Killari is
nonprofit organization aimed to empower Andean rural
young women by providing social and financial support for
them to pursue post-secondary education. People at Killari,
both in the U.S. and Perú, work as volunteers willing to
help rural young women to achieve their personal and
academic goals in life.
At
Killari, we agree
that educating girls educates nations, and is one of
the best investments a society can make. The incomes of
families increase as educated women are more productive at
home and better paid in the work place. Women’s wages
increase by approximately 15% for each additional year of
schooling (Grey-Johnson, 2003).
Education, in the
context of empowerment, provides exposure and access
to new ideas and ways of thinking, and triggers a demand for
change. Such exposure enables women to look at old problems
in new ways, analyze their environment and situation,
recognize their strengths, initiate actions challenging the
dominant ideology, and transform institutions and structures
(Batliwala, 1995).
-
Providing
financial support to
these determined young women through educational aid
packages which cover tuition
for a public technical college in their
region, school supplies, nutritional aid,
transportation, and medical care.
-
Working to
promote gender equity and
awareness within the educational and social
practices at the girls’ schools and communities.
-
Organizing
hands-on workshops with regional
specialists to empower these women on issues
regarding domestic violence, self-esteem, sex education,
etc. These specialists also act as advocates to end
oppressive and unfair practices in students’ households
and school.
|
