34 years later: Fear not to do good

President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, spoke this October conference testifying of the teachings of President Thomas S. Monson.

President Eyring titled his address “Fear not to do good”.

Like President Eyring’s talk, in the 1983 April General Conference President Gordon B. Hinckley titled his address “Fear not to do good”.

Along with having the same title these talks also hold another similarity, at each of these conferences the Prophet couldn’t be in attendance.

Even though the presence of the Prophet wasn’t at the conference, the messages from the apostles testified of the Prophet’s teachings.

“The Lord told His leaders of the Restoration, and He tells us, that when we stand with faith upon His rock, doubt and fear are diminished; the desire to do good increases,” President Eyring said.

In President Hinckley’s address, he shared his thoughts and feelings on service and going forth honoring and respecting one another.

“We all look upon one another as brothers and sisters, regardless of the land we call home,” President Hinckley said. “We belong to what may be regarded as the greatest society of friends on the face of the earth.”

Both President Eyring and President Hinckley quoted Doctrine and Covenants 6:33-36, emphasizing on verse 34, “fear not, little flock; do good…”

President Hinckley said we have nothing to fear by staying on the Lord’s side.

“President Monson told us how to do that,” President Eyring said. “We are to ponder and apply the Book of Mormon and the words of the prophets. Pray always. Be believing. Serve the Lord with all our heart, might mind and strength.”

Guidance about reading the Book of Mormon remains the same from 1983 to now.

“Let us establish in our lives the habit of reading those things which will strengthen our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world,” President Hinckley said.

When President Monson last spoke in April 2017 he promised if members dedicate time each day to studying and pondering and keeping the commandments the Book of Mormon contains, then they would have a vital testimony of its truth.

Along with President Eyring, many speakers during this conference have testified and reemphasized on the teachings of the Book of Mormon from President Monson’s address in April 2017.

The published article can be found at byuiscroll.org

March 13, 2019March 13, 2019 by Victoria Fowler Categories: BYU-I ScrollTags: book of mormon, general conference, LDS, mormon Leave a comment

Photojournalism-documentary project

Here is my documentary project of a soup shop in Rexburg, Idaho.

February 11, 2019February 11, 2019 by Victoria Fowler Categories: VideoTags: doc, local eats, soup, Video Leave a comment

Social Identity Review

 

For my Comm 315 class, social media design, I was asked to create a video to review what I had done over the course of the semester.

My social media channel was focused on the earth and recycling, it was called Down to Earth.

Enjoy!

February 11, 2019February 11, 2019 by Victoria Fowler Categories: VideoTags: conservation, earth, recycling, review, social media, Video Leave a comment

Getting started with gear

Preparation is key when it comes to hiking. No matter your skill level or physical condition if you don’t have the right tools then the task at hand becomes more difficult.

I paired with Patagonia and was able to put together an affordable and basic layering system to get anyone started for there first for the fiftieth hike.

When it comes to layering for a hike there are three basic components, a base layer to wick moisture, a mid-layer for warmth and a shell for protection.

Here are affordable layers for each hiker, by Patagonia:

Base Layer- A base layer regulates body temperature and keeps moisture from your skin. Here are two midweight base layers: Men’s Midweight Crew and Women’s Midweight Crew.

Mid Layer- Primarily for insulation, mid layers are meant to keep you warm and to keep moisture from the skin. Mid layers can also be used as outer layers if conditions aren’t too severe. Here are two mid layers to consider: Men’s Fleece and Women’s Fleece.

Outer Shell- To keep you dry from wind, rain, or snow an outer shell protection is perfect to have, especially for hikes in southeastern Idaho. Here are two outer shell options: Men’s Jacket and Women’s Jacket.

Even though this layering system may seem fairly simple, it will keep you warm and dry during any type of hike.

December 4, 2018March 11, 2019 by Victoria Fowler Categories: Senior ProjectTags: cold, gear, hiking, jackets, layering, outdoors, outside, prepare, trails, travel Leave a comment

5 hikes you need to try

Lace up your hiking boots and hit the trail! The Southeastern Idaho area is home to hundreds of hikes all over the region, ranging from the perfect “getting started” hike to the more skilled trail. Whatever your skill level, the southeastern Idaho area has you set to begin your hiking journey.

