Comments on: The Girl Who Wouldn’t Take No for an Answer http://blog.theirc.org/2007/08/28/the-girl-who-wouldn%e2%80%99t-take-no-for-an-answer/ the blog of the international rescue committee Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:43:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Millie http://blog.theirc.org/2007/08/28/the-girl-who-wouldn%e2%80%99t-take-no-for-an-answer/#comment-2081 Millie Sat, 01 Sep 2007 03:28:36 +0000 http://blog.theirc.org/2007/08/28/the-girl-who-wouldn%e2%80%99t-take-no-for-an-answer/#comment-2081 Hajah reminds me of an Afghan girl, age 22, whom I have been tutoring for about 5 years. She, like Hajah, had never had the opportunity to go to school, neither had her brothers or mother and aunt. Unfortunately, she and her brothers were placed in age appropriate classes in high school and the odds of success was little to none. She is determined to get her education and has pushed through the taunts of other students for being dumb and doesn't give up in spite of a learning disability. She is well on her way to getting a high school diploma through adult school, has a job, and has passed her citizenship test. Some of our friends heard of her determination to learn, and we were able to get donations to purchase a computer program called Kurzweil 3000 that reads her text books to her while hightlghting the words. I have not asked her permission, so don't want to give out her name, but we are very proud of her. Hajah reminds me of an Afghan girl, age 22, whom I have been tutoring for about 5 years. She, like Hajah, had never had the opportunity to go to school, neither had her brothers or mother and aunt. Unfortunately, she and her brothers were placed in age appropriate classes in high school and the odds of success was little to none. She is determined to get her education and has pushed through the taunts of other students for being dumb and doesn’t give up in spite of a learning disability. She is well on her way to getting a high school diploma through adult school, has a job, and has passed her citizenship test. Some of our friends heard of her determination to learn, and we were able to get donations to purchase a computer program called Kurzweil 3000 that reads her text books to her while hightlghting the words. I have not asked her permission, so don’t want to give out her name, but we are very proud of her.

]]> By: james http://blog.theirc.org/2007/08/28/the-girl-who-wouldn%e2%80%99t-take-no-for-an-answer/#comment-2080 james Thu, 30 Aug 2007 14:59:02 +0000 http://blog.theirc.org/2007/08/28/the-girl-who-wouldn%e2%80%99t-take-no-for-an-answer/#comment-2080 I THINK IT'S GREAT!!!!!SHE DID A WONDERFUL THING. I PRESENTLY HELP OUT LIBERIAN REFUGEES IN ST. LOUIS, MO. A LOT OF THEM NEED HELP IN EDUCATION. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET HOOKED ON PHONICS FOR THEM BUT I CAN'T AFFORD THEM MYSELF. I AM GLAD THAT IRC IS HELPING REBUILD THE LIBERIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM. I AM ALSO GLAD THAT THE IRC IS HELPING THESE LIBERIANS TO COME TO THE US FOR FURTHER EDUCATION. BEFORE THE WAR, IN THE MID 70'S, THE LIBERIAN GOVERNMENT WOULD SEND STUDENTS TO THE US TO OBTAIN THEIR MASTERS DEGREE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION. THE GOVERNMENT WOULD PAY FOR THE EDUCATION, HOUSING, AND GIVE A MONTHLY STIPEN. IT WAS A GREAT PROGRAM. I WISH THE IRC HAD A PROGRAM TO REUNITE SOME OF THE CHILDREN WHO ARE STILL IN LIBERIA WITH SOME OF THE OLDER LIBERIANS THAT I WORK WITH. MANY OF THESE OLDER LIBERIANS ARE OFTEN ILITERATE AND FIND IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO FUNCTION IN THE US WITHOUT BEING EXPLOITED. HAVING THEIR CHILDREN HERE WOULD ALLOW THEM TO LIVE A BETTER LIFE. I THINK IT’S GREAT!!!!!SHE DID A WONDERFUL THING. I PRESENTLY HELP OUT LIBERIAN REFUGEES IN ST. LOUIS, MO. A LOT OF THEM NEED HELP IN EDUCATION. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET HOOKED ON PHONICS FOR THEM BUT I CAN’T AFFORD THEM MYSELF. I AM GLAD THAT IRC IS HELPING REBUILD THE LIBERIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM. I AM ALSO GLAD THAT THE IRC IS HELPING THESE LIBERIANS TO COME TO THE US FOR FURTHER EDUCATION. BEFORE THE WAR, IN THE MID 70′S, THE LIBERIAN GOVERNMENT WOULD SEND STUDENTS TO THE US TO OBTAIN THEIR MASTERS DEGREE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION. THE GOVERNMENT WOULD PAY FOR THE EDUCATION, HOUSING, AND GIVE A MONTHLY STIPEN. IT WAS A GREAT PROGRAM. I WISH THE IRC HAD A PROGRAM TO REUNITE SOME OF THE CHILDREN WHO ARE STILL IN LIBERIA WITH SOME OF THE OLDER LIBERIANS THAT I WORK WITH. MANY OF THESE OLDER LIBERIANS ARE OFTEN ILITERATE AND FIND IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO FUNCTION IN THE US WITHOUT BEING EXPLOITED. HAVING THEIR CHILDREN HERE WOULD ALLOW THEM TO LIVE A BETTER LIFE.

