Send young journalist to university
Donation protected
Let's help my talented young friend Suzie go to university instead of being sold for cows.
In South Sudan, women are treated more like property than human beings. They are a source of wealth to their families and are sold to whoever can pay more cows.
My name is Tanya. I am a Canadian journalist working in South Sudan, where I do a lot of training and mentoring with young journalists. In a country where about 75 per cent of people are illiterate, it's a huge achievement to finish secondary school -- especially for girls. But getting a quality university degree is even more difficult.
I've worked with Suzie for almost a year now. I have acted as her trainer and we have also travelled around South Sudan, working together to produce radio programmes. She is a reporter and presenter at a radio station sponsored by the Catholic church. It's given her a good introduction to journalism but only pays about $25 a month -- not nearly enough to live on.
In order to get a better job, she needs to go to university. At 22-years-old, if she isn't able to enrol in the coming months she will be sold as a bride in exchange for cows.
Once a young woman is married, she has to have children and obey her husband. What's more, the man who is collecting cows to marry Suzie is already married, meaning she would become a second wife. (Polygamy is common is South Sudan.)
Suzie has the potential to become a successful journalist. She's worked in collaboration on United Nations reporting projects, and she's been selected as a South Sudan fellow with the International Women's Media Foundation.
All she needs is money to cover her tuition and living expenses at a good university in Kenya or Uganda. Tuition is only about $1000 per semester, so if we can raise $5000 it will enough to get her through the first year of school.
I am living and working in East Africa so I will be able to pay the money donated directly to the educational institution, and I can even visit Suzie to help make sure she's settling in well once she starts her studies.
South Sudan is a tough place for women, but we have the opportunity to help one young woman who can become a role model and help create positive change in her community.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask! Suzie and I are available to provide any clarification.
In South Sudan, women are treated more like property than human beings. They are a source of wealth to their families and are sold to whoever can pay more cows.
My name is Tanya. I am a Canadian journalist working in South Sudan, where I do a lot of training and mentoring with young journalists. In a country where about 75 per cent of people are illiterate, it's a huge achievement to finish secondary school -- especially for girls. But getting a quality university degree is even more difficult.
I've worked with Suzie for almost a year now. I have acted as her trainer and we have also travelled around South Sudan, working together to produce radio programmes. She is a reporter and presenter at a radio station sponsored by the Catholic church. It's given her a good introduction to journalism but only pays about $25 a month -- not nearly enough to live on.
In order to get a better job, she needs to go to university. At 22-years-old, if she isn't able to enrol in the coming months she will be sold as a bride in exchange for cows.
Once a young woman is married, she has to have children and obey her husband. What's more, the man who is collecting cows to marry Suzie is already married, meaning she would become a second wife. (Polygamy is common is South Sudan.)
Suzie has the potential to become a successful journalist. She's worked in collaboration on United Nations reporting projects, and she's been selected as a South Sudan fellow with the International Women's Media Foundation.
All she needs is money to cover her tuition and living expenses at a good university in Kenya or Uganda. Tuition is only about $1000 per semester, so if we can raise $5000 it will enough to get her through the first year of school.
I am living and working in East Africa so I will be able to pay the money donated directly to the educational institution, and I can even visit Suzie to help make sure she's settling in well once she starts her studies.
South Sudan is a tough place for women, but we have the opportunity to help one young woman who can become a role model and help create positive change in her community.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask! Suzie and I are available to provide any clarification.
Organizer
Tanya Birkbeck
Organizer
Montréal, QC