NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Imagine if you had to choose between eating or going to school. Sophomores Victoria Limoncelli and Olivia DeLeo heard first-hand the stories of girls around the world who have to make that choice. Victoria and Olivia were fortunate to be invited to “Broadway Shines A Light on Girls’ Education” hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama and emceed by Stephen Colbert. Mrs. Obama spoke of “Let Girls Learn” which is a global initiative whose main goal is to educate young girls. Speakers included Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, First Lady of Malawi Dr. Gertrude Mutharika and Broadway performers from shows “The Color Purple,”, “Wicked,” “Waitress” and “Beautiful.”
Olivia and Victoria reported on their experience at the Global Concerns Classroom meeting last week. The story that stood out to them the most was that of a young woman named Halima Roberts of Malawi. Halima was married off at the age of fifteen, and initially had to take care of her children and do household chores rather than go to school. With her husband’s help, she is now continuing school but she faces yet another challenge: hunger. Fortunately, Malawi’s government is currently working on new laws that will annul the marriages of young girls and allow them to go back to school to receive their well-deserved education.
All the Global Concerns Classroom students were moved by Halima’s story. They talked of ways to make more people become aware of the global issue of girl’s education. They also appreciated all that they, themselves, have.
This is the third year that Ursuline participates in the Global Concerns Classroom curriculum which seeks to raise awareness among U.S. youth about current international humanitarian issues and empowers young people to take action.
