This week, Her Campus got the chance to speak with Stephanie Klokiw; co-president of the U of M chapter of She’s The First. Stephanie, a junior in the International Studies program, runs the philanthropic organization with her co-president, Heidi Haas. She’s the First is an organization dedicated to providing education to girls in low-income countries and cultivating the next generation of strong, empowered women. To find out more about She’s the First, read more about their mission and their impact by visiting their website.
Her Campus: What is She’s the First?
Stephanie Klokiw: She’s the First is a non-profit organization that provides scholarships for women in low-income countries so that they may be the first in their families–and sometimes even communities–to receive an education. Once a woman is accepted as a She’s the First scholar, we pledge to provide scholarships for her all the way through the end of high school. We fundraise by hosting events on campus; Michigan’s chapter currently supports four women! We also communicate with our scholars through letters every semester, which I think is awesome because we have a clear picture of the incredible women that we’re raising money for.
HC: What’s your position within She’s the First?
SK: I am Co-President with my amazing friend and fearless leader, Heidi Haas.
HC: What’s your favorite memory as president of this organization?
SK: Is it cheesy if I say our mass meetings this year after Festifall? We’ve put so much work into raising funds for our cause, advertising our organization, and spreading the word about the work that we do that it made me so happy to see the room overflowing with people ready to join and learn more. We’re going to have a great year and we’re always accepting new members!
HC: What are some events that She’s the First holds on campus?
SK: We have a lot going on this semester. On October 11th, we hosted a “Day of the Girl” fundraiser where we sold rainbow cupcakes in Mason Hall and encouraged students to think about opportunities that their education has given them. On October 20th, we hosted a Pizza House fundraiser, and on October 26th we’ll be selling more cupcakes in Mason Hall and spreading the word about the importance of education for women as part of our Bake-a-Change campaign. We’re also looking to host a fundraiser at Study Lounge this semester; more details to come. (We have even more going on, so here’s a shameless plug: if you’re interested, email me at sklokiw@umich.edu!)
HC: Looking forward, what are your goals for the club?
SK: I’d love to see us keep expanding! I love talking to students who are ready to get involved, and the more members we have, the more awareness we spread and the more ideas we share. I’d also love for some more guys to join–education for women is an issue that affects all of us. For example, UN Women released a great article last year detailing long-term economic benefits that occur when women are educated. A few fast facts: companies with three or more women in senior-level positions report higher scores of organizational effectiveness than those without; child mortality rates decrease by 9.5% for every additional year of education for a woman; and at least 79 national economies report restrictions on what employment positions are open to women. We’re working towards a more inclusive and equal world for both men and women, so it’s a great cause to research and get involved with.
HC: How can interested students get involved?
SK: Email me (sklokiw@umich.edu) or Heidi Haas (hahaas@umich.edu) if you’d like to join, because we’d love to have you! You can also head over to shesthefirst.org to learn more about the national organization’s work. Even if you’re not looking to join She’s the First, I definitely recommend looking into articles like the one above or doing a little research on women’s right to education and rights in the workplace around the world, because I think there’s a lot of interesting information to be aware of.
HC: What is something you’ve always wanted to do?
SK: That’s a tough one. I feel like sneaking into the Big House at night would have to be my answer, but I’m probably not brave enough. I’ll probably think of something really good right after you publish this.
Images Courtesy of: Stephanie Klokiw, Square Space, and She’s the First.