It’s no secret that Her Campus and She’s the First have worked together to raise money for girls’ education (Remember the One Million Collegiettes campaign?). Now, the partnership can continue on campus.
Sophomore Lorraine Magee founded a chapter of She’s the First at AU this semester. A non-profit organization that supports girls’ education in developing nations, the organization raises money to award scholarships to girls who will be the first in their families to go to school.
“When I heard more about She’s the First’s mission, I knew that AU was the perfect place for it,” said Magee, an elementary education major. “My own interest in education led me to meet incredible students at AU who really value the concept of education for every child.” She’s the First*{American} hopes to connect with students who are interested in women’s rights and education policy.
What’s does She’s the First aim to accomplish at AU? “Our goal for this year is to raise enough money to sponsor one year of a girl’s education while raising awareness about ‘the girl effect’ in the process,” Magee explains. “When a girl receives an education, she can raise the standard of living not just for herself, but for her family as well.”
On October 8, She’s the First*{American} is hosting a screening of “Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide.” Inspired by the book of the same name written by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, the documentary features celebrity activists America Ferrera, Diane Lane, Eva Mendes, Meg Ryan, Gabrielle Union and Olivia Wilde.
The AU chapter will also participate in She’s the First’s annual “Tie-Die Cupcake Bake Off” in November with the support of Georgetown Cupcake. For the event, teams across the country compete to raise money for the organization.
“By supporting the education of girls in the developing world, we are changing the world, one cupcake at a time,” Magee says.
For more information, visit She’s the First*{American}’s Facebook page and follow @STF_American on Twitter.