Welcome to the 50 New Kurandza Students!
In October, we welcomed 50 new girls to our educational program for a total of 250 students! Thanks to the support of our #IStandForGirls sponsors, we are thrilled to be able to continue expanding our program and impact year-after-year.
Having access to an education will serve these girls for a lifetime. They’ll gain the skills and confidence needed to succeed in the classroom and beyond. We can’t wait to see how they each learn, change, and grow over the course of the next school year.
Read on to meet some of the new girls, plus learn more about how they were selected for the program.
How we selected the students
The Directors of our partner schools provided us with a list of students they felt would be a good fit for the program - girls who are orphaned, vulnerable, and/or lack crucial resources.
Each on-the-ground Kurandza team member also nominated girls that they felt needed our support. Educator Alice, for instance, nominated a girl who dropped out last year because she didn’t have funds for matriculation to high school, along with her younger sister who doesn’t have funds for school supplies. Founder, Elisabetta, recommended the daughter of one of the original members of the Kurandza sewing cooperative, as she is in need of the support.
Over the last couple of weeks, we interviewed each of these prospective students to learn more about their:
Financial need - Are their parents/guardians employed? If so, do they have the means to cover the costs of school fees such as tuition, matriculation, uniforms, and supplies? Do they live with elderly grandparents or a single parent with many children? These are all important factors to take into consideration.
Housing situation - Do they live in a mud hut? Do they have a latrine? Do they have electricity or running water? Do they own livestock?
Level of interest in attending school
Guardians’ level of cooperation and involvement
Based on our findings, we selected the 50 girls who demonstrated the greatest need for support and invited them to come and take photos for their formal entrance into the program.
Meet the new girls
The Girls’ Stories
Sabina is 14 years old and in the 5th grade. Her father passed away and her mother remarried and moved away, so she now lives with her elderly grandmother who doesn’t have the financial means to send her to school. She is a well-behaved girl who respects her elders, is very friendly, and helps with household chores. Sabina likes studying and knows that being a part of Kurandza will help her a lot.
“I am very happy to be part of the organization, as I saw girls my age going and participating in the activities. The support I will have will also ensure my success at school.”
Célia and Helena are orphaned sisters who currently live with their grandfather. He loves them very much and dreams of a better, brighter future for them. He knows that attending school will help the girls a lot, especially Célia who struggles with epilepsy, as she’ll be able to interact with girls her age and make new friends. During our photo sessions together, he was encouraging his granddaughters to smile, jump, and play.
The mother of 3rd-grader Nique was a member of the Kurandza sewing cooperative years ago. During her time there, she learned the power of education for a woman and learned a lot. She doesn’t have the financial means to send Nique to school, which is why Kurandza stepped in to help. They are both very grateful for the opportunity for Kurandza’s support.
“Women’s education and awareness is important and crucial for the growth of a community.”
Thank you sponsors
Sending a heartfelt thank you out to all of our 2021 #IStandForGirls sponsors. We are so grateful for your help in growing our program and making an education possible for 50 more students this year. Your support is providing a life-changing opportunity and creating hope for these girls and their families. Thank you!