Listed below are five must-do hikes in the area.

All ratings are based on alltrails.com

Beginner:

Cress Creek- Nestled along the Snake River, in Ririe, Idaho, the Cress Creek trail is a 1.3-mile trail that is accessible to any level hiker. The beginning of the trail, leading to the loop is a gradual incline on a paved walkway.

Once you reach the split to go around the loop the trail becomes a gravel path, but easy to navigate. Once in the loop, there are some steeper sections, but nothing too difficult.

Cress Creek trail is the perfect taste of the beauty southeastern Idaho holds. The trail can be accessed all year round but is best to visit June through October.

​Bloomington Lake Trail– No need for an Eifel Tower while in Paris, Idaho with this hike to a beautiful lake. The Bloomington Lake Trail is an out and back 1.4-mile hike.

This hike is perfect for beginners and offers gorgeous views of the area. About a half a mile in the hike, there is a smaller body of water, but don’t let this fool you, at the end of the hike Bloomington Lake is a beautiful reward.

This hike is best accessed March through October, although if you do take this trail earlier in the year be prepared for snow.

Moderate:
Mystic Falls– One of the many wonders of Yellowstone National Park, Mystic Falls is the perfect hike to get away from the busy attractions of the national park.

Mystic Falls is a 3.6- mile hike that starts at the Biscuit Basin Geyser and leads you through trees up to an incredible overlook and then to the falls.

This hike is a little harder than the rest because of its distance but also the 546 ft. elevation gain through the trees.

Be sure though when you come to the first split in the trail to take the right path, this will bring you to the overlook and gives you an incredible view of Yellowstone National Park.

​Difficult:
Table Rock- With stunning views of the Teton Mountains, Table Rock is a difficult out and back 12-mile hike, but is worth every step. Located in Alta, Wyoming, Table Rock is the perfect hike for the experienced hiker.

The trail begins right off with switchbacks that lead to the beauty of the Jedediah Smith Wilderness. The trail is easy to navigate through these fields of green. Along the trail, there are streams and parts of rivers to be crossed. Previous hikers have gone through and made log bridges to easily pass over the water.

This trail is best used from July to September. Any sooner than these times will give some difficulty with snow. This hike gets its difficult title from its 4,140 ft. elevation gain. As difficult as this hike may be, it is a beautiful experience for each hiker.

Cascade Canyon Trail- Of the many hikes in Grand Teton National Park, Cascade Canyon Trail, is a must do. This hike is an out and back 9.3-mile trail near Beaver Creek, Wyoming.
The trail begins on the Shore of Jenny Lake and takes you into the Cascade Canyon. This hike brings you up to Inspiration Point, which gives great views of the national park but doesn’t stop here.

This trail will take you farther into the canyon giving spectacular views and a memorable experience that will keep you coming back.

This trail is best accessed April to September and has an elevation gain of 1,066. The first part of this trail is rather steep, but after the first mile, the elevation is a gradual incline. Following a creek through the canyon, this hike offers all that the Grand Teton National Park has to offer.

December 4, 2018March 13, 2019 by Victoria Fowler Categories: Senior ProjectTags: Grand Teton National Park, hiking, Idaho, lakes, need to do, outdoors, outside, rivers, trails, waterfalls, Wyoming, yellowstone Leave a comment

17 times and more to come

Among the potato fields of southeastern Idaho, Brent Ashcraft had dreams for much bigger.

“I was always exercising and when scouts came we went on hikes and I loved that stuff, but then I got into school, went to college and got out of that, I got into the studying scene and lost touch with some of that,” Ashcraft said.

When Ashcraft turned 40 he decided to get back in touch with his love for the outdoors and took up climbing.

