Can a young girl’s dreams affect the world? In the new century the answer is simple: YES!

The world is following a girl who has a very deep passion for her rights. This girl is Malala Yousufzai. She is a brave education activist girl from Pakistan. Her vision is to teach us again about the importance of the problem of female education.

Her story began with her blog on BBC website about living under the Taliban. The idea came from her father and she was only 11 years old when she started writing. She wrote in Urdu. Her region, Swat Valley, was controlled by the Taliban and they applied their austere interpretation of sharia law rules. They banned music and television, as well as banning shopping and education for women! She described her life under Taliban rules and she was not happy. Taliban destroyed 150 schools and stopped education for women. She did not accept that and she campaigned for women education rights on her blog. First she wrote anonymously and used the name Gul Makai but after she got famous and received some peace prizes her identity was revealed.

The Daily Telegraph’s correspondent from Pakistan, Rob Crilly, said “Malala Yousufzai was one of the few brave voices who spoke out” about her blog.

I want to give some extracts from her blog. They show how bad it is to live and study there.

In 3 January 2009;

”I had a terrible dream yesterday with military helicopters and the Taliban. I have had such dreams since the launch of the military operation in Swat. I was afraid going to school because the Taliban had issued an edict banning all girls from attending schools. Only 11 students attended the class out of 27. The number decreased because of Taliban’s edict.

On my way from school to home I heard a man saying ‘I will kill you’. I hastened my pace… to my utter relief he was talking on his mobile and must have been threatening someone else over the phone”

In 14 January 2009;

“I was in a bad mood while going to school because winter vacations are starting from tomorrow. The principal announced the vacations but did not mention the date the school was to reopen.

“The girls were not too excited about vacations because they knew if the Taliban implemented their edict [banning girls’ education] they would not be able to come to school again. I am of the view that the school will one day reopen but while leaving I looked at the building as if I would not come here again.”

Along with many locals, Malala and her family went into exile from Swat Valley when a government military operation attempted to clear the region of Taliban militants. After that she began to appear on television and advocate her campaign for female education. For many Pakistanis, Malala became a symbol of resistance to the Taliban. She wanted to become a doctor but after her experiences she decided to be an activist and politician. After all her works she was nominated for the International Children Peace Price on October, 2011. Her public profile rose even further when she was awarded Pakistan’s first National Youth Peace Prize two months later in December. The prizes and fame can be nice, but they can be very dangerous too. After she became famous, the Taliban published death threats in newspapers, and also made threats on the internet, but these never stopped this brave girl. She continued to work for women education rights.

On October 9, 2012 Malala was shot to her head by a Taliban gunman. Pakistani Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility, saying that ”She was anti-Taliban and secular”. After getting medical care in her country she was transported by plane to Birmingham, United Kingdom. Attack on Malala created a big reaction all over the world. From Madonna to UN Secretary General Ban-Ki-Moon, everyone denounced the attack. She became a hero of education.

Female Education Problem

Education is a basic human right. Every girl and boy should have an access to it, no regardless of gender, geography, disability… But the truth is not so easy. 66 million girls have no chance to go to a school. Girls are less likely to access school, to remain in school or to achieve results. Education helps men and women claim their rights and realise their potential in the economic, political and social arenas. It is also the single most powerful way to lift people out of poverty. Education plays a particularly important role as a foundation for girls’ development towards adult life. It should be an intrinsic part of any strategy to address the gender-based discrimination against women and girls that remains prevalent in many societies. The following links will further explain the necessity of girls/women’s education.

One of the important problems related to female education is sexual abuse. Adolescent girls in particular have much to gain from education. Those who complete primary and secondary education are likely to earn a greater income over their lifetimes, to have fewer unwanted pregnancies, to marry later, and to break cycles of poverty within families and communities.

Education is number 2 in the United Nations Millenium Development Goals. Here is some information about the education in the world:

–        Enrollment in primary education in developing regions reached 90 per cent in 2010, up from 82 per cent in 1999, which means more kids than ever are attending primary school.

–        In 2011, 57 million children of primary school age were out of school.

–        Even as countries with the toughest challenges have made large strides, progress on primary school enrollment has slowed down. Between 2008 and 2011, the number of out-of-school children of primary age fell by only 3 million.

–        Globally, 123 million youth (aged 15 to 24) lack basic reading and writing skills. 61 per cent of them are young women.

–        Gender gaps in youth literacy rates are also narrowing. Globally, there were 95 literate young women for every 100 young men in 2010, compared with 90 women in 1990.

Organizations like the UN, World Bank, UNICEF etc.. working so hard to solve education problems in the world. This is a challenge we must solve for better and stronger future. We must take on more responsibility. The challenge is to ensure children’s access to quality education. Education must include learning relevant to the needs, rights and aspirations of girls and this learning must be delivered in safe school environments that are free from gender bias and promote gender equality.

