<div>I'll be doing it all again from 8 July 2021, 2400km along the TransAtlanticWay. And for the same worthwhile cause, girls education globally.   In September 2020, I also joined the <a style="font-size:1.0625rem;" href="https://www.transatlanticway.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TransAtlanticWay</a> cycle and raised funds for Girls Education projects supported right around the world by <a href="https://www.miseancara.ie/stories-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Misean Car</a><a href="https://www.miseancara.ie/stories-change/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a</a> such as those from the Salesian Sisters school in Juba, South Sudan in the photo above.  The donations received last year helped support schools like this as they endeavoured to stay open during the pandemic.
</div>
 COVID-19 has impacted upon all of us in so many ways.  Here in Ireland we endeavoured to keep schools open when possible.  The effects of the pandemic are being felt in every single country and community.  UNICEF estimate that up to 1.6 billion children around the globe have been unable to attend school at this time, about half of whom are girls.  These school closures of course have had a disproportionately negative impact on children in more marginalised areas of the world where access to online learning is not even a fall-back option.  And there are additional concerns that when schools do re-open, girls are less likely than boys to return.  <img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/50625864_1598531042857725_r.jpeg" alt="50625864_1598531042857725_r.jpeg" width="100%" media_type="3" /> Above: Second year students in PSMG's Frances Taylor Family Learning Centre PolyTech programme with their hairdressing teacher Grace (far left) and their dressmaking teacher Eunace (far right) in Mwingi, Kenya. I visited this project in 2018. For example, experience with the Ebola crisis in West Africa in 2014-2015 suggests that, as a result of Covid-19, up to 10 million girls in poor countries may never return to education.  I feel fortunate to have been able to continue working from home during this time with Misean Cara, to provide support to so many projects across over 50 countries that continue to contribute to meaningful change in people's lives despite the challenges of COVID-19.  <img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/50625864_1598531201909790_r.jpeg" alt="50625864_1598531201909790_r.jpeg" width="100%" media_type="3" /> Above: Salamatu, Grace and Sarata during science class in Holy Rosary Secondary School, Kenema, Sierra Leone There are countless ways in which the projects supported can and do build upon local ingenuity and capacities to transform the future for individuals, families and communities.  But it is really worth noting that the provision of high quality education to even one girl can be truly transforming in that for example she will earn up to 25% more for every year spent in secondary school and will also in turn re-invest in her children’s education in the future. There are also encouraging examples such as Mwenda Kacana in the photo below, who teaches at the Presentation Secondary School, in Kaoma, Zambia.  In her own words, Mwenda noted that “In the school where I was posted to for my first teaching job, there was no qualified teacher for grade 8 and 9.  I decided to upgrade my skills so that I could be able to help those children.  I applied to the University of Zambia and I was picked.  I had to pay for the fees by myself – I would use the largest part of my salary for paying the fees and only had a little left for food.  I am glad that I went for further education because the knowledge that I gained is very helpful even up to now.”  It is re-assuring to know that support we give to Girls Education projects has far-reaching and positive effects well into the future, especially when combined with the commitment and contributions of people like Mwenda. <img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/50625864_1598531225140877_r.jpeg" alt="50625864_1598531225140877_r.jpeg" width="100%" media_type="3" /> On a lighter note, if you're interested to track my progress during the cycle, you can do so via this live <a href="http://trackleaders.com/transatlantic21" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TrackLeaders link</a> here.  Thanks again for your support.

Shane Odwyer

Anonymous

Mary Daly

Niamh Caffrey

John Moffett

Mary O'Connell

Seamus O'Leary

Paul Birchall

Nigel Quirke

Liam O'Callaghan

Elaine Marquardt

Peter Doyle

Edward Dillon

Lorretto Cunningham

valerie philpott

Girls Education - to end the cycle of poverty

Just €470€ to go! Make an impact.

Girls Education - to end the cycle of poverty

Just €470 to go!
Make an impact.