WORLD & NATION
WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM
Activist of the century uses pen, ink to make change
BY BRENT EISENBARTH
A flash of light engulfed the
school bus when the Taliban shot
Malala Yousafzai. Fired at point
blank, the bullet ricocheted off a
cupped portion of Malala's skull.
Malala was saved.
But what could a 16-year-old
girl have done to instigate a death
order from the Taliban?
In 2009, the BBC began
publishing Malala's journals
detailing life under Taliban rule,
where women were strictly
prohibited from attending school.
"All I want is an education, and
I am afraid of no one," Malala
said.
As Malala voiced activism for
women's education, the Taliban
unsuccessfully attempted to
silence her. Instead, they invited
global attention to Malala's
stand in the fight for women's
education.
Since her recovery, Malala has
implored the U.N. to support
women's education, published
her memoir, "I am Malala," been
nominated for the Nobel Peace
Prize and founded the Malala
Fund, an organization that
supports women's education
across the world.
"Education is everything," said
Julie Burke, assistant professor of
education studies. "In order to
be empowered in the world ... in
order to be able to take advantage
of opportunities, you need some
tools.
"You need to be able to read, to
write and to compute."
With this in mind, Malala has
been channelizing media-frenzy
energy to maximize the Malala
Fund's impact. The organization's
first grant provided financial
support for 40 girls at Malala's
Pakistani school — girls who
would have otherwise left school
to perform domestic work.
"Let us turn the education of 40
girls into 40 million girls," Malala
said to the Women in the World
summit in New York City.
Since its founding last year,
the Malala Fund has established
schools in Pakistan in an effort
to change old practices that
stigmatize women's education.
"She's got guts, beyond guts,"
said Lana Abutabanja, Palestinian
Early College senior. "She has
the courage to speak out amidst
a culture that says, 'women are
not supposed to do that.' I really
think she's a hero."
Jeremy Rinker, visiting assistant
professor of peace and conflict
studies explained Malala's hero
effect.
"There is something to be said
. about the role that storytelling
and experience of conflict play
into the legitimacy of a nonviolent
activist," he said.
Even beyond women's
education, change is eminent in
the Muslim world. From the Arab
Spring to Malala's movement, the
relationship between the activist
and media is becoming even more
critical.
"Malala's youth and the terrible
violence committed against her
has catapulted her into world
fame," said Diya Abdo, associate
professor of English, in an email
interview. "This kind of exposure
can be beneficial if she remains in
control of her narrative and cause
and doesn't allow them to be co
opted by others."
Malala's nonviolent activism
and forgiveness have not fallen
on deaf ears. Millions across
the world have joined the "I am
Malala Movement," declaring
their support for women's
education rights through social
media and donations to the
Malala Fund.
Malala Yosafzai has lead millions of people to support women’s education.
"(Malala's stand) will anger a is," said Abutabanja. "But it will
lot of people, because they will change the minds of the females
see her as choosing to be more who will speak out and say, 'no, I
Western than being whoever she want to be educated.'"
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN.
EARN ENGLISH OR COMMUNICATION CREDIT & CAREER
EXPERIENCE WHILE WORKING FOR.
Register for spring semester
for 1,2, or 4 credits. Contact Jeff Jeske, jjeske@guilford.edu
for more information.
Instructor permission required.
Solar suitcase saves women, children
BY TY GOOCH
what happens when a health dinic in a
developing nation loses power?
Hal Aronson, co-founder of We Care Solar,
saw the consequences himself as his wife
served at a clinic in Nigeria.
"Women did not get the care they needed,"
said Aronson in an email to The Guilfordian.
"Many would lose their babies or die because
doctors could not serve them, as they did
not have the light necessary to diagnose and
treat."
As maternal death rates increased, Aronson
realized the need for change and designed the
We Care Solar Suitcase.
At $1,500, Aronson's solar-powered
suitcase provides backup electricity to health
clinics in the developing world.
Its impact?
"More women are surviving childbirth,"
Aronson said.
CNN reports that after the suitcase was
installed in Nigeria's state hospital, the death
rate for women decreased 70 percent.
While the suitcase provides relief to women
it also benefits the population as a whole.
"More people come to the clinics because
the clinics are lit up at night," said Aronson.
Ezra Zerihun, an Early College senior
whose parents are native Ethiopians, saw the
impact himself when he visited his parents'
hometown.
"Because of the light, the dirrics felt safer
and more suitable for treatment," said
Zerihim.
This illumination encompasses not only
Nigeria and Ethiopia, but many other
countries as well.
"We have distributed over 400 Solar
Suitcases to over 25 countries," said Aronson's
wife Laura Stachel, co-founder of We Care
Solar. "Most recently we have worked with
UNICEF in Uganda and the U.N. Fimd for
Population Activities in Sierra Leone."
The distribution process is laborious,
however, and installation requires training.
But logistics have not deterred Aronson
and Stachel from continuing We Care Solar's
mission.
"Sometimes, individuals carry these
suitcases as luggage on planes and canoes
down a river," said Aronson. "For large
projects, we air-freight a pallet of suitcases
to a country and work with the local
nongovernmental org^zations to deliver
and install the systems."
Unfortunately, Aronson and his team
cannot be everywhere at once.
Spearheaded by only six core members and
a handful of volunteers. We Care Solar had to
find an alternative method to train health care
providers in remote locations.
"I have four training videos on our
website, wecaresolar.org, to teach people how
to use, install and maintain the suitcases,"
said Aronson.
While helpful, these training videos don't
satisfy the organization's need for manpower.
We Care Solar relies heavily on volunteers
and welcomes interested students with open
arms.
"If there are students who truly want to
serve, I am very open to involving them,"
said Aronson.
You can contact Hal Aronson at
_ hal.aronson@^Tiail.com