Pam's Latest Huff Post Blog - The Best Defense Against Bullying: Arming Your Kids With Stories

 

Pam's latest Huff Post blog tackles an issue that every parent and child must confront in some capacity, bullying. Read the full piece on the Huffington Post. 

"Reading builds resilience and empathy. The act of reading brings the gifts of stories that have the power to change a child's perception, help a child deal with uncomfortable situations, and model different options for being strong in the world.

Childhood can be a profoundly lonely experience. Whether it's walking to school wishing for a friend, or sitting by oneself on the bus or dreading the endless minutes in the cafeteria, our children need fortification. Sometimes their own feelings of shame and confusion lead them to want to dominate others."
 

LitWorld Receives Special Matching Grant from the Pearson Foundation

LitWorld has been selected by the Pearson Foundation as the recipient of a very special matching grant award. The Pearson Foundation identifies major changemakers who are creating solutions for the educational disadvantages young people face around the world. This award is an enormous honor for us, in celebration of what LitWorld has accomplished so far, and in honor of faith in our future.

Here is the grand challenge the Pearson Foundation has made to us right now: If we can raise $250,000 by December 31, 2012, the Pearson Foundation will match these contributions dollar for dollar, to raise a total of $500,000 by year's end.

If we meet this challenge, we can launch fifty new LitClubs and LitCamps in Harlem, in Kibera, in Kisumu, in Kumasi, in Manila, in Port au Prince, in the communities that reach out to us every day because they are inspired by LitWorld's unique approach to education and they want to join the movement.

There are close to a billion people in the world who cannot read. Two thirds of them are girls. The time is urgent for us to change this. Help us make this happen, click here to make a contribution today.

The First Ever International Day of the Girl is Here!

Today we Stand Up for all the girls in the world who hunger for an education. Education is a fundamental human right in democratic society. The girls who drop out of school, who disappear from active society due to early marriage, prostitution, and poverty are also girls who, grown to womanhood, could be forces for change. That is what we want to see in this world. Let us not lose them. No more lost girls.

Stand Up for girls, not just today but every day.

A Message from UN Women to Mark the First International Day of the Girl Child

The inspiring Michelle Bachelet, Executive Director of UN Women, pledges the UN's commitment to stand beside girls around the world in support of their rights. She emphasizes UN Women's determination to work with governments and other partners to advance girls' education, health and well-being in order to attain a world where girls can live free from fear, violence and discrimination. Read the full pledge here.

Use Your Facebook Cover Photo to Stand Up for Girls!

 

Use our special Stand Up for Girls cover photo to show your support for women and girls. Simply download and save the banner from our Facebook page and upload it to your own profile! Don't forget to physically Stand Up at noon on Thursday!

Girls In Kenya Speak Out on Equal Education - The Kibera Girls LitClub Featured on Huffington Post

Laventer Atieno, LitWorld Girls LitClub Member

My name is Laventer Atieno. I am 14 years old and I am in the eighth grade. My hobbies are drawing, exploring, coloring and playing handball. My dream career is to be an explorer, a scientist or a psychiatrist. I learn in Red Rose Children's Centre. My favourite subjects are mathematics, science and social studies. My favourite colors are blue, purple and yellow. I love learning and going to school. When you are an educated person, no one can cheat you or deny you your rights. You will know and stand up for yourself. You will understand the laws and know what's wrong and what's good. That's why I stand up for girls to be educated. I would love all girls to be given equal opportunity with the rest of the people. I wish all girls not to be discriminated against, for surely they can do better if they are given the chance. All they need is opportunity. Again, I would love for girls to be respected. They need to be seen as people who have the ability to contribute to society. Girls are the most precious things in the world.

Read the full piece on the Huffington Post here

Stand Up for Girls Is Just One Week Away!

Worldwide communities are ready to Stand Up for Girls on 10.11.12. Join us in the movement to speak out and Stand Up for the 523 million women and girls who cannot read or write.

Your Top 3 Actions to Stand Up for Girls:

1. Take a picture of yourself with the Stand Up for Girls Sign and post it to our Facebook wall for a chance to win tickets to our NYC Gala 2013!

2. Change the avatar on your social network profiles to showcase your Stand Up for Girls picture and use the Stand Up for Girls banner as your cover photo. Tell 10 people to Stand Up for Girls and use the hashtag #standup4girls to make your message heard!

3. Stand Up at noon on October 11, and use our Activity Packet to make the first annual Day of the Girl a whole day of celebration! Don't forget to share your actions with us here.