Latest Updates from Circle of Women

"(4) To support investments in people, particularly women and children, including– (A) promoting..."

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:55:58 -0400

“

(4) To support investments in people, particularly women and children, including–

(A) promoting modern, public primary and secondary education and vocational and technical training, including programs to assist in the development of modern, nationwide school curriculums for public, private, and religious schools; support for the proper oversight of all educational institutions, including religious schools, as required by Pakistani law; initiatives to enhance access to education and vocational and technical training for women and girls and to increase women’s literacy, with a special emphasis on helping girls stay in school; and construction and maintenance of libraries and public schools;

(B) programs relating to higher education to ensure a breadth and consistency of Pakistani graduates, including through public-private partnerships;

”

- The Kerry-Lugar Bill, the cornerstone of US-AID in Pakistan, which aims to take a non-military approach towards countering terrorism, one of these approaches being the promotion of women’s education.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=200156

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\07\06\story_6-7-2010_pg7_24

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:45:39 -0400

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\07\06\story_6-7-2010_pg7_24

Who’s responsible for educating girls of Nathiagali?

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:36:48 -0400

By Zehra Qadir

Last week, I escaped from the hectic city life to Nathiagali, situated in Abbottabad district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Some Pakistani families have been frequenting the Galiyat for five decades and own properties and lodges there. These summer residents have formed the Nathiagali Residents Committee (NRC) to solve a host of problems faced by the community. During my stay, I went with some NRC members to visit the Keiri Reki Girls Secondary School, five kilometres from Kalabagh. This is the only government school for girls within 15 kilometres and has been targeted as a key area for sustainable development by the NRC. Over the past decade, the government has striven to introduce a series of measures addressing female education and improving girls’ enrolments and literacy rates, but these efforts do not seem sufficient. Socio-cultural and economic forces have hindered the expansion of female education. The government has formulated the Perspective Development Plan (PDP) for 2010-2011 to visualise long-term macroeconomic and sectoral growth strategies, implemented through operational strategies in a series of three-year rolling plans. So, progress in female education is to be determined by the level of implementation of the PDP, which makes a serious effort to reflect gender concerns. A major handicap this region faces is the number of teachers and teaching standards. Teacher-training institutions have not been expanded and practice of the rote system still continues. The development of syllabi has also been restricted to arts and minimal effort is given towards science and mathematics. Infrastructure development has also shown slow progress, with a place like Nathiagali having only one government school for girls. My visit to the Keiri Reki School revealed that the earthquake of 2005 severely affected the toilets and washing facilities there, virtually destroying the toilets. It has been five years since then and the government has yet to fund the school’s needed repair. The NRC is one of the few organisations that have invested in the community, with funds generated by donations from the residents to sustain local projects. My family and I have taken keen interest in the uplift of this school. My cousin, currently studying abroad, has, in collaboration with an NGO at her university, raised enough money to construct new bathrooms at the school. While experienced collaborators manage construction and school logistics locally, a core operations team of college students raises funds and spreads awareness in their home countries. Reconstruction of this school is their second project. The renovation will include installation of new bathrooms, a new septic tank, two water tanks and a computer lab. As I was driving down to the school, I was stunned to find several telecom towers. Ironically, just down the road, 500 girls do not have toilets and water-drinking facilities. With less than 25 percent of girls across Pakistan currently attending secondary school – within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – 56 percent of girls’ schools lack bathrooms and an additional 45 percent are without drinking water. Some of the girls told me that they do not go to the bathroom until they reach home in the evening. I also found out that more than 50 percent of the girls had to walk for around two hours to reach the school. The teachers had further complaints – some of them are coming in from Abbotabad, 40 kilometres from the school. This tedious commuting takes place daily due to a lack of teachers and infrastructure facilities within their areas. As this joint effort by the residents, my family members, and NGOs is finally materialising, we are forming a model school, which the government can follow when building more schools here, and use to restructure the currently functioning schools. Girls’ education is a priority for the Education Ministry and the provincial education departments. If NGOs and residents work closely with the federal government, the future of girls’ education can be improved remarkably.

