The first comprehensive state-based center and museum in the U.S. had its opening celebration in downtown Baltimore on May 25. The current exhibit called "Generations for Justice" includes a picture of some School Girls Unite leaders. Also, our action guide, "Girls Gone Activist" is on display at the Maryland Women's Heritage Center.  This museum is "adding herstory to history to tell our story."  Our thanks to the visionary creator Jill Moss Greenberg and Linda Shevitz, both of whom have been terrific supporters of all our global gender equality efforts!  

About a dozen of us from four different schools went to Congress on April 21 to participate in the Global Campaign for Education Action Week. Our sisters in Mali took part in similar lobbying activities in Mali.

We started by attending a news conference with Jessica Alba and Congresswoman Lowey who made the case for creating a Global Fund for Education to make sure every girl and boy in the world get a primary education by 2015. A short video produced by the National Education Association includes great photos of SGU.

The real highlight was an impromptu meeting with Senator Barbara Mikulski. BCC Club leader Shayna Goldsmith spotted the Senator walking towards her office and a superb discussion about the Foreign Operations Appropriation bill ensued for over 10 minutes. Mikulski promised to give serious consideration for a $2 Billion Global Fund for Education (modeled after the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB & Malaria). At the end she shouted out: “Never stop being activists!” Our scheduled meeting with the Senator’s foreign policy aide followed and the students were treated with real respect.

Meetings followed with Senator Cardin and Rep. Van Hollen’s foreign policy aides. I wish we had recorded these discussions because every SGUer spoke with conviction and reinforced one another’s arguments. Here's a slide show from our day at Congress. 
 

Across the street from the United Nations, 16-year-old Donnady Coquila Lao from the Philippines and youth advocate with PLAN captured the attention of international audiences when she described the “gender stereotypes” during the 54th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. She said “In our knowledge and technology-based economy, girls face poverty.

These messages are presented to you by Les Filles Unies pour l’Education in Mali in partnership with School Girls Unite of United States of America

« Mon père, ma mère, mon tuteur, Donnez moi la chance de grandir et de continuer mes études. Ne me mariez pas trop tôt. Le mariage précoce est une entrave à la scolarisation des filles. »

“My father, my mother, my tutor, Give me the chance to grow and continue my schooling. Do not marry me too young. Early marriage is like a ball and chain and hinders the education for girls. »

Je suis la Présidente des Filles Unies pour l’Education au Mali et je prends la parole pour adresser les problèmes qui nous concernent… pour revendiquer l’équité du genre et la jouissance de nos droits.
Nous sommes les jeunes qui changeons le monde maintenant car nous sommes les plus nombreux et c’est notre avenir !

I have a story for you -- when I began a year ago with School Girls Unite, we were planning our benefit concert in Downtown Silver Spring. I believed this was unique because of the originality and energy of the group. Everyone spoke with excitement and passion behind every word. Understandably, I wanted to be a part of it. I felt great about what I was doing even though it wasn’t a cause that I necessarily would have chosen.