Guest speaker G.E.M. Munro was up next.
G.E.M. and Tanyss are the founders of Start with Mothers by Amarok Society. G.E.M. shared that this is their third time speaking to our club.
When G.E.M. and Tanyss started work in Bangladesh they had a great deal of trouble learning anything about the country. They repeatedly heard the phrase “the poorest of the poor and the worst of the worst.” They learned that this was true. The Turkish ambassador said “only Bangladesh made me cry.”
They were asked to improve the worst educational system in the world, and they could not resist the challenge. Even worse than the poor system was that millions of children could not afford to go to school at all.
They quickly realized that normal methods of working on the problems would have no effect.
Things like building schools, hiring teachers and filling the schools with children would not work.
One of two children cannot get an adequate education, and one of three cannot get an education at all.
Their idea was to teach mothers in slums to be neighbourhood teachers. They approached agencies but all agreed that while it was innovative, it ‘wouldn’t work.’
Bangladesh is very densely populated and has the worst quality of life in the world in peacetime.
They forged ahead despite the lack of support. They required that each mother that they taught commit to learning quickly so that she could teach at least five children everything that she had learned. The progress of the children is monitored.
G.E.M. told us that our minds are designed to learn; not learning leads to depression, and depression leads to despair. Teaching children gives their lives purpose and hope.
The organization just completed twenty years, with impressive results.
Mothers have eliminated the practice of very early marriage for girls. Many children have gone on to achieve success. Domestic violence has dramatically decreased. And the men are coming to the home classrooms so that they too can learn.
G.E.M. has written a book about the work, with profits going to the charity. Books are available free in e-format, and print copies are priced at $20. He had some with him and sold some to club members.
President David thanked G.E.M. and Tanyss.
Dory Lawrenson made her new member presentation. She grew up in Southdale, and loved running and sports, as well as playing ringette (because girls were not allowed to play hockey then.) She was also a runner, competing in the 400 m, 800 m, and hurdles events all across Canada.