]]> By: Debra Smith http://blog.theirc.org/2007/08/28/the-girl-who-wouldn%e2%80%99t-take-no-for-an-answer/#comment-2079 Debra Smith Thu, 30 Aug 2007 14:12:05 +0000 http://blog.theirc.org/2007/08/28/the-girl-who-wouldn%e2%80%99t-take-no-for-an-answer/#comment-2079 keepupthe good work it just goes to show that some are desparate to learn and improve thier livesand make it better and posible to be able to help improve the lives of thier families and friends as well keepupthe good work it just goes to show that some are desparate to learn and improve thier livesand make it better and posible to be able to help improve the lives of thier families and friends as well

]]> By: Sarah http://blog.theirc.org/2007/08/28/the-girl-who-wouldn%e2%80%99t-take-no-for-an-answer/#comment-2078 Sarah Thu, 30 Aug 2007 01:28:30 +0000 http://blog.theirc.org/2007/08/28/the-girl-who-wouldn%e2%80%99t-take-no-for-an-answer/#comment-2078 What an inspiring story! Everyone told Hajah no, she said yes. What amazing persistence and strength of character. Sometimes I need to read a story like this to remind myself to appreciate my education. Sometimes it's such hard work that I feel like I can't take it, but I am aware of what a gift it is. I could easily say to myself, "I wish I had her spirit," but the fact is, I CAN have her spirit if I want it, and I do. I wish all the best for whatever the future holds for Hajah. I really don't understand how anyone can deprive their own daughter of an education. It's just horrible. This is the 21st century! It's just mind-boggling that this is still going on. What an inspiring story! Everyone told Hajah no, she said yes. What amazing persistence and strength of character. Sometimes I need to read a story like this to remind myself to appreciate my education. Sometimes it’s such hard work that I feel like I can’t take it, but I am aware of what a gift it is. I could easily say to myself, “I wish I had her spirit,” but the fact is, I CAN have her spirit if I want it, and I do. I wish all the best for whatever the future holds for Hajah.

I really don’t understand how anyone can deprive their own daughter of an education. It’s just horrible. This is the 21st century! It’s just mind-boggling that this is still going on.

]]> By: Marina Giessman http://blog.theirc.org/2007/08/28/the-girl-who-wouldn%e2%80%99t-take-no-for-an-answer/#comment-2077 Marina Giessman Wed, 29 Aug 2007 19:36:07 +0000 http://blog.theirc.org/2007/08/28/the-girl-who-wouldn%e2%80%99t-take-no-for-an-answer/#comment-2077 I am in awe of Hajah's perserverance and will to better herself in spite of parental, social, and peer pressure! I think it would be very beneficial for school children in the US to hear this story as well as others. In our community in California, our public schools are attended by many second language learners who need to work extra hard in their classes and can easily become discouraged. I also think it would be a big eye opener for all of our "average American kids" who often take for granted their privledged life circumstances and perhaps cause them to see education from a different perspective. Thanks for your story and your e-mail, Marina Giessman, 42 nursing student Clovis, California I am in awe of Hajah’s perserverance and will to better herself in spite of parental, social, and peer pressure! I think it would be very beneficial for school children in the US to hear this story as well as others. In our community in California, our public schools are attended by many second language learners who need to work extra hard in their classes and can easily become discouraged. I also think it would be a big eye opener for all of our “average American kids” who often take for granted their privledged life circumstances and perhaps cause them to see education from a different perspective. Thanks for your story and your e-mail,

Marina Giessman, 42
nursing student
Clovis, California

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