“We were driving from here [Rexburg] to Idaho falls one day and my coworker was saying, ‘You know I read this thing and I decided I wanted to climb something,’ and in the back of my mind I had always thought, ‘yeah, I want to climb, but I didn’t know that you could.’ I didn’t know how” Ashcraft said.

Ashcraft connected with other coworkers who were going to climb the Grand Teton and he took advantage of this opportunity.

Although, on Ashcraft’s first time up the Grand Teton his group didn’t even make it to the top.

Hiking the Grand Teton is a 14-mile round trip hike with the peak at an elevation of 13.776 ft. and an elevation gain of 7,000 ft. over the course of the hike, according to Jackson Hole Mountain Guides webpage.

“We got up to the meadows and he [the guide] says I’m sick and can’t go any further,” Ashcraft said. “We were really looking forward to this so he said that he could describe the way up, but he was only going to tell us as far as the upper saddle, he wasn’t going to tell you how to get to the top.”

Ashcraft and his hiking companion made it to the lower saddle. At this point, they saw some other guides and asked if they could get directions for the rest of the way.

“The guides told us that they couldn’t in good conscience tell us because it is so dangerous up there if you don’t know the way,” Ashcraft said.

Ashcraft’s first trip was later in the season. This required them to wait another year before attempting to climb again.

The following year Ashcraft met his goal and made it up the Grand Teton.
​
“Since then I have climbed it [Grand Teton] 17 times over the last 18 years,” Ashcraft said. “I love it.”

Ashcraft said that over the years he has learned that being prepared is the most important.

“I make sure there are at least three nice weather days in a row and I’ll just pick the middle one so that something doesn’t come surprisingly,” Ashcraft said.

Ashcraft makes note that not only is water, food and proper clothing important to have when you make any climb but knowing the way is vital.

Ashcraft doesn’t believe that he would’ve hiked the Grand Teton without someone showing him the way.

In 2014, it was reported that 2,658 search and rescue efforts were made. The exact number of lost hikers nationwide is unknown, according to the National Park Service.

“I’ve run into other people who have tried hiking for the first time without a guide and made it, but they end up in the middle of the night and they have lost their way and it ends up being kind of a miserable ending experience for them,” Ashcraft said.

Ashcraft explained that in the summer, thunderstorms can develop quickly and can be dangerous.

Ashcraft had one experience where he was taking a group of first timers up the Grand Teton and he noticed a storm developing in the distance.

“We got in between the lower saddle and the upper saddle and I could see the thunderstorm start to move in. I said, ‘we are turning around,’ and he didn’t want to, but his brother and sister convinced him, so we went back down,” Ashcraft said. “That was the day that lightning struck a group up there and killed one lady instantly and knocked a few others off, so they were just dangling from their ropes.”

Ashcraft said that by the time that happened they were back at the lower saddle and under shelter because they turned around.

“I don’t take those kinds of risks,” Ashcraft said.

Ashcraft explained that it isn’t just the spectacular views that keep him coming back to climb, but it is how he feels while he climbs.

Ashcraft linked his connection with climbing to the Old Testament.

In the Old Testament Moses goes to the mountaintop to speak with God. In the New Testament Christ went up into the mount and told his disciples to send the people away and he goes up into the mountain.

“To me, there is a connection in the same way. I actually love hiking by myself or in a group that’s not really chatty, because then you can absorb that and you can feel it and ponder about life,” Ashcraft said.

Whenever Ashcraft takes anyone up the Grand Teton he tries to bring this aspect of pondering life and following the spirit into each of his climbs.

“I will tell to listen to the spirit and that’s who you’re following, you’re not following me,” Ashcraft said. “I’m going to counsel you and I’m going to show you the way, but at any point that you have a feeling that you’re not supposed to go any further then that’s what you listen to.”

Ashcraft encourages everyone and anyone to set a goal to go on a hike. It doesn’t have to be a long or difficult hike. He said that it is ok if you start small, as long as you start.
​
“Just do it,” Ashcraft said. “It’s one of those things that you just need to try, well I didn’t do it until I was 40, and then I started thinking I just wasted a bunch of years.”

