Charity Pitch: She's the First

She’s the First is a nonprofit organization motivated by the belief that all women deserve an excellent education. Beginning in November of 2009, the organization has been run by “advocates and changemakers” who “put girls first,” envisioning a world where young women may choose their own futures. She’s the First firmly believes that when a young girl is “educated, respected and heard,” she will gain ambition and flourish in all aspects of her life. When educated, girls are enabled to earn higher salaries as adults, making them less susceptible to underage marriage and childbearing, and creating pathways for strong social change. 

I admire She’s the First for accomplishing the impossible. They have invested in countries in Western Africa, Eastern Africa, Latin America, and South Asia, and have stood up against systems that do not prioritize women’s education or freedom of expression. It is extremely difficult to enter a foreign country and try to create change. Logistically, this is not an easy task. However, She's the First persists because they are driven by the belief that it is their responsibility to assist the global community.

Additionally, She's the First stands by girls who decide to collaborate with them. These girls who choose to pursue their education understand that they may face repercussions from their families and communities. For example, in some villages in Kenya, a woman who advocates for her own education may be ostracized. This is because, culturally, it is more appropriate for men to be a part of the academic sphere than women. Therefore, I admire She’s the First for prompting this social change, encouraging young women to fight for knowledge, and standing by them in the process. She’s the First is not merely a nonprofit organization, it is a movement that protects its participants. 

On their website, She’s the First prompts us to consider unfortunate statistics: 130-million girls around the world are out of school, one girl under the age of 18 is married every seven seconds, and young girls spend 40% more time on chores than boys do. She’s the First has set out to combat these realities, changing the quality of life of young women around the globe. The girls that She’s the First work with are often the first in their families to graduate from high school. These girls cannot afford school supplies and commit to walking several hours along dangerous paths to school every day. She’s the First partners with local organizations across 11 countries (four schools and eight “wrap-around programs”) to guarantee that their young girls are able to successfully complete 12 years of education. What's more, the education that She’s the First provides is comprehensive and includes classroom access, tutoring support, sex, and health education (healthy relationships, understanding power dynamics, sexual agency and consent, contraceptives, menstrual hygiene, LGBTQIA issues), and life training skills (financial literacy, confidence/self-esteem, vocal empowerment, general mentorship). She’s the First recognizes that a girl's education must also provide skills beyond the classroom, and so they “train educators and mentors to shape girls’ environments around their needs.” 

Additionally, She’s the First advocate for girls’ rights around the world, routinely running “trainings, conferences, and advocacy campaigns that establish community support and awareness.” Their campaigns “promote the end of practices trampling on girls’ rights, such as child marriage, or forcing pregnant girls to leave school.” Furthermore, She’s the First has guaranteed that young girls’ voices and opinions will be heard, giving them “a seat at the table.” For example, She’s the First has developed Girl Hour, a “conference session” that inserts girls’ voices in “decision-making environments,” in addition to including girls’ voices in campaigns and on social media. 

We are confident that She’s the First will create change, going above and beyond our expectations for any nonprofit organization. She’s the First has created a visible impact on each country they have served, placing 7,200 girls into long-term schooling and mentorship. Additionally, they have started 600 crowd fundraisers and 200 campus charters across the United States. Furthermore, She’s the First is a different kind of “charity.” The company’s humble approach to their work is refreshing, and the respect they have for the girls they serve is admirable. In “We don’t do ‘charity.’ Here’s why you shouldn’t either,” featured on The Lily, the founders of She’s the First explain, “We really, really hate being called a charity.” This is because “the implication of the word ‘charity’ is that the person who does the giving is making a sacrifice for nothing in return.” In reality, young girls involved with She’s the First give a lot back. When She’s the First gives a girl the opportunity to be the first in her family or community to attend high school, she must decide to stand up and seize that opportunity. She’s the First recognizes that when they ask girls in low-income countries to choose education, they are also asking them to “take on the burden of being the oldest, unmarried woman” in their family and to deal with the stigmas that come with that. If these girls accept She’s the First’s help, and pursue their education, they may become breadwinners for their families. Therefore, these girls should not be associated with “charity work,” but rather, they should be recognized as heroes and advocates of social change. The founders of She’s the First thank the girls they work with for making “the world better for all of us.” She’s the First creates long-term, social change, erasing harmful cycles that young women have been subject to, and creating more opportunities for world leaders to emerge. She’s the First’s reflective approach to their work is inspirational, and should encourage our class to join them in a movement for educational advancement. 

In a recent class discussion, we discussed the benefits of long-term and short-term change. She’s the First does not focus on short-term issues, like hurricane relief campaigns. Instead, they invest in young girls who will grow up to pass on their passion for education to their own children, families, and friends. The resources She’s the First provides for their girls will allow them to build upon their knowledge for the rest of their lives, advancing their communities. 

She’s the First also offers full transparency in their spending, which was another concern posed during class discussions. She’s the First’s annual report comes out each calendar year and highlights where donations are spent. In the past year, only eight percent of the charity’s funds went toward “Management and General,” and the rest went to the girls. In class, we have also discussed the benefits of “giving directly.” Although we might not be “directly” donating to a young girl in India or Nepal, She's the First will. In addition, through donating money rather than objects or supplies, we are saving on shipping costs that She’s the First will handle. It is also safe to assume that She’s the First has a stronger understanding of what supplies are needed than we do. Girls around the world need our help, and She's the First can help us help them.

Lucia Hassen