An Update From She’s The First Scholars!

By Karley Powell

This past fall, the HPA donated $14,582 to support girls who will be the first in their families to graduate high school. We partnered with an organization called She’s the First (STF), and worked with them to raise both money and awareness for gender inequity in education, through our campaign, A World Without Hermione. Thanks to this campaign, She’s the First has been able to fund scholarships and ensure that real-world heroines, like these scholarship winners, have the chance to go to their own Hogwarts.

We love getting mail! Well, as long as they aren’t Howlers. Each of the She’s the First scholars recently wrote us an update focusing on the issue of climate change in their community.

The first update is a drawing from Christine, an STF scholar in Uganda. While some students wrote letters, the younger students drew pictures of their perfect environment.

A picture drawn by Christine, which includes depictions of flowers, people, and cows.

The next letter is from Rose, another STF scholar in Uganda. All 15 STF Uganda Scholars landed in the first or second division on their government exams last year, meaning they were able to move up to the next grade level when school began again this past February.

An image of Rose’s letter to She’s the First. Rose talks about the climate in her community and her hopes for her future: “We were in the dry season and it was hot, crops, animals, and people were dying because of hunger. It was dusty…I want to be a doctor who treats the brain and treat my teachers parents and friends.”

“In our environment many girls are doctors, teachers and park rangers…I want to be a doctor who treats the brain and treat my teachers parents and friends.” — Rose, She’s the First Scholar

This letter is from Alisha, a STF scholar in Nepal. Alisa recently updated the spelling of her name to Alisha. As many scholars get older, they may decide to spell their name in a way that reflects them.

A picture drawn by Alisha, which includes depictions of flowers, butterflies, birds, mountains, dirt, grass, and buildings.

Anjana, a STF scholar in Nepal wrote this letter. Anjana and the other STF Nepal Scholars recently made headlines as their local Girls Club hosted a Menstrual Health Awareness Program, dispelling Nepali taboos and providing sanitary napkins.

A picture drawn by Anjana, which includes depictions of flowers surrounding a building.

The next letter is from another STF scholar in Nepal named Kamala. Kamala wrote about how she has seen the impact of climate change.

An image of Kamala’s letter to She’s the First. Kamala talks about the impact of climate change on her community.

“There have been many effects in the environment because of these changes. For example, there is more sickness from bad air.” — Kamala, She’s the First Scholar

STF Scholar Laxmi in Nepal drew this next letter which is a picture of her perfect environment.

A picture drawn by Anjana, which includes a depiction of a single flower in a pot in front of blue skies and a green field. The sun in shining down on the flower.

Swastika, who lives in Nepal, wrote about the changes climate change has caused in her community.

An image of Swastika’s letter to She’s the First. Swastika talks about the impact of climate change on her community.

“Educating girls can improve the environment.” — Swastika, She’s the First Scholar

Finally, this letter is from STF Scholar Mihret in Ethiopia. Like Alisha, as Scholars get older, many of them decide to spell their name in a way that better reflects them. Recently, Meheret updated the spelling of her name to Mihret.

An image of Mihret’s letter to She’s the First. Mihret talks about the impact of climate change on her community.

We were thrilled to hear from these scholars, especially on an issue that is so near and dear to our hearts: climate change. We’re excited to see how these young girls grow and succeed in the future. We know they’re going to do some good in the world!

“We should educate our community. When we do this, it means we are creating a sustainable environment for the next generation.” — Mihret, She’s the First Scholar