Since Ashcraft’s first climb he has climbed the Grand Teton 17 times, he has climbed Mount Borah and Diamond Peak multiple times, completed 11 races up Pikes Peak and participated in various Ragnar races.

“You just never know what you’ll love,” Ashcraft said. “It’s an effort and it’s time and it’s an adventure and it’s a challenge. You just got to try it the first time. Somebody needs to nudge you a little bit, like Jim [coworker] nudged me and now I just thank him every time I see him.”

 

 

 

October 24, 2018March 13, 2019 by Victoria Fowler Categories: Senior ProjectTags: climbing, GTNP, hiking, mountain, outdoors, outside, Tetons, trails Leave a comment

10 facts about human rights in Pakistan

Pakistan, cushioned between India and Afghanistan, is home to more than 212 million people and is the sixth most populous country in the world. Each one of these people living in Pakistan should be given basic human rights no matter their ethnic origin, color, gender, religion or any other reason.

Even if human rights should be granted to everyone, not everyone is given the same rights as the other in some countries around the world. There is much to know how each human is treated or could be treated in the country of Pakistan. Here are 10 facts on human rights in Pakistan.

10 Facts On Human Rights in Pakistan

1. Attacks on civil society. A civil society is a community of citizens linked by common interests, and in Pakistan some aspects of civil society are under attack. For instance, an attack on a school killing 140 people, mostly children, made those among the positive civil society in Pakistan protest against the government for supporting the “good” Taliban. When these protests arose, so did the safety concerns of Pakistan’s civil society. These people were attacked with laws and organizations put against them.
2. Freedom of religion. In 2017, there were at least 19 people on death row under blasphemy charges, many of whom were members of religious minorities in Pakistan. This situation, combined with many others, has put Pakistan at a severe level of ‘violations of religious freedom’ — religious minorities and atheists are at a higher risk than ever before.
3. Children’s rights. Child marriage is a major concern in Pakistan, with 21 percent of girls under the age of 18 already married. Along with child marriages, lack of education also heavily impacts children in Pakistan. There have been many attacks on the school, and children are frequently used in suicide bombings. Unfortunately, roughly five million children are not able to attend school in Pakistan.
4. Women’s rights. Many women in Pakistan face rape, acid attacks, domestic violence and “honor” killings. It is estimated that there are about 1,000 “honor” killings a year on Pakistani women. If a woman is accused of adultery, fornication or an immoral behavior that violates societal and religious norms, she is then subjected to an “honor” killing.
5. Refugees. Pakistan is host to the largest refugee population in the world. According to UNHCR, there are more than 1.45 million refugees in Pakistan, many of whom are from Afghanistan. In many areas, the Pakistani police have extorted money from registered and undocumented refugees from Afghanistan. Between January to August in 2017, up to 82,019 Afghan refugees returned or were deported back to Afghanistan.
6. Terrorism. Many security forces in Pakistan are linked to terrorist intentions. Many times when suspects were to be charged, there were serious violations regarding torture and secret detention centers. Many of those who are detained were activists and human rights defenders.
7. Forced Disappearances. Many minority groups are under attack in Pakistan, and forced disappearances can occur. In 2017, the government received 868 new cases of forced disappearances, a figure which is more than the previous two years. The government was able to locate 555 of those who had disappeared, but there are still 313 people missing.
8. Freedom of expression. Many journalists, bloggers and social media users have been attacked in relation with Pakistan. For instance, there were five bloggers whose comments online led to forced disappearances. Four of the five bloggers were later released, but two of them said that they were tortured while in custody. The fifth blogger has still not been unfound.
9. Human rights defenders. Whether lawyers, bloggers, journalists or activists, voices of truth are often subjected to harassment, threats and forms of violence. In 2016, the Pakistani government argued that human rights defenders did not warrant special legal status and the protection of human rights defenders was a conspiracy by western countries to interfere in domestic affairs in developing countries.
10. A glimpse at progress. It may seem that human rights in Pakistan is lacking, but there have been some instances of progress over the years. In Punjab, Pakistani authorities are now accepting marriage licenses in the Sikh community, giving union protections under the law. Another progression in human rights for Pakistan is restoring section 7 of the Christian Divorce Act. In this section, Christians who wish to divorce can do so civilly without the threat of false accusations of adultery. Despite the many downfalls on human rights for women, there was an increase of 3.8 million women able to vote in the most recent election compared to 2013.

