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When Investing in a Girl’s Education Matters

Christen Brandt is helping to change the lives of girls in developing countries in a bid to end world poverty

Christen Brandt is the Co-Founder and Chief Programs Officer of the New York-based non-profit, She’s the First which equips female students in low-income countries with scholarships.

In order for many of these girls to enjoy healthier lives, delay marriage and childbirth, secure jobs and good wages, sponsorships for educational and lifestyle support are provided by She’s the First through its global fundraising initiatives, programs and charitable donations.

This non-profit also encourages high school and university students back home to get involved and so become leaders in their own right.

Over the past six years Christen has transformed her organization into a game-changing, global operation alongside her founding partner, Tammy Tibbetts.

From its humble beginnings as a modest online YouTube video, She’s the First has become a thriving million-dollar revenue organization.

Today She’s the First supports 805 scholars with the help of local NGOs, donors and campus chapters in high schools and universities.

Christen Brandt is the co founder and chief programs officer at She's the First

 

Our organization isn’t just about helping women and girls, but it’s about creating a movement for a better world for all – longer term.

Here Christen tells Nativa World about how She’s the First is transforming the lives of many young women in the developing world whilst nurturing our next generation global leaders back home…

Christen, what does the word ‘Achieve’ mean to you?

A lot of the time achievement is associated with big, audacious goals – but I prefer to focus on the smaller day to day goals which make up the whole. For me achieving is about having pride in my day to day work and focusing on making the smaller things the best that they can be during my working day.

What’s the overall ethos and mission of STF?

It’s a movement and we’re in it together- just as we’re all in the world together and can make it a better place if we work together as a team. Our organization isn’t just about helping women and girls, but it’s about creating a better world for all – longer term.

How are you growing the organization internationally?

Most of our campus chapters are based in the United States but we also now have seven international chapters. Growth in our campus chapters has always been organic. Our Programs Manager, Katie, has never had to recruit for new chapters. These students on campus have found out about She’s the First through social media or through friends. Students connect with one another on Facebook as well as through a dedicated campus portal. They learn about global issues and can discuss everything from recent news articles to how to throw better on-campus events.

What do STF Scholars receive?

STF Scholars receive all the tools they need to be successful through the programs of our fantastic local partners. Their scholarships do include the basics, like educational tuition, food and uniforms, but they also include mentorship and a support network, plus workshops in everything from leadership to entrepreneurship. They also learn key life skills, like managing a savings account and sexual education.

The initial STF concept was created on social media?

Yes, our first concept was actually a YouTube campaign and that was where it was originally meant to stay. From there things grew significantly, with Tammy and myself eventually quitting our jobs to work on STF full-time.

What do your Leadership Summits involve?

These are held annually in New York, and we bring around 200 campus students together to spend time working on leadership development, community engagement, and global citizenship. We also bring a few of our international STF Scholars to participate as well.

She's the First Leadership Summit

We want to see a world in which all women are well-educated and empowered.

What other events do you hold during the year?

As well as the Leadership Summits we organize Mentor Breakfasts. This year we will be honoring one of our scholars called Elly at the Mentors Breakfast in November. She developed an idea from finding it difficult to secure a job after graduating. Elly had created a useful program for students whereby business people who run their own companies could mentor students in how to start their own businesses after graduating. Elly’s idea also sits in tandem with our goal of supporting a scholar during AND after her school years.

Elly She's the First Scholar

How do you support the campus chapters?

We’ve found that the campus students who take an ideas and run with it are the most successful and influential. They’re really creative and set up their own events and fundraisers on their own, so our programs manager has set up a system to encourage and support that. They receive hands-on leadership training and a strong support network, including a mentor who they can turn to for advice They become much more globally aware and learn entrepreneurial and leadership skills along the way.

What are the goals for the organization?

Our long term goal is to put ourselves out of a job! We want to see a world in which all women are well-educated and empowered. Short-term, we’re aiming to have provided more than 10,000 scholarships to girls worldwide by the year 2020, as well as have 500 chapters thriving across the USA and internationally.

She's the First Fundraising

Every little bit that someone gives makes a huge difference.

What’s the fundraising model?

We create ways for everyone to get involved, so we host campaigns that allow supporters to join and get other people to support them. Our peer-to-peer fundraising model is what much of our individual fundraising is based on, and was from the beginning. Even our first video was a simple call to action to get together with friends and to raise a small amount of money to create a big difference. Every little bit that someone gives makes a huge difference.

Which country receives the largest donations?

It’s fairly equal. Our donors can chose where to have their funding placed and then we ensure all territories are filled out so that all of our local partners are receiving the same amount of money.We have 12 partners in 11 countries. The scholars themselves are at primary and secondary schools and are chosen based on merit, need and their potential to become leaders in their own communities.

In which areas do the scholars need the most support?

When we talk about quality education, it’s not just about being at school. If you learn Algebra and have no idea how to to apply it in the outside world, it’s not very helpful. Similarly, if you learn to speak English but lack confidence, then communication outside school will be lost. This is why we focus on wrap-around programs, which provide girls with the skills needed to be successful in life. This can cover everything from learning leadership skills to financial literacy. Our scholars need to be able to make their own decisions and choices -we want them take charge of their own lives.

How often do you travel?

I make around four trips per year; this year my schedule included s Guatemala, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Kenya, India and Peru. When I travel I visit our partner NGOs to conduct program evaluations and collect collateral for upcoming campaigns.

What do you enjoy about traveling?

I love getting to meet new people all around the world, and I love getting to see our STF Scholars grow and thrive over time. It’s really energizing to see. For me, a hectic travel schedule can be pretty invigorating; I don’t mind it. I find energy in the constant movement and quickly adjusting to new settings — I even love the long plane trips, when I can truly disconnect and have some uninterrupted thinking time!

What are your travel essentials?

I have baby wipes, dry shampoo, sunscreen, bug spray and a pack of cards! Honestly, this has become my go-to list no matter where in the world I’m headed – it keeps me clean, healthy, and sane!

Photography courtesy of Christen Brandt & She’s the First