There’s a lot of talk about inequity in the U.S. these days and from the educational perspective, the inequity is real. Our colorful, mismatched kids who don’t fit into the traditional educational setting typically have to look elsewhere for support.
But educational inequity on a global scale is equally troubling. There are schools and communities without technology, books, or even electricity, which makes teaching and learning an even bigger challenge.
Today’s guest decided to do something about that. After a series of life-altering events, she took a hiatus from her job as an attorney and traveled to South America to heal. What she discovered was a deep desire to help underserved communities and children. And School the World was born.
Listen in to hear how Kate is ensuring that equity is a conversation we’re having both in the U.S. and across the globe.
About Kate Curran:
Kate Curran left her career as an attorney in 2007 to travel the world. Her personal call to action followed the sudden death of her brother, father and mother in under two years. Her mother’s last words, “I’ve had a great life,” and her father’s lifelong commitment to public service inspired her to begin a journey to define “a great life” that took her across four continents.
For Kate, her year-long journey was a course in gratitude: gratitude for the majesty of the world evident in Patagonia’s Glaciers National Park, gratitude for the sacrifices of others so evident in Normandy, and gratitude for the sacrifices her parents made for her own education. But it was the 12 children sharing one pencil in a Tanzanian classroom, the young children working under the hot Andes sun, and the children crossing through crocodile-infested waters to get to school in a Zambian village who moved her to action. Inspired by that gratitude and the lengths to which the world’s children will go for an education, Kate founded School the World to fight extreme poverty at its roots by bringing quality education to the world’s poorest and marginalized children.
It was a vision founded in gratitude that led Kate to School the World. It is through dedicated supporters and partners that this vision became reality.
In 11 years, School the World has built 106 schools and 56 playgrounds, stocked 547 classroom libraries, empowered 7,119 parents to be their child's "first educators," extensively trained 3,980 teachers and educated 12,070 children.
Additionally, its newest program for middle schoolers has given scholarships to 506 young adolescents so that they can continue their education past elementary school and learn the digital and life skills necessary to build brighter futures for not only themselves, but their families.
Jump in the Conversation:
- [1:50] where creating equity in education started for Kate
- [5:20] What kids in underdeveloped countries actually need
- [7:00] 2021 Project Equity
- [12:54] Understanding the culture of Latin America to meet people where they are
- [16:33] How we can be involved in North America--students, businesses
- [21:13] The benefits of bonding over something meaningful
- [26:20] Outcomes of students doing service work
- [28:25] Turbo Time
- [35:15] Kate’s Magic Wand
Links:
- School the World
- Email Maureen
- Maureen’s TEDx Talk
- The Education Evolution
- Facebook: Follow Education Evolution
- Twitter: Follow Education Evolution
- LinkedIn: Follow Education Evolution
- EdActive Collective
- Maureen’s book: Creating Micro-Schools for Colorful Mismatched Kids
- Micro-school feature on Good Morning America
- The Micro-School Coalition
- Facebook: The Micro-School Coalition
- LEADPrep