Progress at Keiri Reki has been rapid this month. As work...

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 20:25:00 -0400

Progress at Keiri Reki has been rapid this month. As work continues on the bathrooms, storage room, water tanks, and computer lab, students have continued to attend regular classes as part of their academic semester. Here are a few of our latest pictures from on site. For more information and photos, be sure to check out the Project Keiri Reki blog!

Circle of Women representatives had a fantastic experience last...

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 04:41:00 -0400

Circle of Women representatives had a fantastic experience last week at the NCGS conference in New Orleans, LA. We had the opportunity to meet with some wonderful organizations with similar missions, including the UN’s GirlUp initiative and Nike’s “The Girl Effect.” Additionally, we spoke with girls’ schools educators from across the nation and beyond, spreading the word about our work, our Circumference, and our curriculum for nonprofit education. Thank you to all who contributed to the trip’s great success!

"Change on a global scale will be achieved by reciprocity from girls to girls, women to women, oceans..."

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 15:29:25 -0400

“Change on a global scale will be achieved by reciprocity from girls to girls, women to women, oceans and continents away forging connections, supporting, training and sustaining.”

- Ann Pollina, President of NCGS

Circle of Women to Attend NCGS Conference

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 06:42:00 -0400

From June 16-18, Circle of Women has been invited to attend the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools’ (NCGS) Annual Conference in New Orleans, LA. The NCGS is a Boston-based network of over 150 girls’ schools across the country. It advocates for girls’ education and leadership through both domestic and global collaboration. During this year’s conference, themed “A Call to Service,” Circle of Women representatives will have the opportunity to attend keynote speeches and panels hosted by such influential entrepreneurs as Pamela Shiftman, Director of Initiatives for Women and Girls at the NoVo Foundation, and Emily Brew, who helped develop the Nike Foundation’s “Girl Effect” campaign. We will also deliver a presentation on our organization and work with an international forum of young women from around the world.

In a vision statement that resonates strongly with our own goals, the NCGS affirms a commitment to “a world where every girl will have access to the education and resources she needs to develop into a competent and confident woman, one who is equipped to assume whatever role she seeks for herself.” Learn more about the coalition and the conference at www.ncgs.org.

Construction has been progressing swiftly in Keiri Reki. We were...

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 01:36:00 -0400

Construction has been progressing swiftly in Keiri Reki. We were recently informed that six bathroom stalls as well as one storage room have been completed so far. In addition, workers have laid the foundations for the underground water tank and the school’s new computer lab. Check out our latest pictures from on site!

Construction of a new set of bathrooms and installation of a...

Tue, 25 May 2010 03:55:37 -0400

Construction of a new set of bathrooms and installation of a septic tank at our girls’ school in Keiri Reki, Pakistan is well underway! Workers anticipate that this first phase of the refurbishment of the school should be complete within two weeks. Here are some pictures from on-site; enjoy, and stay tuned for more Project Keiri Reki updates!

"This is the truth that I repeat every day. By empowering women, we can achieve anything in the..."

Fri, 21 May 2010 01:12:00 -0400

“This is the truth that I repeat every day. By empowering women, we can achieve anything in the world.”

- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Palestinian Girls Nab Science Prize in Silicon Valley, UN News Centre

Cocktail Party in NY Raises $1,765 for Potable Water Tank and Construction in Keiri Reki

Sun, 16 May 2010 23:00:00 -0400

Rob Biederman, Rob Katz, and Matt Sternberg hosted the 2nd Annual Circle of Women Spring Cocktail Party in New York on Saturday, May 15, 2010. The event was another success; over 60 supporters and corporate matches raised $1,765 to build a water tank and support construction at our girls’ school in Keiri Reki, Pakistan. Thank you to our generous hosts and supporters for coming together to foster support and enthusiasm for our mission!

