Karen Lorena |
The situation
Mexico has a total of 12.8 million of teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17 (2009) from which 6.3 are women and 6.5 are male. 55.2 % of mexican teenagers are poor, one of each 5 teenagers have household and personal incomes so low that they can’t even afford for mininmal feeding .
In 2008 almost 3 million of teenagers between 12 and 17 years old didn’t go to school. From the total of which 48.6% were male and 44.1% were female.
Why am I aiming women then?
Girls are agents of change
They play a crucial role in solving the most persisten development problems facing the world today. By investing in their economic potential through education and by delaying child marriage and teen pregnancy, issues such as HIV and AIDS can be resolved and the cycle of poverty can be broken.
PEOPLE ASSUME GIRLS ARE BEING REACHED
They're not. The reality is that children's programmes focus on 0-5 year-olds, youth programmes tend to focus on males and older groups, and women's programmes don't typically capture adolescent girls. Programmes that do reach girls rarely address the ones most at risk. To break the cycle of intergenerational poverty, programmes must be designed for, and measure the impact on, girls.
Reasons why teenagers drop school:
Dropping school before time translated in risk of continue learning predominantly on streets. With this, teenager’s capacities and opportunities are being held back and health risks increase. Most of them will be condemned to live in a situation of poverty.
Almost three million (approx. one of every 3 males and one of every eight girls) of this age group work. This situation becomes more severe if we consider that two of every three males and one of every three girls don’t go to school. Their education level in many instances forces them to accept under payed or risky jobs.
Another important fact is the increase of premature pregnancies. Almost half million of mexicans under 20 years gave birth in 2005. In 2005 there were 1444, 670 cases of teenagers with one son or one pregnancy between 12 and 18 years old that had not yet concluded their basic education. Among this same age range (considering mothers with more than one child)
Mexico has a total of 12.8 million of teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17 (2009) from which 6.3 are women and 6.5 are male. 55.2 % of mexican teenagers are poor, one of each 5 teenagers have household and personal incomes so low that they can’t even afford for mininmal feeding .
In 2008 almost 3 million of teenagers between 12 and 17 years old didn’t go to school. From the total of which 48.6% were male and 44.1% were female.
Why am I aiming women then?
Girls are agents of change
They play a crucial role in solving the most persisten development problems facing the world today. By investing in their economic potential through education and by delaying child marriage and teen pregnancy, issues such as HIV and AIDS can be resolved and the cycle of poverty can be broken.
PEOPLE ASSUME GIRLS ARE BEING REACHED
They're not. The reality is that children's programmes focus on 0-5 year-olds, youth programmes tend to focus on males and older groups, and women's programmes don't typically capture adolescent girls. Programmes that do reach girls rarely address the ones most at risk. To break the cycle of intergenerational poverty, programmes must be designed for, and measure the impact on, girls.
Reasons why teenagers drop school:
- Low-quality education (specially in public schools)
- Discrimination
- Lack of opportunities and educative options
- Necessity to start working
Dropping school before time translated in risk of continue learning predominantly on streets. With this, teenager’s capacities and opportunities are being held back and health risks increase. Most of them will be condemned to live in a situation of poverty.
Almost three million (approx. one of every 3 males and one of every eight girls) of this age group work. This situation becomes more severe if we consider that two of every three males and one of every three girls don’t go to school. Their education level in many instances forces them to accept under payed or risky jobs.
Another important fact is the increase of premature pregnancies. Almost half million of mexicans under 20 years gave birth in 2005. In 2005 there were 1444, 670 cases of teenagers with one son or one pregnancy between 12 and 18 years old that had not yet concluded their basic education. Among this same age range (considering mothers with more than one child)
On a far away galaxy, many years ago the 8 planets of our solar system are being trained so that they get up to space and float, rotate and orbit around the sun. Their training consists on learning about the solar system by picking up stars. Everytime they pick up a star they learn something about themselves and when they reach 1000 stars they will begin floating! Not so high, though because they need to pass15 levels before they become part of our solar system.
Everyone is learning and they are excited to do so, they are about halfway through when planet Venus decides it is too hard, besides she has less stars than all of her friends.
