Dozens of secondary students took to the stage on International Women鈥檚 Day to advocate for gender equality through speeches, song and dance. One Form 5鈥檚 reading of an original poem particularly unified the school community in reflection and celebration.
19-year-old Yasintha stood proudly behind the podium and briefly paused. Her eyes scanned the Smith Secondary Campus auditorium as she inhaled the energy of the crowd and began her stirring recitation.
鈥淧overty, rejection, pain, worthless鈥� that鈥檚 all I鈥檝e been hearing about the woman down the street鈥︹��
The Conqueror is an account of a fictional, unnamed woman鈥檚 disempowerment and her determination to overcome hardships. It sensitively highlights gender equality issues, while celebrating the strength and resilience of the protagonist.
鈥淭hey call her 鈥楶rey鈥�, they call her 鈥楴othing鈥�, but I call her 鈥楤eautiful鈥�, I call her 鈥楽mart鈥�, I call her 鈥楥aring鈥�, I call her 鈥楧aring鈥�, because she is special in every way. She is a woman. She is The Conqueror.鈥�
Yasintha wrote the poem as a tribute to women worldwide who, unlike her, don鈥檛 have an opportunity to use their own voices to speak against injustice.
鈥淚t felt amazing to have the opportunity to speak [on International Women鈥檚 Day]. I was able to speak about the pain of other people who cannot yet speak for themselves. I was inspired to write The Conqueror for these girls and women. At St Jude鈥檚, we are very lucky to be treated fairly. In some villages though, things are not always equal.鈥�
According to US Aid, 鈥渓ess than 20 per cent of women aged 20-24 [in Tanzania] have completed secondary school and 20 per cent have no education at all.鈥� At St Jude鈥檚 51 per cent of the students are female. St Jude鈥檚 supporters are helping us close the education gap.
鈥淭he willingness to listen makes someone a powerful leader, in addition to speaking. When I finish school, I want to be a petroleum engineer and I will promote women鈥檚 rights so I can listen to people鈥檚 issues and help them use their voice. Given the chance, I would make sure everyone has courage to be seen as an equal,鈥� Yasintha said. Who inspires this young, visionary leader?
鈥淢y mother and Maya Angelou [African-American poet]. My mother, because she has made me the woman I am today. And on International Women鈥檚 Day, we were told of a Maya Angelou quote which made me want to learn more: 鈥業 go forth alone, and stand as ten thousand.鈥� If I could meet her, I would congratulate her on what she did to help women.鈥�
Yasintha benefits from receiving a high quality education at mini传媒. She is already one step ahead of many young women in Tanzania, and is empowered to be a leader in her community. Make a difference to the life of a future leader by sponsoring one of our students.
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