Elusive Goal(s)

My elusive goal is to give refuge to refugee girls’ protection and education that are forced to flee from their homes to escape war, persecution, or a natural disaster.  The reason for this elusive goal(s) is refugee girls are vulnerable to violence and exploitation in all its forms. Women are frequently encumbered by caring for children, and along with girls, specifically targeted and subjected to physical and sexual violence from both sides of the conflict; especially those in Somalia, Sudan, Liberia, Sierra Leone, the Congo, East Timor, Bosnia, and Croatia, to name just a few.  Sexual violence is a frequent feature of internal conflict as well, such as the recent political battles in Kenya and the current uprising in Syria.

My intent is not to take advantage of sexual vulnerability or exploit girls for monetary gain through sex trafficking and other forms of slavery, but to tear the fabric of society and punish the enemy; particularly in cultures where sexual purity is a source of family honor. I would dedicate to finding, sheltering, and educating unaccompanied refugee girls in Nairobi; especially girls from several nearby countries including Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi.  I would provide skills training in textiles, and education in personal health, HIV-AIDS, and avoiding exploitation.

Secondly, I would be for those refugee girls to achieve universal primary education; by ensuring that, by 2015, girls everywhere would be able to complete a full course of primary schooling. According to The Millennium Development Goals Report 2012, more than half of all out-of-school children are in sub-Saharan Africa.  No statistics are available specifically for refugees.  There are some schools in refugee camps, such as Dadaab in northern Kenya.  In Dadaab, over half of the total population of 463,000 mainly Somali refugees are under 18.  About 38% of them attend school.  A third of the girls between the ages of 5 and 13 go to school.  For ages 14 to 17, only one in 20 is enrolled.  Outside the camps, refugees are widely dispersed and impossible to track, but it is safe to say that few refugee girls are in school.

Thirdly, I would be for Gender Equality I would eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, preferably by 2015, and in all levels of education no later than 2017. Statistics are not available on the education of refugee children, so it is difficult for me to state with accuracy how the education of refugee girls in Kenya ranks.  Suffice it to say, few refugee girls’ have access to education.  I would improve the lives of many refugee girls. Without education, girls remain vulnerable.

When I hit the jackpot I would definitely help refugee girls because they are the most vulnerable people in the world.   In extreme and chaotic situations such as war, famine, and natural disaster, girls and women always are at higher risk than men and boys.  But for girls especially, once they have escaped the danger zone, they need help in finding safe shelter and a place where they can begin to build new lives.  This means not only safety from predators and abuse, but education and skills training. In order for them to make a life for themselves and escape a life of marginalization; my elusive goal(s) would be for these refugee girls to be educated and empowered to support themselves and make their own way in the world.