What would you like Venus to do? Would you like her to continue collecting star-shaped knowledge or would you like her to try to get to space by taking a shortcut?
SHORTCUT
Venus decides to take a shortcut and begins climbing up a giant mountain. She gets really tired fairly easily, because she was not ready, she never trained for it. So when she reaches 2 feet she falls and decides it’s too hard to do so that way. When she falls,though she gets to see that all her other planet friends are already starting to float so she has to make a decision again.
Do you want venus to go back to the group although she is already behind or would you want her to try to get to space another way?
ANOTHER WAY
After giving it a lot of thought about flying objects Venus finally decides that the best shot she has for getting outer space is to buy a helicopter. So she collects all her star-shaped-knowledge savings and decisively goes to buy a helicopter. But when she gets there she gets shocked about the price to pay. Even with all her star-shaped knowledge savings she’ll never be able to buy a helicopter. She must think about other way of getting to outer space. Of course there’s always the option of getting back to collecting stars, she is way behind now but it is a secure path.
What would you like Venus to do? go back to the group or look for more options?
LOOK FOR MORE OPTIONS
Venus starts thinking that getting to outer space isn’t as easy as she had imagined. Even looking for a shortcut she needs to work harder than she thought she should! But now she had a tremendous idea! She would buy a kite! She had the money (not as expensive as the helicopter) and what would get her with her feet off the ground. She was determined! So she bought all the materials, finished her kite and when she started riding it she felt so happy about finally flying, in no time she should be able to see her friends (upper in the space) again and she would be able to tell them that she got there with less effort. She was excited! When...she realised she had no control over where the kite was taking her. She couldn’t steer to the direction she wanted, she might be going off to another galaxy for all she knew. She didn’t want to leave this galaxy, she was scared about what was out there, she didn’t learn a lot about it since she stopped collecting stars.
She was scared, if she let go the kite she would fall, and who knows if she would survive the fall! On the other hand if she continue ridding the kite she didn’t know where she’d end up.
She had to make a decision:
Should she let go the kite or should she see where the kite left her and try to work her way from there?
GO WITH THE KITE
She then traveled as far as she ever imagined she could with the kite but since she was still not ready to float, she finally decided to land on another galaxy when the kite was closer to the ground. She then found out another group of planets that were trying to level up just like in the other galaxy. For them to reach space they had to dig giant holes and look for asteroids. Each time they left an asteroid free the asteroid, as a thank you, taught them something. THIS WAS WAY HARDER THAN COLLECTING STARS! She thought, but so far it was her only option. So she did, even though she wasn’t sure if doing so would work for her (because on her galaxy, this was nonexistent) but she did and eventually began floating. Except the tasks were so much harder than before, but she was scared and alone. She wanted to float like the other planets did and after all she had gone through this seemed like her only choice. She finally learned that there are is no “easy way” to do things that matter. And that good things take time.
LET GO THE KITE
Venus had a stepitous fall, she was in fact severely injured and didn’t know how to take care of herself and there was no one to help her since her friends were already floating in space many steps ahead of her. She knew it was helpless trying to reach them but if she wanted to go to outer space she could still do so, I would be harder to collect all the stars she needed but she felt like she had tried everything already and only had two options:
Staying there and living there forever or try going up collecting stars and leveling up like her peers.
What would you like Venus to do?
STAYING THERE
Venus stood there and thought about everything that happened to her, all of her options, all the decisions she made, this is not where she wanted it to end but she thought that taking the “easy way” out had not been as easy as she thought and maybe she should have made other decisions that at the time seemed harder but maybe they were because the were worth it.
TRY GOING UP
Although Venus though it was going to be harder to go up, she thought it was worth it, besides she still had the energy to do so and was more spirited than ever. It took her longer, it was harder, she had to do it alone and it was not always fun but she did it! And every single step she took that helped her go up was amazing. When she finally got outer space and got to see her friends she was so proud of herself and her friends greeted her and congratulated her. She only wish she had gotten there sooner. GET TO SPACE
2. BACK TO THE GROUP
Although Venus is a little left behind it is still not that much, she knows that if she starts working harder she’d get to reach her friends again (or at least be able to see them often) Either way she decides to try to do the best she can. While doing so she starts learning a bunch of things about herself she didn’t know! And about her peers. She learns, for example that she will be the second planet from the sun and will orbit it every 224.7 Earth days. She also finds out she has no natural satellites and that it is named after the Roman Goddess of love and beauty. She loves that fact! And when she begins liking what she’s doing she no longer thinks it’s so hard to do so, in fact she and all her friends start floating! but still believes there must be another way to get there faster.
