With the help of GG donors, this fall Friends of Gueoul (FoG) purchased and shipped 95 refurbished laptops for its after-school program in Gueoul, Senegal. Now we need to use those computers in our newly expanded STEM program; and offer more mentoring, career counseling, tutoring, ESL courses, experiential climate projects, and teacher training. This expansion will extend our reach and help our students believe that they are not alone and belong in the larger global world.
Globally, 5.5 million more girls are out of school than boys. Access to formal education is only the first step in changing these statistics: girls from poor, rural areas often feel alone and have difficulty picturing themselves as successful women in professional roles. Without mentors by women who have made the same journey, it is hard for girls to believe in themselves and to have the resilience to insist on what they deserve: an education that welcomes them into the global world.
FoG focuses its efforts on a rural community in Gueoul, Senegal, where many families cannot afford the basic necessities for schooling. We award $150 scholarships annually to 16 girls selected by a local parent and teacher group, based on need and currently have 189 girls in the program, 21 of whom are in college or vocational school. One FoG graduate has returned from college with an IT degree and now teaches in the FoG program. This program will permit FoG to do more.
Friends of Gueoul is nearly 20 years old and is a proven success. Our latest results show that 38% of the girls in the FoG program completed secondary school, and many pursue university degrees thereafter. With expanded services and an emphasis on mentoring and career development and the confidence that comes from knowing they are not alone, they will have the determination and grit needed for a multi-year journey, knowing they can accomplish anything they set their minds to.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
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