Who came up with the idea for this African-American project?
Why focus on Mali?
Can I become a member of School Girls Unite?
Who selects the girls in Mali who receive School Girls Unite scholarships?
Where do donations to School Girls Unite go?
Who are all the folks of involved?
How are School Girls Unite & Filles Unies different from other programs?
What are your future plans?


Who came up with the idea for this African-American project?

Half a dozen 12-year-olds, four African women in their 20s, and several community activists met at a neighborhood café in 2004 in the Washington, DC area. We talked about the contrast between our good schools and millions of girls worldwide not getting an education. Our conversation centered on this injustice and the tremendous benefits of educating girls to create a smarter and more peaceful world. One fact that stunned everyone was that $40 sneakers would cover the cost of sending a girl to school in Mali for an entire year. Together we decided to take the lead to advocate for our “sisters.” Future strategy sessions included more students representing Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Turkey plus women volunteers from Cameroon, Mali and Rwanda. Within three months, our group came up with SCHOOL GIRLS UNITE as our name, designed a logo featuring a chalkboard and globe.


Why focus on Mali?

A natural link existed with this West African country because two of the founding members of School Girls Unite are from Mali. Our research revealed that UNICEF identifies Mali as one of the 25 countries needing as needing “emergency action” where only about 20% of girls attend high school. This stable young democracy is one of only 8 African countries eligible to qualify for U.S. assistance through the Millennium Challenge Account because of its good governance practices.


Can I become a member of School Girls Unite?

Absolutely! There is no minimum age for leadership. Check out ways you can make a difference at GET INVOLVED and also email us at info@schoolgirlsunite.org or call us toll-free at 1-800-KID-POWER.


Who selects the girls in Mali who receive School Girls Unite scholarships?

The girls who receive scholarships are extremely poor and their parents cannot afford to send their daughters to school. Several are orphans. Filles Unies members meet often with the village elders, school directors, teachers and parents and this process results in the selection of news girls. ADAF/Gallé, our nongovernmental partner in Mali, has been working in these villages for over 10 years and also provide lots of help. Filles Unies visits the the schools several times a year and analyzes problems, researches solutions and shares this information and their recommendations with School Girls Unite. For example, recently we decided to provide tutoring to the new first grade girls who started school on October 4, 2007.


Where do donations to School Girls Unite go?

Your tax-deductible donations go to our EDUCATION & LEADERSHIP FUND, which provides opportunities in Mali where 60% of girls do not complete an elementary school education and which supports numerous youth leadership development activities for SCHOOL GIRLS UNITE members in Africa and the United States.

Every dollar goes a long way to send a girl in Mali to school. Here is snapshot of the average cost for one 3rd grade girl for the entire year:

School Fees	School Supplies	Reading & Math Textbooks	Group Tutoring Sessions	Filles Unies Leadership Dev & Administration	Total School Year
$ 4	$ 17	$ 11	$ 11	$ 16	$ 58

For a more detailed account, please click here.


Who are all the folks involved?

About 25 young women who attend different high schools and universities lead Les Filles Unies pour l’Education. They meet at the office of the nongovernmental organization, ADAF/Gallé, in Badalabougou which is about 10 minutes from the center of Bamako. A founding member with Filles Unies will be moving from a volunteer to a paid staff position along with another Co-Coordinator. A multicultural steering committee of young women from various middle and high schools in the DC area make up School Girls Unite. These student leaders act as the “CEOs” and collaborate daily with Wendy Lesko and Gaëlle Dessus who work part-time to coordinate this project. Filles Unies and School Girls Unite rely on a number of African women mentors and other adult volunteers.


How are School Girls Unite & Filles Unies different from other programs?

We are dreamers and doers who swap letters and photos, discuss and laugh on videoconference calls. We believe in the expression: “If you think you are too small to make a difference, you’ve never been in bed with a mosquito!”

We are determined to assist our “sisters” right now by providing scholarships for nearly 70 girls in Mali. Besides supporting individual girls, we are pushing government officials to keep their promises and provide education opportunities for every single girl. Even though many of us are not old enough to vote, we are united in our determination to influence the powers-that-be. It is an outrage that millions of girl don’t go to school and it is a loss to the entire world. Education is essential for creating a smarter and more peaceful world.


What are your future plans?

We hope to raise more money and continue to send more girls in Mali to school. Also we plan to help pay for blackboards and other materials to improve the schools for all students. The school in the village of Djekouma collapsed and we researching ways we might be able to help in building a new school. Another project is Radio des Filles Unies pour l’Education where we will produce shows about how essential it is for every girl to go to school. School Girls Unite plans to have another huge fundraiser and DVD release events once production is done on “Girls Gone Activist.” Also we are seeking grants to establish School Girls Unite branches in other communities. One of our dreams is to have a student exchange program between Filles Unies & School Girls Unite members.