Positive Push

While there may be progress budding in regard to human rights in Pakistan, the road to completely improved human rights will be long and difficult. If those pushing for their rights are heard and supported, the return of basic human rights and safety can return to Pakistan.

The published article can be found here. 

October 8, 2018March 13, 2019 by Victoria Fowler Categories: The Borgen ProjectTags: facts, human rights, Pakistan Leave a comment

The positive impact of mass media in developing countries

Radio, newspapers, television, Internet, social media, etc., all of these are forms of mass media. Each of these outlets has the capability of bringing information to thousands of people with one device. While in some communities it is easy to take advantage of these communication outlets such as television and Internet access, not everyone has access to such outlets.

Radio is one of the most common forms of mass media in developing countries because it’s affordable and uses less electricity than many other forms of mass media, but only approximately 75 percent of people in developing countries have access to a radio, and roughly 77 percent of people in rural areas have access to electricity.

For developing countries that have implemented forms of mass media in their communities, there have been numerous positive outcomes. Here are five positive impacts of mass media in developing countries.

1. Brings people together- With implementing mass media in societies in Tunisia and Egypt, citizens were able to reach out to each other through social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter and create, organize and initiate street protests and campaigns. Furthermore, having access to social media in developing countries, people are able to connect to those that they usually wouldn’t have the chance to talk to.
2. Provides educational opportunities- In many countries, the division between local and national languages as well as issues of literacy can make communication difficult. With the use of mass media, a bridge can be built between these two gaps. In India, there is a radio station that provides information in local languages and respects local culture and traditions.
3. Watchdog for the public interest- Media is the watchdog for public interest in many ways. One of the main ways is to create public awareness of what is going on with businesses and government officials. The media plays an important role in giving people the opportunity to act against injustice, oppression and misdeeds that they otherwise wouldn’t know about.
4. Information on available healthcare- In Burkina Faso, a mass radio broadcast was sent out encouraging parents to seek treatment at local healthcare facilities for their sick children. With this mass outreach on healthcare, the encouragement of people to take their children to healthcare facilities saved thousands of lives. This easy way of encouraging others and bringing awareness about certain diseases was made possible through a simple radio broadcast.
5. Brings social issues to life- Similar to “watchdogging”, media brings many social issues to life that otherwise would remain unknown to many people. In developing countries and communities like Burkina Faso, when the radio broadcast was released about malaria, diarrhea and pneumonia, people were educated and moved to action and knew to take their children to healthcare facilities for preventative care.

As it is seen, having access to different media outlets is vital for those in developing countries. Here are three ways that those in developing countries can implement mass media to help their people and communities.

1. Provide radios or newspapers in public places- By providing radios and newspapers in public areas it gives community members to access news, information and emergency warnings. Even though radios can be on the cheaper side, there are still many people that can’t afford to have a radio in their home. By providing one in a local place, not only would it better educate the community members but also it will bring the community together.
2. Have the community involved in sharing the news- When making individual communities responsible for providing their own news it not only makes them independent and proud of the work that they are putting out but it also has a positive effect on local economies. The media can provide many jobs that otherwise wouldn’t have been there.
3. Make media outlets a two-way platform- Creating a two-way platform between the community and those who are behind the radio stations, newspapers or broadcasts makes the community feel involved and that their voices are being heard. An organization called Soul City in sub-Saharan Africa is showing how well two-way platforms work by engaging their listeners and having them contribute thoughts and ideas about complex issues.

Whether through radio or cell phones, forms of mass media are constantly being used to inform, educate and strengthen people all over the world whether they be in urban or rural communities.

One easy way to help gain access to mass media in developing countries is to reach out to government officials in the United States. Click here to email U.S. Senators about The Digital GAP Act and ask them to give first-time access to mobile or broadband Internet to 1.5 million people in developing countries by 2020.

