woman Taught Me

by Claudia Smith

I was wrapping up my sophomore year of college when I interviewed at Girls' LEAP. Pursuing the application process with nervous, passionate, and hopeful fervor, I was eager to be granted the position. I got the call shortly after my interview, notifying me of my placement as an intern in the office and as a Teaching Woman in one of the programs. I was thrilled to be given this opportunity, and spent a great deal of that summer imagining the greatness that would come with it - Self-defense skills! The chance to be a mentor! The space to put my passions to use! A great addition to my resume! Career building! New friends! Girls' LEAP was on a high pedestal in my mind. I couldn’t wait to start.

I completed the training weekend, interned in the main office for 14 weeks, and helped teach a program. All of my expectations were met during these months with LEAP. I got all of the things I imagined I would. But the kicker is I got even more.    

There is an enormous sense of strength that comes from girls believing in one another as well as in themselves, and this was brought to light during the training weekend. I felt the genuine power of togetherness here. This 20-hour, intensive three days provided us with the same lessons we would later be teaching to the LEAP participants. Together we stood, pronouncing our “no!”s in a group, holding shields for each other as we practiced the self-defense skills, and cheering each other on both when we were successful and when we were struggling. I developed long-lasting connections with many other like-minded college women, and such is likely due to this experience of being vulnerable, uplifting one another, and learning something new together. It was here that I witnessed the utmost empowerment- the strength within women, and the absolute importance of highlighting that and encouraging it in each other.

Shortly after this training weekend came the opportunity to teach these same skills to a group of 8 & 9 year old girls. Growing empowered was one thing, but working to empower others - especially younger girls - that was the most fulfilling aspect of my time with LEAP. I got to watch girls adapt, watch them improve, watch them grow stronger, and watch them gain confidence. Witnessing such important changes was both an honor and an empowering experience in itself.

My time with LEAP influenced my career goals, gave me insight on how to effectively make a difference, prompted perspectives on underlying issues and the need for these services, and inspired me to the highest extent. I am grateful to have had this time with LEAP, and highly recommend it as a placement for college women. I look forward to further pursuing the goals and ambitions I was able to develop here!

The Importance of Educating Girls

Here in America we expect that girls of all ages will have equal access to education, but this isn’t the case for the rest of the world. For millions of girls education is just out of reach. Instead girls get dragged into doing housework, early marriage, child labor, and experience extreme violence. Others have noticed this and are trying to change education to be more gender equal in schools.

Girls are an important and vital part of society; if they are under-educated it impacts them not only as individuals and mothers, but it also impacts other woman, and the greater community. To provide girls with an education equal to boys will ensure their worth in society and prevent them from being subjected to sexual violence, child abuse, and malnourishment.  Establishing education equality for girls will also help fight poverty, lower rates of sexually transmitted diseases and aid in the general health development of girls.

Luckily progress has been made. “In 2000, then United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan issued this challenge: How can the nations of the world work together to stop the gender inequality around education?” The United Nations partnered with UNICEF and other organizations to form the United Nations Girls’ Education Intuitive (UNGEI). Their mission- to ensure equal education for girls all around the world by 2015.

 

At the start of the UNGEI campaign more than 10 years ago, 110 million children were not in primary school. Two thirds of these children were girls. Now, ten years later, the number of children not enrolled in schools has dropped to 72 million children, with girls making up half of that. According to the article, What Does It Take to Educate a Girl? (and Why Does It Matter?), “work remains to be done, but it's a dramatic difference which spotlights the achievable goal made possible with the dedication and work of volunteers, activities, local governments, and of course, the girls themselves.”

The United Nations is taking the necessary steps to fight the battle for girls and their education. At Girls’ LEAP we fight the battle for girls to value their bodies, emotions, and beliefs as well. Our physical skills and reflective curriculum are designed to make girls feel powerful and to educate them about how to effectively control their anger and keep themselves safe through their choices and actions. I am interested in education for young woman and believe in order for girls to reach their full potential they need to be educated on how to do so. I began my college career set on teaching but soon switched to social work. I have always enjoyed seeing children learn and think what the United Nations is doing is a step in the right direction.