Though school can be stressful, we know the crucial role it plays in empowering women to thrive in the workplace and in the world. Intel recognizes this fact, which is why they started Intel for Change, a program that raises awareness about the importance of education for girls and young women around the world. The program sent three teams of student ambassadors, Intel employees, and celebrity advocates to Ecuador, Kenya, and India to learn more about the barriers that prevent girls from receiving an education. Reby Silverman, a senior at the University of Maryland, went to Ecuador with Intel employees Erdina Francillon and Jessica Freundt and High School Musical actress Monique Coleman.
In Ecuador, the team visited San Miguel, a community that knew as much about hardship as it did about hard work. In a trip to a small rural school, the Intel for Change team sat down with one of the teachers, Rolando, to talk about the obstacles that he and the students faced with the current education system. Because rural schools don’t receive as much funding as urban schools, rural students don’t have access to important resources like the Internet. Determined to teach his students a necessary skill, Rolando simulated an Internet search by recreating what the screen would look like in PowerPoint. In addition to the school’s limited resources, teachers face problems like low wages, and students must travel long distances to attend school.
On another day, the Intel for Change team was given the challenge of providing dinner for a family of seven people for less than $1. And despite the small allowance (which is typical for many struggling families in San Miguel), the team still needed to set aside money for the young daughter who wished to go to school. The team managed to buy enough groceries to feed the family and save 15 cents towards the daughter’s education, with a nickel to spare.
As a way of raising scholarship money, young girls from the San Miguel Girls’ Club learned to make intricate hair bands and belts, and then sold their handmade goods. One especially impressive girl, Lucia, even started her own business of breeding and selling guinea pigs and uses the income to pay for her education. She hopes to be the president of the San Miguel community one day.
Lucia is a prime example of how providing opportunities for girls to succeed and get an education can change a community. Intel for Change is a way for advocates of education to share opportunities and support girls like Lucia. Read about the Intel for Change teams’ experiences and learn how you can get involved in supporting girls’ education at the Intel for Change Community.