We Can Do It

This article is not an academic research. The only goal is giving some important information about the problem of education in the world and giving motivation to work on that. If you want to learn more you can visit the following links:

United Nations Girls’ Education Initiative / www.ungei.org

Mother & Child Health and Education Trust / www.educationforgirls.org

ActionAid / http://www.actionaid.org

Global Campaign for Education / www.campaignforeducation.org/en

Global Education First Initiative / www.globaleducationfirst.org

Women Deliver / www.womendeliver.org

Girls Learn International / www.girlslearn.org

Save The Children / www.savethechildren.org

Good luck on your journey…

Some information also here.

Written by Özgün KAPLAMA, AEGEE–Istanbul

Education Working Group Board Member

The Agora is approaching and that means it is time to elect the Comité Directeur (CD) again. One of the passionate AEGEE members who hope to move to the new CD house in Brussels is Szabina Hellinger from AEGEE-Budapest. The AEGEEan took the time to interview her and to hear about her plans, but first let us introduce Szabina to you.

Besides being a 24-year-old AEGEE-Budapest member, The AEGEEan can inform you that she is spending her time on Erasmus in Bologna (Italy) at the moment. She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Educational Studies on the Eötvös Loránd University, and now she is finishing her Masters there in the field of Adult Education, specialising in the lifelong learning process. As if that were not enough, she also has a BA in Italian linguistics and culture.

Because of her studies Szabina has experience with volunteering not only in a retirement home but also with the Hungarian Red Cross, mostly around Christmas accepting the donations for children, and when she arrived to Bologna she joined the Italian Red Cross as well. “I find volunteering my “drug”, because I see how huge successes can be achieved with small actions and how a lot of happiness can be brought, therefore I want to get and give more,” is what Szabina says about her habit of volunteering.

The AEGEEan: Why do you want to become a member of the Comité Directeur?

Szabina: I have a different attitude about it. I would put into the focus not myself, but AEGEE, meaning it is not about being a CD member, but about what I can offer to the association by my work, and the Agora will decide if it is needed or not. True, being in CD interested me since I became active but I did not dare to apply because of my lack of experience. First I thought that it was indispensable to work to get the knowledge and get the experience which is required to be effective for the association. Now after two years I have spent on the European level, I feel I am ready to accomplish the tasks of a CD member.

There are three people from AEGEE-Budapest hoping to go to Bruxelles. What makes your local such a strong local, and what does this “competition” mean in your eyes?

AEGEE-Budapest is a very strong and supportive local and they showed that in Autumn Agora Budapest. Its biggest strength is the family atmosphere, they are really open minded and welcoming to every member without making a difference between newbies, oldies or those who are there only for the Summer Universities (SUs). Since there are a lot of members, they also motivate each other with their enthusiasm – this is also evident by the number of our members active on the European level.

About your second question: it is a really funny coincidence that there are three of us from the same local running for CD. I am more than proud of my antenna because of it, but this “competition” – the way you call it – in my eyes is not different than the one we have with the other candidates, because for me it does not matter where we come from but what we want to achieve, having the same aims, and most importantly, where we want to go.

You have been involved with Project Teams and Working Groups in many ways, but can you please explain your history with them a bit?

On my first professional event in AEGEE (which was the Summer University Project School 2010) I got to learn about WGs and Projects. After going home I started checking out if there is something related to education, since this is one of my biggest interests. I found the Education Working Group (EWG) and I wrote to the former speaker (Jorge Miguel) a shy e-mail with my motivation and interests, and I got a warm welcome as an answer. After this I was the EWG’s HR responsible for half a year, and I represented it on the Autumn Agora Skopje 2011. I am really grateful for the EWG because it gave me many possibilities for work related to my studies, but mostly to unleash my potential.

During my work in the WG I met Diana Yolova, speaker of the Higher Education Days Project, who was talking to me about the project and made me really motivated in it, so I joined. Since that I am the PR responsible, and I represented it on the Spring Agora Enschede 2012, Autumn Agora Budapest 2012, and I will be the envoy of this PT at the Spring Agora Rhein-Neckar 2013 too. Currently we are focusing to the recognition of the non formal education and researching about the Bologna process (leaded by Avgustina Vasilieva).

How do you believe the cooperation can be strengthened between European level bodies?

There are some Working Groups and Projects which have similar topics, just from a different point of view, with or small differences; I would like to encourage them to organise a common event, research or program to help each other, giving each other new ideas or point of view, improving each other and themselves. Moreover I would like to encourage bodies and members to start new Working Groups or Projects according their interests.

