I’m so happy that I finished all my chores yesterday so that mama would let me go to
school today! As my two big brothers and I walked home from school, we were talking
about how our groups came up with ideas for our class projects. When we got home,
my brothers ran off to play and I went to help mama in the kitchen. “Where have you
been?” She snapped when she saw me. “I went to school mama. You said that if I finished
my chores yesterday I could go to school!” “What? Do you think that the chores are
done forever in just one day? Everyday there are new chores. No no no. You will not go
to school anymore. I didn’t go to school. Your father didn’t go to school. You are
a girl! You will stay home and help us on the farm. Your brothers will go. Here. Cut
these vegetables!” “Ok Mama.”
Though I did what she asked, I just couldn't stop my tears from coming out. I don't understand
why my brothers can go school but I can't. As I was cutting the vegetables I wondered
and wondered... Why is it because I'm a girl? I've also noticed I've seen many women in our village that
would just only go to school to pick up their boys. On another day I walked around the market
to deliver our vegetables, when I ran into my primary school teacher. “Reena, here
you are! Where have you been? We haven’t seen you for so long, just your brothers.
Do you not want to come to school?” “I love school! I want to learn! But mama said
I don’t go to school anymore. School is only for my brothers. I have to help them
around the house and in the farm.”
“Reena, you are such a smart girl. School is for everyone, not just your brothers. I
spoke to your parents so many times before about this. Do you like to learn? Do you want
to learn?” I nodded. “Well, ok this is what we will do okay? You read your brothers
books when you can and when you come pick up your brothers I will give you some homework
to do. Here’s your first one, I just went to make some copies. I will speak to someone
at a local association and see what we can do about getting you back in school, okay?”
I nodded excitedly and took the homework and hid it under the vegetables.
A few weeks later I was walking to pick my brothers up from school. I was almost there
when I put it down the homework I was checking one last time. Then I saw a poster on the
wall. On top were the letters U. N. E. S. C. O and then followed by ‘Education is
a human right for everyone.’ "Everyone" it said! And under the letters were pictures
of boys AND girls! Girl kids AND girl adults! I stood there staring at this poster for I
don’t even know how long, but my brothers found me. “Look! The girls here are going
to school! They can learn, why can’t I?!” I ripped the poster from the wall and marched
passed my brothers to my teacher.
Two days later my teacher and someone from the local association arrived at my home.
I took out the poster that I hid under my bed as they asked mama and papa if we can
all sit down for a talk about my future. When they all sat down, I put the poster up and
I told her with tears in my eyes. “Mama, look at these girls. They can go to school.
I want to go to school too. It says education is a human right and that there is a law in
our country that guarantees this right. Mama... Do I not deserve to be educated like my brothers?
I want to show you that what I can do. That I can help our family, our village and our
people. I am a girl but I deserve the chance like everyone else to go to school.”
My mother looked at the poster and looked at my teacher. She saw how hard I had to fight
just because I wanted to go to school. The man from the local association spoke up, “Do
you know that education is the right of every child, youth and adult in our country and
that it is guaranteed by the law? Education will definitely help Reena and your entire
family to live a better life and have a brighter future. Keeping her out of school just because
she is a girl means that you are blocking her from countless opportunities that she
and your whole family could benefit from through the power of education. We can help Reena
to get the education she deserves. We can help her reach her full potential.” Mama
was quiet for a while then she said “No.”
“No. What about our home? Our farm? Your father and I didn’t go to school because
we have a farm to take care of. Who will help us?” My mother objected. “I will.” I
said. “I can help you in the morning before school and I can help you after school. I
promise mama!” Mama looked at me and then at my teacher and then at papa. She hesitated
but in the end sighed and said “Ok. But you will finish ALL of your chores.” Then
she got up and left. Papa turned to me, smiled and said. “As long as you help us honey, we are
ok with it.” “I promise papa. I promise”
After that day, I went to school every single day. I did very well. So well indeed that
I excelled in primary school. There wasn't a secondary school in my village so I had
to convince my parents and the school in a nearby town to allow me to attend. Though
it wasn't easy, I was so passionate and empowered by my own successes and challenges that I
vowed to pursue a higher education. I just want to help people like me who were denied
their right to education even though the law clearly states that every child must go to
school.
Now, I am a lawyer and I work in my district to ensure that children, as well as adults,
have the knowledge and legal means to advocate for their right to education. I work together
with UNESCO using the legal frameworks that are spearheaded by them in order to bring
about change in my community and the communities that surround us. I also campaign to make
sure that children have access to quality primary and secondary education.
And not just children, but I also campaign for adults that didn't receive the education
they deserved as a child to have an equal opportunity to be educated as well. Believe it or not,
even my mother was empowered to take up literacy classes and she is now able to read and write!
It's not always easy to change mindsets, but it's a struggle that is worth having because
education transforms lives. It certainly has transformed mine.
This is my story but it’s also the voice of millions of girls and boys around the world
whose right to education is violated every single day.