Why "Slumdog Millionaire" is One of My Favorite Movies

By Reiko Niimi

Personal story

“Slumdog Millionaire is one of my favorite movies, because its message -- based on the coming-of-age story of two brothers in India -- has always resonated powerfully: “You can be what you want!” Born in Aguascalientes, in rural Mexico, from an early age, I have both questioned and believed in the truth of that phrase.

I am the second child of four raised by a strong mother. The long absence of my father and the macho, class-conscious society in which I grew up has no doubt contributed to building my resilient character.  I grew up hearing that there was “no money for studies, so work and earn money” or more frequently, that without a (financially) supportive family  “Who can take you seriously?” Under these circumstances, I saw two options: either adapt and accept my daily reality, or counter this social paradigm with determination. I have always had to work while studying, sometimes more than 16 hours a day. This has impacted the time it takes to complete my coursework and obtain degrees, but I am not giving up; I still work for my goals!

JUSTICE is the key word underlying my doctoral thesis. A professor advised me to identify a research topic that I could feel in the pit of my stomach. So I decided to focus on the difficulties faced by women in my socio-economic situation and from rural areas to access higher education. I am linking education theory, practice and results, in order to reduce the obstacles to education and justice, currently confronted by vulnerable youth, especially indigenous women.”

Mariela Escobedo has given us permission to translate and share the above from her successful application for a grant from MMEG in 2017. After graduation from Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico, she intends to organize an NGO that advocates access to education for marginalized women.

Obstacles confronting indigenous women

Mariela’s preliminary research shows:

• The indigenous population in Mexico is more than 6 percent of the population, or 7 million people (INEGI, the National Institute of Geography and Statistics in Mexico).
• 16.5% of the population, 15 years or older, have at least one year of college, and an equal proportion of women and men were enrolled in 2003 (Cordoba, 2016).
• However, only 2.8% of the indigenous population in Mexico reached higher education in 2010. Only one in four of them are women.

Education policies regarding indigenous inclusion have focused at the primary level, particularly basic literacy (Chavez,2008). Despite this success, they do not have the same support to continue their education. Mariela’s research shows that Indigenous students fail to pass university admission exams, because of deficiencies that accumulate in high school. Women are further discouraged by community expectations, such that a college acceptance and scholarship may be declined out of family concern for her safety and social risks (e.g. unwanted pregnancies and sexual abuse) -- compared to encouragement for men to seize such opportunities. She believes that the benefits of higher education must thus be promoted through community-level awareness-raising programs, in order to increase the number of women in higher education.

Even after arriving at a university, despite the odds, indigenous women face linguistic discrimination (since Spanish is not their mother tongue), social ostracism, and lack of role models. There are few scholarships for the indigenous population, and no university programs that promote the retention of indigenous students, especially during their first year --a period that is crucial for continuing studies up to graduation.

We are proud that Mariela is looking for ways that public policy in Mexico can improve access to higher education for indigenous women! 

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REFERENCES

Data of indigenous population in Mexico:

http://cuentame.inegi.org.mx/poblacion/lindigena.aspx?tema=P

Distribution of student population in higher education, Mexico:

Cordova, Martha, (2016), La mujer mexicana en la educación superior. https://psicolatina.org/Cuatro/mexicana.html

http://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0185-27602008000400003

Research of Eugenia Chávez about indigenous students:

Chávez Arellano, María Eugenia (2008).  Ser indígena en la educación superior ¿desventajas reales o asignadas?,vol.37, pp.31-55.:

http://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0185-27602008000400003

Insuring Women's Safety

Although she grew up in a safe and loving family, Farzana Chowdhury personally knows the many socio-economic challenges facing women in Bangladesh. And she passionately wants them to know that “You’re not alone.”

First female CEO of Green Delta and in the Bangladesh insurance industry, Farzana was recently honored by the United Nations Global Compact in a Times Square event for her pioneering contributions to the dignity of women and poverty alleviation. This year, she launched a product called Nibedita to literally insure women’s safety, regardless of economic stature, that includes a smartphone app that provides a counseling network, emergency services and safety tips.

Traditionally, women are not encouraged to claim damages after suffering trauma or being victimized (by rape, for example). Green Delta’s personal accident insurance helps to empower women, and to promote gender equity.

Farzana learned about MMEG during discussions with the IFC (International Finance Corporation of the World Bank). She generously donated to the scholarship endowment, and offers mentorship possibilities to grantees from Bangladesh or those in the finance industry.

Press Release: "Empowering Women Reception and Fundraiser" to Support Women’s Education

The Margaret McNamara Education Grants is hosting its charity benefit reception at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center Oct 28, 2016  from 6 pm to 9 pm

Washington D.C. (October 24, 2016) – The Margaret McNamara Education Grants (MMEG), a Washington D.C.-based public charity, is pleased to announce our « Empowering Women Reception and Fundraiser » in honor of our 35th anniversary. The fun event will raise funds to support women’s education from the developing world and is sponsored by Trade Center Management Associates.

Professor Elizabeth Kucinich, a champion for health, human rights, and the environment will keynote the reception. A live auction, hosted by Justin Swisher will include many exciting items from holiday packages in Los Cabos and Tuscany to art pieces from world famous artists. The charity benefit event will also feature live music by Kathy Hankins and Tony Nalker, rich cultural presentations and a photo exhibition. Still photography is welcome. RSVP’s requested at www.mmeg.org/auction

MMEG is a volunteer-led non-profit organization that provides grants to women from developing countries to further their education and strengthen their leadership skills. Since its inception, MMEG grantees are making a difference in a vast array of areas, from legal and human rights, to health, education, and they are committed to the well-being of women and children and to returning to a developing country upon graduation.