Do you want venus to go Continue with the group although she is already behind or would you want her to try to get to space another way?
1. CONTINUE
Venus continues with the group and decides to try to do the best she can. While doing so she starts learning a bunch of things about herself she didn’t know! And about her peers. She learns, for example that she will be the second planet from the sun and will orbit it every 224.7 Earth days. She also finds out she has no natural satellites and that it is named after the Roman Goddess of love and beauty. She loves that fact! And when she begins liking what she’s doing she no longer thinks it’s so hard to do so, in fact she and all her friends start floating! but still believes there must be another way to get there faster.
Do you want venus to go Continue with the group although she is already behind or would you want her to try to get to space another way?
CONTINUE WITH THE GROUP
Venus and all her peers are having harder and harder tasks each day but they are learning a lot! They feel like they know everything about the galaxy already, they learn the names of their moons, and the density of their atmosphere (Venus was the densest of the four terrestrial planets) Yes, she knew she was a terrestrial planet just like Mercury, earth and Mars. She was also the hottest planet in the Solar System! She never thought she could know that much about everything that surrounded her and that made her feel prepared. Yes, She felt prepared to take on any responsibility. In fact she felt so prepared that she wasn’t thinking about looking for an easier way anymore. She had taken the decision of getting to space
GET TO SPACE
She in fact continue learning a lot about herself and her peers and her galaxy and continue enjoying the way and the hardwork that it implied. Until one day, after she had level up 14 times and had 10000 stars collected she was finally able to get to Outerspace and rotate and revolve around the sun and put in practice all the knowledge she had acquire. It felt great! She was ready to take on the world and she did!
Everyone is learning and they are excited to do so, they are about halfway through when planet Venus decides it is too hard, besides she has less stars than all of her friends.
What would you like Venus to do? Would you like her to continue collecting star-shaped knowledge or would you like her to try to get to space by taking a shortcut?
SHORTCUT
Venus decides to take a shortcut and begins climbing up a giant mountain. She gets really tired fairly easily, because she was not ready, she never trained for it. So when she reaches 2 feet she falls and decides it’s too hard to do so that way. When she falls,though she gets to see that all her other planet friends are already starting to float so she has to make a decision again.
Do you want venus to go back to the group although she is already behind or would you want her to try to get to space another way?
ANOTHER WAY
After giving it a lot of thought about flying objects Venus finally decides that the best shot she has for getting outer space is to buy a helicopter. So she collects all her star-shaped-knowledge savings and decisively goes to buy a helicopter. But when she gets there she gets shocked about the price to pay. Even with all her star-shaped knowledge savings she’ll never be able to buy a helicopter. She must think about other way of getting to outer space. Of course there’s always the option of getting back to collecting stars, she is way behind now but it is a secure path.
What would you like Venus to do? go back to the group or look for more options?
LOOK FOR MORE OPTIONS
Venus starts thinking that getting to outer space isn’t as easy as she had imagined. Even looking for a shortcut she needs to work harder than she thought she should! But now she had a tremendous idea! She would buy a kite! She had the money (not as expensive as the helicopter) and what would get her with her feet off the ground. She was determined! So she bought all the materials, finished her kite and when she started riding it she felt so happy about finally flying, in no time she should be able to see her friends (upper in the space) again and she would be able to tell them that she got there with less effort. She was excited! When...she realised she had no control over where the kite was taking her. She couldn’t steer to the direction she wanted, she might be going off to another galaxy for all she knew. She didn’t want to leave this galaxy, she was scared about what was out there, she didn’t learn a lot about it since she stopped collecting stars.
She was scared, if she let go the kite she would fall, and who knows if she would survive the fall! On the other hand if she continue ridding the kite she didn’t know where she’d end up.
She had to make a decision:
Should she let go the kite or should she see where the kite left her and try to work her way from there?
