We are beginning to search for the next generation of Voices of Women. We are speaking with students at high schools in San Diego who are progressive in their thinking and already working on projects with global connections. We will be highlighting their projects so that others can get involved. We ask that you take the journey with us and help them explore the world!
High Tech High International, located in San Diego, has started "Cambio Club." The teacher leading the club, Melissa Aguelo, did not ask the students to join. Instead, she put the word out about what she wanted to accomplish and encouraged students who wanted to make a difference to join. Interested students were asked to sign a contract to devote a certain amount of time each week to the Cambio Club.
Melissa registered the Cambio Club as a member of the "O Ambassadors." Latin America was chosen as the area of focus and the money the Cambio Club students raise will be turned over to the O Ambassadors.
The students involved in the Cambio Club are: Marissa Wong, Rishika Daryanan, Alexx Igaki, Cynthia Galvan, Nicolas D’Amico-Barbour, Carmen Mason, Mariah Salas, and Candace LeFlame. They have designed and made cotton, re-usable grocery bags to sell for $7.00 each. Their commitment to the O Ambassadors is to raise $1,000 by the end of June, 2008. Please visit their website www.hthicambioclub.etsy.com for more information on how to order these bags and help the students reach their goal.
These students come from different backgrounds in San Diego, yet they are united through one goal – they want to make a difference in the world. They want to dispel the misconception that their generation has been stereotyped as lazy and entitled. These students are hungry for an opportunity to learn about different parts of the world. They are eager to bring their increased knowledge to college and to get involved on a larger scale.
Voices of Women celebrates the effort that these students are making for the greater good and wants to encourage them to continue their inspirational work.
Stacey Blanchet
Voices of Women
Cambio Club Update
- On June 17, 2008, at VOW's event on "Women's Rights are Human Rights" at the Institute for Peace & Justice, the Cambio Club reached their goal of $1,000 raised for the O Ambassador's Club. Thank you VOW Supporters and Friends!
- Their next goal is $5000.00 by June of 2009. Let's help!
Nargis Alizada is a remarkable young lady who has achieved more at 17 than most do in a lifetime. Her story begins in Afghanistan with a grandfather and father who risked their lives to give her a chance at an education. Nargis was smuggled out of her country at the age of 7 and taken to Iran. The family relocated to Azerbaijan, Russia, where Nargis’ father was studying to be a doctor. He was two years from finishing his education when they were accepted into the United States.
When the Alizada family arrived in the United States, Nargis joined the Aja Project that teaches refugee children to communicate through photography. Her photography with the Aja Project was selected to be in the first exhibit at the National Geographic Museum in Washington D.C. The exhibit was well received and she was asked to testify before congress on National Refugee Day and tell her family’s story. The Walden Media Group asked Nargis to travel around United States and Canada for a year telling her story. During that time she met two teachers from the Francis Parker High School in San Diego, who offered her a full scholarship. Nargis completed her high school education and graduated in 2008. She will be attending Fairfield University in Connecticut, on a full scholarship, and she plans to major in International Studies with an emphasis on Women’s Rights.
Nargis still has extended family in Afghanistan including her grandfather who stayed behind because he wants his family to return to their country someday. He wanted the women in his family to get an education so they could come back and help their country. When Nargis completes her studies she plans to return to Afghanistan and open an educational center. She believes that an emphasis needs to be placed on educating men, since they are in power, and can help women to achieve their rights.
The Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice at USD accepted Nargis’ application for a summer internship program where she will be using her knowledge to prepare for her first return trip to Afghanistan. She will be taking her camera to document the changes in her country and she hopes to share the images globally. Her current works will be on exhibit at the opening of the New Americans Museum at NTC Promenade, Liberty Station on June 20, 2008 in San Diego. http://www.newamericansmuseum.org/home.html
Nargis has also published a book with the Aja Project, about the Islamic faith, entitled "The Noble Month".
Nargis told me that her grandfather once told her: "Walk in great footsteps and leave great footsteps." Nargis is well on her way and we know she will leave great footsteps for us all to follow!
