Name: Ziva DeMattia
Social Justice Group: 2022-2023, Girls Access to Education Globally
Date of Fieldwork: February 15, 2023
Name of Organization and person (people) with whom you met and their title(s):Zoë Timms the Founder of the Women’s Education Project
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 January 15th, we had an interview with Zoë Timms who is the founder and executive director of Women’s Education Project (WEP). The Women’s Education Project helps girls of all ages in India and Nepal access an education. She shared important information with us about her work and how her and WEP is helping girls in India and Nepal attend school.
When Zoë got an opportunity from her professor to go to India, she wanted to go because it sounded interesting. Once she got there, she saw a polluted river and that many of the girls living nearby were not attending school. This is when she knew she wanted to make her life’s work, supporting people in these conditions as much as possible, like supporting girls in attending school.
Zoë was working at a local school in India and one of her students was staying behind when the other students were going to class. Zoë asked her if she was ready to go to karate class because everyone had to go, that is when the girl pointed down to her leg and Zoë saw she had polio. The next week, the girl completed karate class saying “I did it!” to Zoë. Zoë talked some more about how strong the girls that she works with are and that they teach her things as well.
Another topic in Zoë’s work that she shared with us is some of the barriers that come up when they are trying to support these girls in attending school. One of them is that sometimes the parents want their daughters to get married and start a family early on, rather than attending school. When WEP comes across barriers such as this, they respect family and cultural traditions, and try not to interfere with the families beliefs. Something else Zoë shared with us is how her and WEP go into these communities with a humble attitude. One of the ways Zoë said she does this is by wearing similar clothes the girls she is helping wear, and always being open to trying new things. Another way she does this is once she has gotten to know the girls, Zoë and the girls will teach each other things from their own cultures.
Zoë has also set up a call with us and some of the girls in their program. We are excited to talk with them and share and learn about different foods, cultures, and daily life.