Monica Vidili, MMEG’s President, said «We believe that women are empowered through education and individual women can change communities for the better. We educate one exceptional woman and she trains thousands. As we celebrate 35 years of helping women and communities in the developing world - one extraordinary woman at a time -, we are calling Washingtonians to join us to empower women through education together. »

MMEG was founded in honor of Margaret Craig McNamara’s life-long commitment to women and children and her advocacy of education. Ms. McNamara was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1981 for creating the  « Reading is Fundamental » program, which provided youngsters all over this country with millions of books. Over more than 30 years, 319 women from 70 countries have been awarded a total of $2 million in MMEG grants.

The event is also supported by the World Bank Family Network (WBFN), Bank-Fund Staff Federal Credit Union, and the Washington Diplomat Magazine.

About MMEG » MMEG is a nonprofit, a 501(c)(3) public charity, which awards education grants to exceptional women from developing countries. who are at least 25 years old, and enrolled at universities in the US, Canada and select universities in South Africa and Latin America. For more information, please visit www.mmeg.org

Fulfilling a Shona Proverb

Fulfilling a Shona Proverb

“Welcome to the program Disability Factor on Star-FM. I am joined by Dr Christine Peta, the first Zimbabwean to obtain a PhD in disability studies…” So begins another segment of a national weekly radio show providing advice to people living with disabilities in Zimbabwe. Her advocacy of their rights stems from childhood observations; her parents always welcomed both disabled and non-disabled members of their extended family into their modest home.

"Kugariketangenhamo" is a Shona proverb meaning that “success comes after poverty”. Born and raised in a big family, Christine has worked and studied hard to acquire a middle-class lifestyle, e.g. a solid and safe home with electricity, plumbing and 24 hour internet service. Yet she clearly recognizes the imprints of a childhood in poverty -- such as the physical scars from living in crowded conditions, to the memories of near rape by a relative. Her heart therefore is committed to reducing the suffering of those who continue to live in similar situations - in the zones of invisibility, silence and marginalization.

Through the Disability Centre for Africa (www.dcfafrica.com), Christine advocates for the “mainstreaming of disability”, or a society that is more accessible, supportive and inclusive of disabled people. The UN estimates that more than 80% of disabled people live in developing countries, and more than half of them are women. In most African countries, disabled women are dying quietly and unnoticed in their homes for lack of access to sexual and reproductive health services and information in appropriate formats. For example, disabled women receive little information on menstruation and pregnancy, whether in braille or sign language, or even an elevator or ramp to access service venues in a wheelchair. Yet, disabled women are particularly vulnerable to rape, domestic violence and abandonment. In childbirth, health care staff is insensitive to the needs of disabled women; society in general ignores their right to be treated as human beings who should be respected.

Christine also points out that disabled people have a lower than average chance of gainful employment, but a higher than average likelihood of being impoverished and isolated. In one of her weekly newspaper columns in the Sunday Mail (http://www.sundaymail.co.zw/disabled-womens-slog-for-survival/), Christine shares her research findings that even women who become disabled after marriage tend to be abandoned by their husbands and are often left to fend for themselves and their children.

MMEG is proud to have funded Christine’s PhD Studies at the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Cape Town in 2014. She developed a research strategy to provide opportunities for people with disabilities to talk about their own experiences; she feels privileged to facilitate the voice of people with disabilities. Most recently, she has started to advocate at high levels of central government.

Disabled woman at her informal fruit and vegetable stall

Dr Christine Peta

Dr Christine Peta with disabled women soon after a focus group discussion on sexual and reproductive health

Pakistan: Fighting for Girls' Education

Fatima Zaidi

Meet Fatima Zaidi, a native of Lahore, Pakistan, currently pursuing her master's degree in Counseling Education, at the University of Pennsylvania.

A passion for educating children runs in her family; her grandfather founded a school and provided free education to children in the community who could otherwise not afford it. Her involvement with this school included visits to the homes of families with daughters --to encourage the extension of formal education prior to marriage. 

After receiving her Bachelor’s degree in economics and management at the London School of Economics, Fatima taught grades 8-9 in a girls’ school, where she provided both academic and emotional support. Her desire to guide the young women of her country led her to pursue mental health education and school counseling.

Fatima arrived at the University of Pennsylvania only to discover that her anticipated scholarship had fallen through. This setback did not deter Fatima, however.  She placed the attainment of her degree above all else, and worked with the university to solve this impediment. Although she eventually received a scholarship from the university, Fatima also sought loans from friends, and set up a GoFundMe account to finance the shortfall. 

She has attained a 4.0 GPA, while juggling the responsibilities of being an undergraduate Resident Advisor, a practicum counseling student, and working part-time in a university mentoring program. One of her professors vouches for Fatima's demonstration of exceptional leadership, and considers her the "highest quality counseling education student" at the university.

MMEG awarded Fatima a grant in 2016. She will use this to cover tuition and living expenses for her second and final year. After obtaining her master's degree, Fatima plans to work in a female-centered institution, as well as to introduce accredited counseling and teaching programs in Pakistan where school counseling is almost non-existent; she will also continue to help at her grandfather’s school. 

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Fatima Zaidi with students of the Grammar School in Lahore

Margaret McNamara Education Grants is excited to assist Fatima in realizing her dream of changing the lives of young girls in her home country.

by Hope Phillips