The published article can be found here. 

October 8, 2018March 13, 2019 by Victoria Fowler Categories: The Borgen ProjectTags: developing countries, internet, mass media, newspaper, radio Leave a comment

An inside look at child poverty around the world

Half of the world’s children live in poverty and face the constant risk of conflict, discrimination and abuse. Here are five countries with the highest levels of child poverty around the world and the current state of these countries.

Five Countries With the Highest Levels of Child Poverty

1. Romania – Roughly half of Romania’s children are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. Romania’s child poverty rate increased from 50 to 51 percent after Romania entered the European Union. Child labor in Romania is at one percent; although this is encouraging, it is still an issue in the case of child development. Along with a poor economy, healthcare in Romania is minimal for children. It is estimated that 12 percent of children in Romania die before the age of five.
2. Israel – The child poverty rate in Israel showed a decrease from 2006 to 2015, but from 2015 to 2016 there was a slight rise in the poverty levels from 30 percent to 31.2 percent. The poverty levels for ultra-Orthodox families and single-parent families in Israel increased in 2016. One out of three children in Israel live in poor conditions and suffer from malnutrition. One cause to the poor state of children in Israel is due to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. This conflict has injured and killed many children in Israel, and Israeli school buses have been the target of many attacks.
3. Turkey – 17 percent of Turkey’s population lives in poverty, and the gap between rich and poor is becoming wider and wider. Babies born in Turkey are suffering as soon as they are born; 11 percent of babies are born with dietary deficiencies and 20 percent of children die before the age of five. Education in Turkey is progressing, but five percent of children still do not attend school. The majority of those children are girls.
4. Bulgaria – Children under the age of 18 in Bulgaria have reached the highest risk of poverty and social exclusion. It is estimated that 52 percent of these children are at risk. Disabled people, ethnic minority groups and children are some of the most vulnerable groups in Bulgaria and are ill-equipped to be deprived of their basic rights of clean water, food and security.
5. Mexico – The majority of the poor in Mexico are children. It is estimated that 53.8 percent of children in Mexico live in poverty. In addition, 14 percent of children in Mexico have suffered from slow development and are malnourished. Many of the problems regarding child poverty in Mexico can be linked to the lack of trust in the government and decreases in income; this often prohibits children from attending school, forcing them instead into the workforce to help provide for their family.

There are many ways to help the millions of children living in poverty around the world. Here are five ways that one person can change the future of child poverty.

Five Ways to Make an Impact on Child Poverty

1. Contact your representatives in Congress – One of the easiest ways to make a difference is by simply sending an email or making a quick phone call to support bills that can greatly affect the lives of those suffering in extreme poverty. If support is shown for a bill, members of Congress are more likely to push the bill forward.
2. Support The Hunger Project – The Hunger Project is a non-governmental organization that is fighting to end global hunger. The Hunger Project builds confidence in those who are suffering from social suppression and hunger and helps them find a voice to take charge of their own development. As an example, an outcome evaluation in Ghana and Malawi showed significant improvements in gender equality after The Hunger Project stepped in to help.
3. Promote proper water quality – Women and girls spend roughly six hours a day going out and collecting water. This keeps young girls from educational opportunities and emphasizes the limited access to clean water for children in developing countries. Access to clean water can unlock significant potential for millions of children. Reduced time spent collecting water has shown an increase in school attendance for children.
4. Empower Women – By empowering women, closing gender gaps and eliminating gender discrimination, the wellbeing and progress of children will increase. When girls are discriminated against, they are less likely to attend school. There is a correlation between educated women and child survival and development; a lack of proper education decreases the child survival rate. One study suggested that if men and women had the same influence in decision-making, it could allow 13.4 million fewer children in South Asia to be undernourished.
5. Sponsor a child – Sponsoring a child can provide the child with opportunities for success that they might never have. It also shows the child that there is someone who cares enough to encourage them and provide them with the basic necessities. When children know that they are supported, it pushes them to try their hardest and reach their full potential.

