Women + Girls = PROGRESS  One Girl's Story

Education of a girl today means an empowered woman tomorrow. RAIN mentors and girls, together, fight for education. Here is Fatima, describing what her mentor Boulie means to her:

"At first, I went to school only when I felt like going, as my parents did not do much to encourage me. Then Boulie came along to motivate me. She used to say:  'Fatima, you are a very intelligent and wonderful girl, you need to go to school and be somebody! You can be a nurse, a school teacher, whatever you want to be, if you go to school and succeed!' Encouragement that leads you to dream about your future. I began to be interested in going to school, did not miss a class, arrived on time, listened carefully to my teachers, and my grades began to be much better.

But when I reached the 5th grade, Boulie noticed I was not attending my Saturday morning practical skills class. My father had me help at his general store instead.

I wasn't happy about working in the store while my friends were in class, and neither was my mother. Boulie understood and said: 'Don't worry, I will not let him ruin your schooling when you're about to finish primary school.' She tried to persuade my father, but he continued taking me to the shop. She asked some community elders to talk to him, but he still refused. She decided that every Saturday she would go to the shop and get me to bring to class.  The first few Saturdays, my father was angry, but did not confront her. She continued every Saturday.  

Finally came the Saturday that my father left to go to his store without asking me to come with him. I knew that Boulie and I had won the battle and I ran to her house to tell her. Since that day, I have never missed a mentoring class, and my father isn't angry with Boulie anymore as he sees me succeeding in school.  

I give thanks to God and thanks to RAIN for this mentoring program. Even if I attend college in Tillaberri, I will still benefit from Boulie's advice whenever I come home for the holidays, until I become a teacher. That is what I want to be when I grow up."