In March of 2015, former President and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama launched Let Girls Learn. Recognizing that adolescent girls are faced with many challenges in pursuing an education, the initiative was started with the intention of increasing educational opportunities for girls the world over. The initiative especially focused on girls in developing countries where families often prioritize the education of their sons over their daughters.
According to an article written by CNN earlier today, the agency's acting director Sheila Crowley sent an email to Peace Corps employees saying that they would "not continue to use the 'Let Girls Learn' brand
or maintain a stand-alone program." CNN also reported that they had received an internal document showing the Trump administration's plans to end the initiative. In response, White House spokesperson, Kelly Love released the following statement:
"There have been no changes to the Let Girls Learn program. The
Administration supports policies and programs to empower adolescent
girls, including efforts to educate them through the completion of secondary school.We are committed to empowering women and girls around the world and are continuing to examine the best ways to do so."
CNN reports that Love went on to clarify that they are simply going to change the name and brand of the initiative. CNN doesn't seem to be buying it. Do you? Studies have shown that one of the best vehicles for economic development is the education and empowerment of women. Should an initiative that is working to close a worldwide education gender gap be tampered with at all?
Sources:
https://letgirlslearn.gov/about/
http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/01/politics/trump-michelle-obama-girls-education/
http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/01/politics/trump-michelle-obama-let-girls-learn/
I personally think that Let Girls Learn helps shorten the gender gap between men and women. It enables women to have the same education quality as men and have the same job opportunities. With that being said, I think Love's comments are false and they are trying to change the program which could be bad for our economic development.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Branden. This seems like a bit of a cover up for a serious turn for the worse for this program under the Trump administration. Women need the extra support to get an education and participate in programs that aren't the stereotype (need more women in math and computer science programs), especially in developing countries.
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree with my fellow classmates. It's 2017, and I still find it so exciting, and it makes me happy when my male counterparts speak in support of women empowerment through education. I would've thought that by now this sentiment was just a given.
ReplyDeleteI especially agree with Kriti's last point about how the sentiment of women empowerment should be a given, saying it is 2017. Giving women the extra support to enhance their education will only help developing countries grow further.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both Branden and Kriti, if the goal of the program has the right initiative then why does the name and brand matter? In my opinion the name seems extremely transparent and clearly displays the mission of the program. I do not buy her comments and I feel like they just want to undo much of what the Obama administration did.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first found out that the Let Girls Learn initiative was going to be shut down, I was frustrated and sad. I was aware that the Trump administration was going to reverse/get rid of initiative put on forth by Obama, but getting rid of such a beneficial initiative seemed ridiculous. This initiative was reaching out to 44 countries and further emphasized the importance of education for these girls who may not have education opportunities otherwise. I also don't buy Kelly Love's comments.
ReplyDeleteI'm gonna have to agree with Daichi. I think the Let Girls Learn program has done a lot of fantastic work & it would be a shame if the Trump Administration shuts it down
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