Girls Education in the Developing World | Wanda Bedard | TEDxMontrealWomen

Summary

This inspiring narrative follows a woman who, after reading about the dire situation of women in Afghanistan, embarks on a journey to understand the global issue of girls' education. She realizes that educating girls is key to breaking cycles of poverty and inequality. Through her foundation, she helps support education projects around the world, with a focus on using technology like mobile phones and self-directed computer-based learning to reach remote areas. The story underscores the transformative power of education and the untapped potential of girls everywhere, urging a broader societal shift toward inclusivity and change.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker has a diverse background in health science, business, and being a mother of two daughters.
• 😀 Despite being a motorcyclist in her 50s, the speaker discusses how society tends to place people in stereotypical roles based on context.
• 😀 In 1998-1999, the speaker read an article about the oppressive situation of women under Taliban rule in Afghanistan, which sparked her curiosity about women's rights worldwide.
• 😀 The speaker initially dismissed the idea that women could be so oppressed but became deeply involved in researching women's issues, especially the value of girls' education.
• 😀 A pivotal moment occurred when her daughter asked, 'What are you going to do about it?', motivating the speaker to take action.
• 😀 The speaker researched the issue of women's education, ultimately recognizing that lack of access to education for girls is a key factor in gender inequality.
• 😀 Educating girls has a significant impact on health, economy, and society, including reducing maternal and infant mortality, increasing GDP, and lowering child marriage rates.
• 😀 The speaker's foundation, established in 2006, has raised $2.4 million to support girls' education in 14 countries, benefiting over 20,000 children.
• 😀 The speaker discusses a 2005 visit to Mozambique, where mobile phones were seen as essential life-saving tools in rural, impoverished areas.
• 😀 In Sierra Leone, the speaker observed the challenges in education, including overcrowded classrooms and a lack of qualified teachers, underscoring the need for innovative solutions in education.
• 😀 In 2013, the speaker introduced self-directed, computer-based learning, using Raspberry Pi devices to offer educational content offline, reaching children in remote areas without electricity or the internet.

Q & A

What motivated the speaker to take action regarding the situation of women in Afghanistan?

The speaker was initially moved by an article in 1998-1999 that highlighted the dire situation of women in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. This sparked her outrage, especially after reading about a father selling his 9-year-old daughter into marriage. Her daughter’s question, 'What are you going to do about it?' compelled the speaker to take action.

What was the underlying issue the speaker identified as the cause of the struggles women face in many societies?

The speaker identified that the root issue was the lack of girls' education. She realized that without education, women were perceived as having lesser value in many societies, which perpetuated a cycle of inequality and underdevelopment.

How does the speaker relate education to economic and societal development?

The speaker emphasized that educating girls has significant positive impacts on health, the economy, and the environment. Educated girls tend to have smaller families, better economic potential, and improved health outcomes. Education also helps reduce maternal and infant mortality rates.

What are some of the surprising outcomes of girls' education mentioned by the speaker?

The speaker highlighted that just one additional year of elementary education for a girl can reduce maternal and infant death rates by 10-15%. Furthermore, each additional year of high school education can increase a girl's potential income by 15-25%, which positively affects the GDP of a country.

What initiative did the speaker take to address the issue of girls' education?

In 2006, the speaker co-founded a foundation to support girls' education. The foundation has raised $2.4 million and invested in 20 projects in 14 countries, providing better access to education for over 20,000 children.

What unexpected technology did the speaker find in rural Mozambique, and how did it change her perspective?

In rural Mozambique, the speaker was surprised to find that despite extreme poverty, many people had mobile phones. She realized that mobile phones, though seen as a luxury, were actually life-saving tools that provided access to crucial information, such as market prices and emergency medical help.

How did the speaker's foundation apply technology to improve education in remote areas?

In 2013, the foundation introduced self-directed, computer-based learning in rural areas using a Raspberry Pi. This small device acted as a wireless server, allowing children to access educational content offline via smartphones or tablets, making it possible to reach children who lacked electricity or internet.

What types of content were made available to students through the Learning Centers?

The Learning Centers provided access to a wide range of educational content, including literacy software, math tutorials, science, history, geography, agriculture, health, coding, and music. The content was designed to be interactive and available at the students' own pace.

What impact does the speaker hope to achieve by using technology in education?

The speaker aims to unleash the untapped potential of children, especially girls, by providing access to education through technology. She hopes that by offering these tools, students will be empowered to achieve more and contribute to solving global challenges.

What was the speaker's realization about the importance of educating girls in the context of global challenges?

The speaker realized that in order to address complex global issues, we must tap into the intelligence, skills, and talents of every individual, including girls. Educating girls is not just about improving their lives; it's essential for the overall progress and solution of global problems.