Student Council Executive Bd. Details Mercy Girl Challenge

Michelle H. Daino
On June 14, the following members of the 2022-2023 Student Council Executive Board – Renee Vozza ’23, Dena Mistichelli ’23, Charlotte Gray ’23, Stefini Drivas ’23, and Mary Claire Schleck ’23 -- learned the focus of this year’s Mercy Girl Challenge during a virtual meeting with S. Deidre Mullan, RSM, Coordinator of the Mercy Girl Effect (MGE) and Ruth Anne Munroe, Director of Campus Ministry/Student Council Moderator.
 
The MGE is a non-governmental organization which works closely with the United Nations organizations to monitor and support the education of children, especially girls. The theme of this year’s challenge is “One Team – One Dream: to provide access to education for all girls.”
Our Executive Board members reviewed these key facts with S. Deirdre and Mrs. Munroe:
  • Around the world, 129 million girls are out of school, including 32 million from primary school.
  • In countries affected by conflict, girls are more than twice as likely to be out of school as girls living in non-affected countries.
  • Based on current trends, girls will not reach 100 percent lower secondary completion in crisis-affected countries until at least 2063.
Working with the United Nations Working Group on Girls (WWG) and S. Mary Killeen, who works in in the Mukuru slums in Nairobi, Kenya, the MGE hopes to provide help and opportunity by way of “School in a Box.” S. Mary is the Director of the Mukuru Centre in Nairobi – a home to four schools and a skills center focusing on the education of 6,000 children who inhabit the slums.
 
Please click here to learn more about how the money raised during the 2022-2023 school year at Mount Saint Mary Academy will benefit the MGE.
 
“It was so enlightening to talk with S. Deirdre about the Sisters of Mercy and this year’s Challenge,” said Mary Claire. “She shared stories about the incredible reach of the Sisters of Mercy around the world. As an executive board, we are so excited to start working on the Mercy Girl project and plan events to raise awareness and funds this upcoming school year!”
 
Charlotte added, "Talking to S. Deirdre was an extremely enlightening and fulfilling experience because of her attitude toward service and encouraging young women like us to join in her mission. This year's Mercy Girl Effect project is extremely close to my heart and to the Mount's mission. We often take our education for granted and forget how vital girls' education is to lifting women out of poverty and ensuring our future is equitable.”
 
“Cyclical poverty begins and ends with education,” she added. “With our support and the tireless efforts of the Sisters of Mercy, we can bring the gift of learning to the children of Nairobi and instill in them a hope for a bright future filled with many opportunities. I am so grateful to be able to join S. Deirdre and my other Executive Board members in this mission to promote girls' education."
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