Transcript of video:
As a young girl in rural Zimbabwe, Tererai Trent lived without running water and electricity and had no hope for her future. "I remember very well my father pointing to my brothers and the other boys in the village and saying: 'These are the breadwinners of tomorrow. We need to educate them. We need to send them to school. The girls will get married,'" she says. "And that was just a painful experience for me."
Watch her story.
Desperate to learn, this little girl with big dreams secretly did her brother's homework. "I learned to read and write from my brother's books," she says. Soon, Tererai's secret was exposed, and the teacher begged her father to let her learn.
Tererai attended only two terms before she was forced to marry at age 11. By age 18, she was the mother of three. "When my husband realized that I wanted to have an education, he would beat me," she says. "I have nightmares of that time of my life."
Watch her story.
Desperate to learn, this little girl with big dreams secretly did her brother's homework. "I learned to read and write from my brother's books," she says. Soon, Tererai's secret was exposed, and the teacher begged her father to let her learn.
Tererai attended only two terms before she was forced to marry at age 11. By age 18, she was the mother of three. "When my husband realized that I wanted to have an education, he would beat me," she says. "I have nightmares of that time of my life."
In 1991, a visitor changed Tererai's life forever. Jo Luck, from Heifer International, asked every woman about her greatest dream—something many of them didn't know they were allowed to have. "I remember very clearly saying: 'My name is Tererai, and I want to go to America to have an education, and I want to have a BS degree. I want to have a master's, and I want to have a PhD," she says. "And she just looked at me [and said], 'If you desire those things, it is achievable.'"
Hoping her daughter could break the cycle of poverty, Tererai's mother encouraged her to write her dreams on a piece of paper. The 20-year-old placed them in a scrap of tin and buried them under a rock in the pasture where she used to herd cattle. "As a woman without an education, life will continue to be a burden," she wrote. "I truly believe in these dreams, and I hope one day to work for the causes of women and girls in poverty."
Hoping her daughter could break the cycle of poverty, Tererai's mother encouraged her to write her dreams on a piece of paper. The 20-year-old placed them in a scrap of tin and buried them under a rock in the pasture where she used to herd cattle. "As a woman without an education, life will continue to be a burden," she wrote. "I truly believe in these dreams, and I hope one day to work for the causes of women and girls in poverty."
Tererai not only broke the cycle—she shattered it. In 1998, Tererai moved to Oklahoma with her husband and now five children. Just three years later, she earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural education. In 2003—the same year her husband was deported for abuse—Tererai obtained her master's degree.
After every achievement, Tererai returned home to Zimbabwe, unearthed her tin of dreams and checked off each goal she accomplished, one by one. In December 2009, the now happily remarried Tererai will realize her greatest dream of all—a doctoral degree.
Tererai is a symbol of hope in her village. On a trip home in 2009, Tererai and her mother encouraged a new generation of girls to dream, giving them pens, paper and tiny metal tins. "It makes me feel happy, but at the same time, it makes me feel empty that there are more women who could have the same opportunity but they are not getting it," she says. "My story is not about me, but it's about what can come out of my story."
After every achievement, Tererai returned home to Zimbabwe, unearthed her tin of dreams and checked off each goal she accomplished, one by one. In December 2009, the now happily remarried Tererai will realize her greatest dream of all—a doctoral degree.
Tererai is a symbol of hope in her village. On a trip home in 2009, Tererai and her mother encouraged a new generation of girls to dream, giving them pens, paper and tiny metal tins. "It makes me feel happy, but at the same time, it makes me feel empty that there are more women who could have the same opportunity but they are not getting it," she says. "My story is not about me, but it's about what can come out of my story."
Tererai has a dream to build a school in her village in Zimbabwe, and Oprah, in her typical generous way, has donated $1,500,000 (1 1/2 million dollars) to help Tererai build that school, that will educate 1,000 children.
I appreciate Oprah's generosity, but let's do the math. It costs us $15,000 to construct a 3 room school building, that will host 250 children. That breaks down to approximately $60 per child. To build a school campus that would educate 1,000 children would cost us approximately $60,000. With the remaining $1,440,000, we could build 24 more such school campuses, that would provide a place to educate 24,000 additional children. So with the same $1.5 million donation, we could construct 25 school campuses, educating 25,000 children per year.
I appreciate Oprah's generosity, but let's do the math. It costs us $15,000 to construct a 3 room school building, that will host 250 children. That breaks down to approximately $60 per child. To build a school campus that would educate 1,000 children would cost us approximately $60,000. With the remaining $1,440,000, we could build 24 more such school campuses, that would provide a place to educate 24,000 additional children. So with the same $1.5 million donation, we could construct 25 school campuses, educating 25,000 children per year.
Does someone have a connection to Oprah? Can someone tell her about the work we do, and how far her money would go if she donated to Koins? The reason we are able to do so much is because every penny that is donated to Koins for Kenya goes directly to our projects in Kenya. There is nothing kept in the states for "overhead" or "administrative fees". The reality of donating to many (most) NGO humanitarian organizations, especially the large ones, such as Save the Children, which will be assisting Oprah and Tererai to build this 1.5 million dollar school for 1,000 children, is that many pockets will be lined and salaries paid along the way, with money that should otherwise be meant for helping out these children. Those of us involved with Koins for Kenya work very hard to ensure that the money donated towards our projects actually is spent on our projects. Every member of our board is a volunteer, and by making this our mantra, we are able to finish many projects with relatively small amounts of cash.
Thanks to all of our donors. We don't need $1.5 million to build a school. Even a $25 donation can be used and makes a difference.
Asante sana,
IVL
