If you are a history lover, news junkie, or student of political science, government, international studies, international relations, international law, diplomacy, public policy, etc. then this is a blog that will catch your eye!
“I’m infected. I have HIV.” Jimmy stood proudly in front of our group, introducing himself. In a culture where people with HIV are feared and stigmatized, it is difficult to share one’s status. But today, World AIDS Day, I joined hundreds of those living with HIV in my community in a ceremony and to march through Kijomoro sub-county to show support for those with the disease and honor those who lost their fight. Jimmy, wielding a giant mingling stick, red ribbon, and feather under his stocking cap, marched next to me, never missing a beat and singing to the music from the band leading the way. “I’ve been living with HIV for the last 10 years and still going strong,” he told me as we moved. Today, we stood in solidarity, recognizing that HIV does not discriminate. It does not have a religion nor a political party. Black, white, old, or young, we fight together. Every day. #WorldAIDSDay #uganda #peacecorps #peacecorpsuganda #thirdgoal #howiseepc
“I took this photo at one of the local pagodas in Cambodia. I saw these two young monks sitting together chatting, when I noticed one of them listening to music with headphones in his ears. They seemed to be enjoying each others company and just being ordinary kids, which reminded me that although I’m living in a vastly different culture than my own, there are many similarities between us. Even though it can sometimes be hard to relate to various cultural nuances within my host community, I’ve come to understand that even halfway across the world, I live with individuals who value many of the same things I do.”
If you’ve ever wanted to know what a ger/yurt looks like inside, here you go! Primarily found in Central Asia and Mongolia, gers and yurts are frequently used by nomadic peoples due to their portability.
" Right now, 62 million girls worldwide are not in school. They’re receiving no formal education at all – no reading, no writing, no math – none of the basic skills they need to provide for themselves and their families, and contribute fully to their countries "
I meet with adolescent girls almost everywhere I travel, and I find that no matter what country I’m visiting, the optimism of girls is universal. Adolescent girls believe in themselves and in their own potential to make the world a better place to live.
As the international community works to empower adolescent girls by tackling the challenges they face – the gender-based violence, the cultural assumptions that girls are worth less than boys, the lack of access to quality education, and so on – we need to remember that girls themselves are important, powerful partners in our work.
Here are five inspiring girls who are proof that girls can and do lead the way for gender equality and girls’ empowerment.
Since she was eight years old, Jimena has taught other girls about human rights, girls’ health, and education in Guatemala. Today she is still a peer educator, but she’s also an educator of adults, who need to hear why girls are worth the investment.
Tisungeni is 13 years old. She left her home in Malawi for the first time to travel to New York City for the UN General Assembly, where she shared her experiences of working to pay for her education and advocating for girls’ priorities. It was an honor to meet her.
When I visited the Alliance Girls High School in Kenya this summer, I met with many girls who talked about how their education helped them overcome challenges. One of the themes I took away from that visit was how stereotypes hold back girls from attending school or doing their best in the classroom.
Sangita attends one of the best universities in Mumbai. She’s in the top 5 percent of her class. But she’s had to overcome incredible challenges to get where she is, from poverty to perceptions that girls don’t belong in school. In addition to her studies, Sangita is also an advocate for Magic Bus, an NGO which uses sports as a catalyst for education.
President Obama focused on women and girls during his trip to Kenya and Ethiopia this summer. This quote from Sandra, a 16-year-old student at a high school in Nairobi, summed up how powerful his remarks truly were.
Uganda gained independence from Great Britain in 1962 so today is our 53rd birthday (6 days older than kimbo)! The flag today is red, yellow, and black with the crested crane in the center. Black represents the African people, yellow for sunshine, and red for brotherhood (or blood). The traditional drum seen in the coat of arms is called the Ugandan kob and it represents fertility. Why do I know all of this? Because I prepared all of the trivia questions for this evening’s event.
Here’s a picture of my cute little pupils marching in the parade and representing Awindiri in style. (Thanks for the picture Megan!!) HAPPY CELEBRATING!🇩🇪✌🏼️
