Last weekend I cycled 320km from Paris to London to raise money for Room to Read — a charity which focuses on education and gender equality for children in low income countries. Because lasting Global Change starts with children’s literacy.
Why do I support Room to Read? Because I have proof that it works.
My Mum and me.
My Mum was born in a poor village and never went to school. Any school. She can’t read or write in any language. She can’t use the internet or pay bills. Some studies show that adults who never learn literacy, struggle to learn basic grammar later in life — so this isn’t from lack of trying. By 30 my mum was:
● A proud Homemaker with five children
I’m made of the very same material and potential as my Mum and by 30 I’d:
● Successfully represented the UK at United Nations Treaty negotiations
● Worked at the very best organisations including Google
● Was one of the first in the UK to earn a Masters in Data Science
● Written Government policy
● Managed teams of over 30 and budgets of millions
● Travelled to dozens of countries
The only difference between us is that I went to school. I didn’t do my homework, or even go to many classes — but I learned how to read and how to learn and how to communicate and how to help myself when I had goals.
Please don’t misunderstand me, my point is only that my Mum could have done anything given the right tools. My Mum is arguably the most successful person I know. My Mum has a big heart and because of that people from all walks of life have always respected her. I think kindness shows on a person’s face. She lives in one of the best cities in the world, heads a big family which adores her, has five successful children, even more grandchildren and after years of hard work can do all the things she wants.
Once she was looking at a photo album and told me that those are her certificates. And she did it her way.
So next time you are getting a promotion or bonus or other success — stop and reflect about how much of it was in your control. If we’re honest, in all likelihood we had a great amount of fortune along the way. You can share some of your good fortune by sponsoring my ride. None of this goes to my costs, all of this will be directly donated to Room to Read.
Just think, you can start your weekend knowing you’ve given a young girl somewhere the gift of education, of opportunity, of freedom.
JustGiving — Room to Read — Donate here