The second step of this would happen through the members, because if we want to achieve our goals we need to catch them at most basic level, one by one, since they are the association’s future. The Fair is a perfect forum for it, but it does not reach those members who are not participating in the Agora or EBM. I would encourage the locals to promote the projects and WGs, and at the same time bring the European level closer to the members through the bodies.

There are many WGs and PTs who have trouble with activating members. What is your opinion about this and how would you help them? 

Motivation is one of the biggest problems not just for PTs, or WGs, but all the bodies, meaning not just getting new members but keeping the old ones active. To catch new members, the Fair is a great opportunity, improving their PR materials, but as I mentioned above I would also reach out to those members who are not participating. I would also strongly collaborate with the Network Commission since they have the strongest relation with the locals.

Second step would be helping in their internal HR. I would strongly collaborate with the board of a WG and PT highlight the HR responsible, encouraging them to hold personal meetings as much as possible, like on Statutory Events, or in the CD house, because Skype meetings are useful for working, but not so much for teambuilding.

You have been the Fair Manager once yourself, and mention strengthening AEGEE fair in your program. How do you think this should be done?

Obviously I would cooperate with the Fair Manager(s) as much as possible, with the Speakers too, since this is the main forum where all the bodies can represent themselves in the same time, as mentioned above. I would cooperate with the bodies asking about their needs not just in a material way but also in the sense support. I would hold a meeting before the Fair where their needs could be discussed and I would have a feedback session after it discussing their difficulties, successes, and most importantly their recommendations for improvement.

In case you are elected, you will probably be working with members who have been working together for a year already. What is your opinion about this?

First of all I admire their work and I am sure I could learn a lot of them. It would be a huge opportunity for me to receive and benefit from their experience and knowledge. But we cannot create,  improve and develop without adding anything new. Even a small change can grow into an innovation and every year is a new possibility to prove it. In case I am elected I think we could have a strong collaboration and I could provide CD with some fresh ideas.

Written by Patricia Anthony, AEGEE-København

Each of us has a story about how we joined AEGEE. Whether it was for a Summer University (SU), a local event, a conference, even an Agora or anything else – we have all ended up in AEGEE. For some of us, it has completely changed our lives. One of these people is Astrid Schrader from AEGEE-Passau, and this is her story.

Astrid, please, tell us – why did you join AEGEE?
I joined AEGEE in 2005, but I have never gone to an SU. I joined because of an Agora and the European School 1 in Passau.

For those who do not know you after all those years – what was the most important thing you did in AEGEE?
I was the Speaker of the Education Working Group (EWG). I organised 15 international events/trainings as coordinator and I held around 500 hours of workshops. To be honest: I wasn’t very active in AEGEE. I didn’t do anything crazy on European level (no flagship projects, no Comite Directeur, no AEGEE-Academy Speaker)…

Even though you have never been to an SU, how would you describe what it means for you?
Students from all around Europe share an authentic, intense  and life-changing intercultural experience. SUs are organised by students for students. You see the bars and places local students go to, not tourists. You do workshops and get involved in topics which as a tourist you would never engage in. SUs are political tourism. SUs are AEGEE at its core!

Still, AEGEE has changed your life. How?
At the moment, I am a management consultant for public sector institutions, and AEGEE has transformed everything in my life. AEGEE encouraged me to believe in my ideas, AEGEE taught me how to be entrepreneurial, AEGEE has made building and improving Europe my defining life mission. AEGEE had the biggest impact on my life of all organisations, companies, universities and friends I have ever had, attended, led or worked for.

Some years ago you were also one of the Youth Delegates of the German National Committee for International Youth Work (DNK) and the German Society for United Nations (DGVN). Could you tell us in a couple of sentences about your work there?
UN Youth Delegates are the voice of youth towards the United Nations. We are usually part of our national delegations and we take part in the formal and informal meetings of the UN General Assembly and the UN Economic and Social Council. It is our task to mainstream youth issues within the negotiations of the UN Member States and amongst other stakeholders. In order to be able to do so, the German Youth Delegates organise a national consultation tour in their own country and in neighbouring countries where they talk to young people, youth organisations, political parties, the public sector, companies etc.. During this consultation tour, we collect as many hopes, wishes and demands towards the UN system as possible and we put them in a speech that is held right in front of all UN Member States.

Written by Anita Kalmane, AEGEE-Ogre

+ Do you know what the Working Groups did in Summer?

+ Are you aware of what kind of tasks they develop and which topics they are tackling?

+ Do you know what the Working Groups did in May?

+ Are you aware of what kind of tasks they develop and which topics they are tackling?

+ Do want to know more about them but actually you never had the chance to do so?

Here you are, the Issue 5 of the Working Groups’ Monthly Newsletter – May 2012. You can have a brief update about what’s going on within them, get to know them better, and, if you want, become a part of them in the future. It couldn’t be any easier, do not wait more and choose the Working Group that fits you the best.

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