GO WITH THE KITE
She then traveled as far as she ever imagined she could with the kite but since she was still not ready to float, she finally decided to land on another galaxy when the kite was closer to the ground. She then found out another group of planets that were trying to level up just like in the other galaxy. For them to reach space they had to dig giant holes and look for asteroids. Each time they left an asteroid free the asteroid, as a thank you, taught them something. THIS WAS WAY HARDER THAN COLLECTING STARS! She thought, but so far it was her only option. So she did, even though she wasn’t sure if doing so would work for her (because on her galaxy, this was nonexistent) but she did and eventually began floating. Except the tasks were so much harder than before, but she was scared and alone. She wanted to float like the other planets did and after all she had gone through this seemed like her only choice. She finally learned that there are is no “easy way” to do things that matter. And that good things take time.
LET GO THE KITE
Venus had a stepitous fall, she was in fact severely injured and didn’t know how to take care of herself and there was no one to help her since her friends were already floating in space many steps ahead of her. She knew it was helpless trying to reach them but if she wanted to go to outer space she could still do so, I would be harder to collect all the stars she needed but she felt like she had tried everything already and only had two options:
Staying there and living there forever or try going up collecting stars and leveling up like her peers.
What would you like Venus to do?
STAYING THERE
Venus stood there and thought about everything that happened to her, all of her options, all the decisions she made, this is not where she wanted it to end but she thought that taking the “easy way” out had not been as easy as she thought and maybe she should have made other decisions that at the time seemed harder but maybe they were because the were worth it.
TRY GOING UP
Although Venus though it was going to be harder to go up, she thought it was worth it, besides she still had the energy to do so and was more spirited than ever. It took her longer, it was harder, she had to do it alone and it was not always fun but she did it! And every single step she took that helped her go up was amazing. When she finally got outer space and got to see her friends she was so proud of herself and her friends greeted her and congratulated her. She only wish she had gotten there sooner. GET TO SPACE
2. BACK TO THE GROUP
Although Venus is a little left behind it is still not that much, she knows that if she starts working harder she’d get to reach her friends again (or at least be able to see them often) Either way she decides to try to do the best she can. While doing so she starts learning a bunch of things about herself she didn’t know! And about her peers. She learns, for example that she will be the second planet from the sun and will orbit it every 224.7 Earth days. She also finds out she has no natural satellites and that it is named after the Roman Goddess of love and beauty. She loves that fact! And when she begins liking what she’s doing she no longer thinks it’s so hard to do so, in fact she and all her friends start floating! but still believes there must be another way to get there faster.
Do you want venus to go Continue with the group although she is already behind or would you want her to try to get to space another way?
1. CONTINUE
Venus continues with the group and decides to try to do the best she can. While doing so she starts learning a bunch of things about herself she didn’t know! And about her peers. She learns, for example that she will be the second planet from the sun and will orbit it every 224.7 Earth days. She also finds out she has no natural satellites and that it is named after the Roman Goddess of love and beauty. She loves that fact! And when she begins liking what she’s doing she no longer thinks it’s so hard to do so, in fact she and all her friends start floating! but still believes there must be another way to get there faster.
Do you want venus to go Continue with the group although she is already behind or would you want her to try to get to space another way?
CONTINUE WITH THE GROUP
Venus and all her peers are having harder and harder tasks each day but they are learning a lot! They feel like they know everything about the galaxy already, they learn the names of their moons, and the density of their atmosphere (Venus was the densest of the four terrestrial planets) Yes, she knew she was a terrestrial planet just like Mercury, earth and Mars. She was also the hottest planet in the Solar System! She never thought she could know that much about everything that surrounded her and that made her feel prepared. Yes, She felt prepared to take on any responsibility. In fact she felt so prepared that she wasn’t thinking about looking for an easier way anymore. She had taken the decision of getting to space
GET TO SPACE
She in fact continue learning a lot about herself and her peers and her galaxy and continue enjoying the way and the hardwork that it implied. Until one day, after she had level up 14 times and had 10000 stars collected she was finally able to get to Outerspace and rotate and revolve around the sun and put in practice all the knowledge she had acquire. It felt great! She was ready to take on the world and she did!