Girls’ Education - A Conversation with Lady Mariéme.
Two thirds of women worldwide cannot read. Many women cannot buy land for agriculture or housing. They can’t get credit from a bank to start a business, or go to school, or visit a doctor. They are trapped in a never-ending cycle of poverty. In many countries it is okay if a husband hits his wife or doesn’t allow her to leave the house. When working outside the house women are paid less money than men for doing the same job--or they are not hired for a position simply because they are a woman. Relatively few large companies are run by women. Governments, too, have mostly men in decision-making positions.
However, when girls are allowed to go to school, and eventually to college, their whole community is better off. Healthy and educated women have healthy and educated children. They contribute a great deal to the well-being of their country. Seventy-seven countries have a female president or head of state. Women can achieve anything when equal rights make it possible!
Lady Mariéme Jamme is an award-winning Technologist and pioneer in system change. She did not have a formative education until the age of 16 when she taught herself how to read & write. Lady Mariéme reinvented herself by learning how to code seven programming languages from her local library and her kitchen. She was named twice on the UK Powerlist 2017 and 2018 of Britain’s 100 most influential people of African and African Caribbean Heritage. Often called the diplomat of technology, she was also named twice in 2014 and in 2016 as one of the 100 most influential Africans by the African Business Magazine. Lady Mariéme’s latest venture includes the launch of iamtheCODE.org, the first African-led global movement to mobilize government, the private sector, and philanthropic foundations to advance STEAMD (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics and Design) Education. Her goal is to empower 1 million young women & girls globally to become coders by 2030 and to align with the UN 2030 Agenda.
Make a difference
The Host
Marie is 15 years old & passionate about social justice. She has traveled to 16 countries and lived in the US, Germany and Hong Kong. She is particularly interested in solving issues around Equality and Ocean Conservation.
