SABIS® has long understood the important role girls play in the world. In fact, the first school in what evolved into the SABIS® Network started as an all-girls school. The school's co-founders saw that the way to improve general economic conditions was through educating its girls. Although the first SABIS® school became co-educational shortly after opening, still today, SABIS® schools around the world understand the importance of girls and are actively involved in empowering them.
The SABIS Student Life Organization® (SLO®) in a number of schools has adopted programs specifically targeted at empowering girls. At the SABIS® International School in Phoenix, Arizona, a club called Girls Empowered & Motivated to Succeed was created a few years ago. The club provides a safe environment for girls to open up about how they see themselves at school and with their families and friends. It also encourages girls to stand up for themselves, speak with honesty, trust in themselves, and be proud of who they are and where they come from. Very often, guest speakers are invited to meet with the girls and share their insights and experiences with them.
“The SLO® Girls Empowered & Motivated to Succeed club has taught me to believe in myself and to be more honest with who I am,” says Angelin Esquer, a 7th grade student at SIS-Phoenix.
“I have learned that being myself is more important than being someone else and to find happiness with who I am,” says Jasmine Hyde, a 7th grade student at SIS-Phoenix.
The Collegiate Charter School of Lowell (Collegiate) in Lowell, Massachusetts, is another SABIS® school that supports opportunities to empower girls. At Collegiate, the “Girls Who Code” program has been a huge success this year. Girls who are part of the “Girls Who Code” program at Collegiate meet once a week after school to learn the basics of computer coding. The mission of this program is to close the gender gap in technology and change the image of what a programmer looks like and does. This program is so important because, based on a study published in USA Today, “In 1995, 37% of computer scientists were women. Today, it’s only 24%. In ten years, the number of women in computing will decrease to just 22%.”
“We were able to learn how to make games and that coding isn’t just something guys can do; girls can do it too.”
– Abigail Uwase, Grade 4, at Collegiate
“When there’s a problem in my house, I can fix it now.”
– Prishaa Patel, Grade 4 student at Collegiate
In Europe, the International School of Frankfurt Rhein-Main (ISF) in Germany has also got involved in empowering girls and recently partnered with the “Girl Up” program. Through the training that girls receive, the program offers resources and a platform which empower young women to become leaders and defenders of gender equality. Since 2010, “Girl Up” has partnered with the United Nations to fund programs that give girls an equal chance for education, health, social, and economic opportunities, and a life free from violence. As part of this program, ISF students were taught the importance of actively empowering themselves and others. Throughout the academic year, the ISF Girl Up president and vice president along with the active members of the campaign carried out three specific tasks: informing, advocating, and fundraising. These tasks were tackled through assemblies and meetings, where students had the freedom to discuss and come up with action plans that empower them and their community.
SABIS® is proud to maintain its reputation for empowering girls through education. The programs offered throughout the network and the inclusive environment found in every SABIS® Network school ensure that both boys and girls have the opportunity to achieve their full potential. To learn more about SABIS®, visit sabis.net.