Name: Ziva DeMattia

Social Justice Group: Girls Access to Education Globally

Date of Fieldwork: January 4, 2023

Name of Organization and person (people) with whom you met and their title(s): Sarah Symons, the Founder of Her Future Coalition

Type of Fieldwork: Interview

What I did and what I learned about my topic, activism, social justice work or civil and human rights work from this fieldwork?[:: :

On Wednesday, January 4th our group had an interview with Sarah Symons, the founder of Her Future Coalition (HFC). She is important to our topic because their organization helps girls in countries such as Nepal, India, and Bangladesh access a safe education. I learned that HFC is taking action to address this issue by giving girls around the world the opportunity for a safe education, access to shelter, food, and focusing on their mental health. This is extremely important because in many countries girls cannot access a safe education, let alone any education at all. HFC’s mission is to try and give as many girls the opportunity to experience a safe education in a safe environment.

I learned that some girls choose not to attend school or are restricted by their parents because of religious, cultural or other beliefs that limit these girls/their families from wanting them to go to school. One of these restrictions is marriage, because in some cases the parents want their daughter to get married early on instead of going to school. I also learned that if there are other priorities that the family or the girls need before getting an education like shelter, food, and water, then HFC will help them access these things before trying to get the girls involved in their program. I learned that they need to go into these situations with a humble attitude because their intentions are to give the girls an opportunity to go to school. HFC has helped and is still helping so many girls be able to attend a safe school, access food, water, and shelter and teach them about their physical and mental health.