ADOLESCENT GIRLS FOR EDUCATION 21 PROJECT
The purpose of this proposal is to demonstrate the effectiveness of a post primary learning and maturation center for adolescent girls. The goal of the center is to preparegirls for life as a woman, living successfully in the 21st Century.
The Children Care Development Organization in Tanzania has been operating for the past 5 years supporting the rights of girls and women with a portfolio of projects. The Enabling Support Foundation has been facilitating the activities of grassroots NGOs in sub-Sahara Africa. ESF has established the Peace Flame Network and the Archive of Social Good. The Archive lists activities, web sites and contact person of NGOs that can be searched by country, population served, and mission. Visit at www.peaceflame.org/social-good.
ESF has been collaborating with CCDO for the last three years. The Ministry of Education has already endorsed Education 21 as accepted approach to Education in the 21st Century that will be used in the Institute to educate the girls. They also partnered on a blended Disability Center combining CCDO on the ground and ESF in the cloud providing expertise and experts for the workers in the field. The Adolescent Maturity Institute is another joint project that provides education and maturation for adolescent girls, including those who have physical and cognitive disabilities.
Intake. Entrance into the Institute includes a complete medical examination as well as standard immunizations. We will provide treatment or referral for health issues. A psycho-social interview will provide further insight into the background of the girls. A unique service will support the appearance of the girls. We want them to see how good they can look, and to encourage a positive self-image.
Each girl will have a Big Sister to shepherd them as they get started. The older girls will have a little sister to welcome and show around, and they will teach and learn from one another.
Education. The Institute will be using Education 21, a program developed by ESF and can be found at www.enabling.org/education21
Most girls will have basic reading skills, and the Academy will concentrate on speed reading. That is, reading without decoding. This approach is to be preferred for non-readers and dyslexics. And we expect all girls will be literate. They will learn word processing, spreadsheets, communication, and web search. The girls will use these tools to complete real world projects. Local employers will be contacted to determine those skills they expect in an employee.
The STEM subjects has one simple rule. Substitute accurate estimation for arithmetic. In most cases a good estimate is all you need. For exacting work a spreadsheet is an intuitive platform all the STEM courses. There is a prevalent concern that STEM subjects are difficult. In reality arithmetic has blocked many from STEM, and we have eliminated that block.
Students will learn using project based learning, and the project evaluated using authentic assessment. In addition to individual projects, the students will be part of a team that must work together to complete a project. Teams can be of mixed gender. Team mates will learn to respect one another and projects will get done. And a step toward gender equality.When the girls have graduated they will be prepared for the electronic workplace of the 21st Century in many ways.
Culture The culture program is two-fold. The girls will experience the fine arts through the years and the have opportunity to express their own talents. Culture can also refer to sociological differences. How does a girl in Tanzania learn about fashion in New York? Using email. Students from two countries communicate about life as they see it in their own words. The student writes a report and reads other reports. An easy way to learn about different cultures.
Living. In the 21st Century, women must understand banking and finance, deeds and property, and all their legal rights. We have gathered a group of experts in legal, financial, vocational accounting fields who will provide online support to teachers in the Institute. The expert dialogues with the teacher and the teacher presents the information to the girls. Optional courses will be available for cooking, automotive, sports, and other areas on the softer side of life.
Governance. Another aspect of living in the 21st Century is the role of women in government. The girls will be exposed to the theory and practice of government. Part of their education will include participation in local political activity, as partisans or independents.
Sustainability. During those times the center is not used by the Academy, it will be used as a computer cooperative. Members of the cooperative will have computer and Internet access along with guidance on their effective use. Subscription fees will be use to maintain and expand the computer center and the Academy. In this way we will create a sustainable organization that has the potential to grow.
Finale. We bring you two productive organizations, experienced in working together, to create a prototype school that can quickly and inexpensively cloned.