Gem Munro, Amarok Society
Posted by Vi Hughes on Apr 12, 2017
On Tuesday we were heard a very inspiring talk from Gem Munro, pictured, Director of the Amarok Society. The Amarok Society provides educational opportunities in poor areas of the world by teaching women, who then pass on their knowledge to others in their community. Their schools are located in the city slums of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nigeria. These are some of the poorest areas of the world, and nearly all of the people who live there could never afford an education. The usual model of building schools in villages and hiring teachers would not work in these areas. In the past, they have tried to partner with other agencies to teach mothers in the slums to be teachers, but these agencies felt that either the muslim husbands, the slum landlords or the extremists would eliminate the program. For eleven years now they have disproved this belief, and the program has flourished and grown. They now have twenty two schools.
Amarok teaches women in the slums reading and writing in their own language, as well as in English, arithmetic, social studies, health, hygiene and nutrition, life skills such as sewing and most importantly of all, how to teach others. Each woman is also required to teach at least five children the same things that they have learned. They do not graduate, they are expected to attend and also teach for a lifetime. This opportunity gives these women a sense of purpose, increases their self confidence and also gives them the ability to think for themselves.
Gem showed us two videos which were very moving, one about a mother (Shamiya) living in the slums of Bangladesh who overcame family opposition, and became a teacher, and another about her daughter (Ajurri) who is now teaching others as well. Shamiya was married off at the age of eleven to a much older man, and essentially became a domestic slave in her husband’s family household. Girls and women in these countries are considered a burden and are married off as young as possible. Somehow, she was able to overcome family opposition, and enroll in the local Amarok school so that she could get an education. Shamiya’s daughter, Ajuri , who was three when she began this journey, will now have a very different life, as a result of her mother’s education, and the influence that this has had on their family dynamic. Shamiya’s father is now attending a school run by his grand daughter.
Gem also showed as a photo of a very pretty young woman who is now happily teaching full time for the local Amorak school, as her father has decided that since her skin color is too dark to marry her off to a good husband, it is better for her to remain single and teach. Such is the life of women in the slums of these countries.
Gem and his wife Taniss firmly believe that the natural state of the human mind is to learn, and that the natural reaction to learning is a wish to teach others. They also believe that education is the challenge to ignorance and violence and that an educated, reasoning mind, that loves the world, is not easily swayed by extremist views. The Amorak Society is supported by several Canadian Rotary clubs as it supports the fourth objectives of Rotary by creating and maintaining peace.
Gem Monro