Children are the future, and each person around the world has the responsibility to help the future grow. It is important to be aware of child poverty around the world and take steps to reduce it.

The published article can be found here. 

October 8, 2018March 13, 2019 by Victoria Fowler Categories: The Borgen ProjectTags: bulgaria, children, developing countries, facts, israel, mexico, poverty, romania, third world, turkey, women, world Leave a comment

10 empowering facts about girl’s education in Egypt

Education can do wonders for anyone around the world. In many nations, however, there are young girls who are never given the opportunity to learn how to read, write and communicate.

In Egypt, women are on the lower end of the literacy scale — 65 percent of women are literate compared to 82 percent of men. Interestingly, though, Egypt on the world scale ranks 78 in the “best country for women” and 44 for “best country for education.” Although, Egypt isn’t immune to progress, here are 10 facts about girls’ education in Egypt and how far the nation has come.

10 Facts About Girls’ Education in Egypt

1. More girls in Egypt are going to school. Education is becoming more and more accessible to girls in Egypt. In 1996, 66.9 percent of girls in Egypt were literate; this number has increased to 90.3 percent in 2013.
2. Educating girls is better for the economy. When girls and women are educated there are more jobs for everyone. Low and middle-income countries can add $92 billion a year to their economies if girls went to school for 12 years.
3. World Education’s integrated literacy initiative is changing lives. The World Education’s integrated literacy initiative brings health education to girls in Egypt, which for many, is a first-time exposure. This initiative encourages girls to become more educated and also promotes them to better take care of themselves.
4. USAID brings education opportunities to Egypt. USAID carries out U.S. foreign policy to reduce poverty and help with international development. In Egypt, USAID works to reduce the gender enrollment gap at each level of education, and also offers improved access for girls to science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
5. The number of out-of-school girls has decreased. In 2014, 153,405 girls were out of school. This number dropped significantly in 2016 to 45,132, which demonstrates that more children — especially girls — are attending school.
6. Education empowers girls in Egypt. Educated women in Egypt are standing up for what they believe and taking a stand against gender prejudice. There are many in Egypt who believe that women shouldn’t receive an education because they will just end up married. In protest of this view, educated women in Egypt state that “education is the key to development” and every girl needs this key.
7. Egypt plans to end illiteracy in three years. The Ministry of Local Development in Egypt announced in June that they plan to end illiteracy in Egypt within the next three years. Some of the steps to reach this goal is to require each student to teach up to eight illiterate people, provide a reward system so students teach others and organize training courses for teachers.
8. Poverty affects girls’ education in Egypt. Roughly 45 percent of the Egyptian population lives in poverty and on an income of less than $2 a day. Due to this fiscal poverty, proper education gets put on the back burner for many families.
9. Egypt’s literacy rate has grown in the last 10 years. In 2005, the literacy rate in Egypt for girls from 15 to 24 was 78.95 percent, and in 2013 it rose to 90.33 percent.
10. More girls are in primary and tertiary education than boys. The school system in Egypt divides the level of education by age. Pre-primary is four to five years old, primary is six to eleven-year-olds, secondary is 12 to 17-year-olds and tertiary is 18 to 22-year-olds. Currently in Egypt, girls make up 103.67 percent of primary level education where boys make up 103.59 percent. In tertiary education, girls make up 34.85 percent of those enrolled and boys make up 34.04 percent.

Increasing Access to Education

These facts about girls’ education in Egypt demonstrate how the fight for equality is still progressing. Girls crave knowledge just as much as boys do, and thankfully there are many ways other boys, girls, men and women can get involved in helping support girls in developing countries receive the proper education.

One easy way to support access to education to girls in Egypt and those in other developing countries is supporting the Protecting Girls’ Access to Education in Vulnerable Settings Act and getting government officials to support this act as well.

The published article can be found here. 

October 8, 2018March 13, 2019 by Victoria Fowler Categories: The Borgen ProjectTags: education, egypt, empower, facts, girls, improvement, third world, women Leave a comment