Thank You to All who Supported our Mother's Day Campaign!

Fri, 14 May 2010 03:03:00 -0400

With your help, we raised over $1,500 toward Project Keiri Reki. Thank you for making Circle of Women a part of your Mother’s Day tradition this year.

For a sense of how your contribution can help mothers and girls around the world, check out Nicholas Kristof’s thoughts on Mother’s Day here.

Princeton University 5K Run Raises $1,000

Sat, 08 May 2010 16:06:12 -0400

Circle of Women’s Princeton University chapter held a 5K race this afternoon. The event was an incredible success, raising $1,000 toward the construction of a security wall for our girls’ school in Wonkhai, Afghanistan. Thank you to the many supporters and volunteers who contributed to this great effort!

"If we want to promote peace and prosperity, we must begin with women. We have seen that in societies..."

Thu, 06 May 2010 11:26:06 -0400

“If we want to promote peace and prosperity, we must begin with women. We have seen that in societies where women’s rights are respected, economies are stronger, civil societies thrive and political institutions are more open and free.”

- Sally Field and Alyse Nelson, Women make progress but still have long way to go to reach equality, CNN.com

Afghan Filmmaker Atiq Rahimi Visits Harvard

Sat, 01 May 2010 02:09:23 -0400

Renowned filmmaker, novelist, and Afghan expatriate Atiq Rahimi spoke at the Humanities Center at Harvard on Thursday, April 29 about the artistic fruits of his 1984 flight from Afghanistan to France. Knowing no French, Rahimi originally used film as a mode of expression. Now, over 20 documentaries (as well as some acclaimed Persian and French novels) later, Rahimi is creative adviser to Afghanistan’s foremost media group and has spearheaded an initiative to produce the nation’s first soap opera.

As Rahimi expressed, his ultimate goal is “to use television as a tool for education,” drawing upon cultural revolution to usher in political change.

Check out the Harvard Crimson’s coverage of the event here.

"I’ve been a labourer all my life, so it is a joy to have educated children."

Sun, 18 Apr 2010 14:56:00 -0400

“I’ve been a labourer all my life, so it is a joy to have educated children.”

- Mohammad Kabir, kiln worker, Lahore, Pakistan

Check out the article: UNICEF initiative to provide non-formal education to impoverished children in Pakistan

Circle of Women’s Princeton University chapter is hosting...

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 11:41:00 -0400

Circle of Women’s Princeton University chapter is hosting a 5K run on May 8, 2010 to raise money for a security wall for Project Wonkhai.

Circle of Women to Attend Kairos Summit for Top Student-Run Businesses

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 00:20:11 -0400

Last spring, the Kairos Society named Circle of Women the winner of its Social Entrepreneurship Award from among its selection of the top 100 student-run companies. Kairos is an international, student-run not-for-profit organization aimed at forging connections among leaders at the undergraduate level to facilitate innovation and entrepreneurial advancement. Circle of Women received the award at the first annual Kairos Global Summit, where world-renowned leaders including former President Bill Clinton and William Gates, Sr. joined 500 of the society’s foremost student members to discuss international issues and explore emerging ideas for solutions.

This year, Kairos has once again invited Circle of Women to attend its Global Summit, which will take place on April 16th and 17th at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York. A delegation of members will be representing our organization there this spring. We are honored and excited to once again participate in this inspirational and informative convention!

For more information about the Kairos Society and its Summit, visit www.kairossociety.com/about/.

The most recent addition to our school in Wardak, a new steel...

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 15:38:00 -0400

The most recent addition to our school in Wardak, a new steel roof, has successfully withstood the brunt of its first Afghan winter, effectively keeping the classrooms and students beneath it safe and dry. Thank you, once again, to all of our supporters for contributing to this success! Check out these beautiful photos of the school building during a recent storm.

NPR Morning Edition: Afghan Women Wary of Overtures to Taliban

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:36:00 -0500

NPR Morning Edition: Afghan Women Wary of Overtures to Taliban