环球英语 — 439：Educating Girls in Africa: Batonga

　　Voice 1
Hello. Welcome to Spotlight¹. I’m Marina Santee.
Voice 2
And I’m Ruby² Jones. This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
Fifty girls stand in front of a camera. They all wear the same bright blue school clothes. And they are smiling – happy to be there! These girls are students from a new school in Freetown, Sierra Leone. This country is opening many new schools. But this one is different – it is just for girls. Traditionally, fewer girls attend school in Sierra Leone than boys. But this is changing. The girls in the picture have the supplies that they need. They also have the right clothes to wear. And their teaching³ costs are paid. These girls have all won scholarships! An aid organisation⁴ is paying their school costs. The name of the organisation is Batonga. Today we look at education for girls in Africa – and the Batonga Foundation⁵.
Voice 2
The Batonga Foundation’s aim is to support higher education for girls in Africa. It does this through building schools, giving scholarships and providing school supplies. The group also works⁶ to tell communities about the value of education for girls.
Voice 1
We had not heard the word ‘batonga’ before. This is because someone invented the word! That ‘someone’ was Angelique Kidjo. Angelique is a West African singer and songwriter–. She invented the word when she was a child. She went to school in Benin, West Africa. At that time, most people did not consider girls to be worthy⁷ of an education. So, when boys made fun of her – Angelique shouted back at them; ‘Batonga!’!
Angelique later named one of her songs, ‘Batonga.’ For her, the word represents empowerment for girls. Angelique gave the name to the Batonga Foundation. At the launch⁸ event she said,
Voice 3
‘My mother was educated. She fought for me to go to school. She did this even though other people argued that only boys should be educated. And my daughter is now in school. After an African woman is educated, she fights to make sure that both sons and daughters receive an education. From this is born a tradition. It is passed on and grows from family to family – from generation to generation. It is a tradition that is going to change the future for Africa.’
Voice 2
The Batonga Foundation believes that education can change a whole society and country! Education can improve a woman’s chance of getting a job, earning money and feeding her family. In turn, this will help to reduce the level of poverty. And in the long term, education for boys and girlscan help to bring peace and development in the country.
Voice 1
Batonga’s work in Sierra Leone is one example. Here, the tragic⁹ conflict in 2002 caused severe difficulties in the country. The war did not just destroy people – it also destroyed social structures. This included the educational system. Around seventy percent of the schools were damaged or destroyed during the war. Since then, the government has re–built many schools. It has also made school free for younger children. It plans to make them free for older children too – boys and girls. All this has helped to increase the number of children attending school in Sierra Leone. However, there is still a long way to go before all children are in school. And groups like Batonga are working to help the country move closer to the Millennium¹⁰ Development Goal – education for all by the year 2015!
Voice 1
Sierra Leone is one of many countries that Batonga works in. Let us meet some Batonga Girls in other countries!
Voice 2
Nanaissa is from Mali. She has two older brothers, and two younger sisters. In the past, she went to school. But she did not progess well. Nanaissa lacked the books and materials she needed to study. Batonga helped Nanaissa by supplying them. She describes her proudest moment;
Voice 3
‘It was when I moved from being thirteenth in my class to fifth! The difference was that I did not have all the books or materials at first.’
Voice 2
Nanaissa dreams of being a doctor one day.
Voice 1
Reine is from Benin, West Africa. She went to school when she was young. But her family did not have the money to keep supporting her. So they had to send her away. Sadly, Reine’s new carers treated her very badly. They beat her. And so she ran home. Her parents had not known about Reine’s bad treatment. Reine’s old school invited her back. And Batonga gave her a scholarship! This paid for her education at a higher level – something that her parents could never pay for.
Voice 2
Hana is from Ethiopia. A group called ‘Hope for Children’ helped to pay for her to attend school and receive training. Then the Batonga organisation gave her a scholarship. This was to help pay for her university education. Hana is training to help children with trauma¹¹ – mental damage caused by severe suffering. She said;
Voice 3
‘I want to give back to my community by working with children.’
Voice 1
These are just a few of the girls that Batonga is helping¹². But Batonga does not work alone. The group works with other organisations in the countries it supports. It also works with the support of another aid group, called ‘World Education’. ‘World Education’ began in nineteen fifty one. Its aim is to improve the lives of the poor. It does this through education and economic and social development programs. In 2007, World Education helped over two thousand girls in twelve African countries go to school.
Voice 2
Former UN secretary Kofi Annan said, ‘to educate girls is to reduce poverty.’ Educating a woman does not only change her life. It changes the lives of her children and her family. Educating girls provides many gains to people, communities, and countries. These gains include higher economic production, reduced child deaths, improved family health, disease¹³ prevention and more.
Voice 1
Groups like The Batonga Foundation are working to reduce poverty in Africa, by educating women. This is long term development. It is investment¹⁴ – not just aid. As Angelique Kidjo said,
Voice 3
‘Educating girls in Africa gives them the strength and the tools they need to be the mothers of change.’
 

1 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

2 ruby   

n.红宝石，红宝石色

参考例句：

• She is wearing a small ruby earring.她戴着一枚红宝石小耳环。
• On the handle of his sword sat the biggest ruby in the world.他的剑柄上镶有一颗世上最大的红宝石。

3 teaching   

n.教学，执教，任教，讲授；(复数)教诲

参考例句：

• We all agree in adopting the new teaching method. 我们一致同意采取新的教学方法。
• He created a new system of teaching foreign languages.他创造了一种新的外语教学体系。

4 organisation   

n.组织，安排，团体，有机休

参考例句：

• The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
• His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。

5 foundation   

n.[pl.]地基；基础；基金会；建立，创办

参考例句：

• The foundation of the university took place 600 years ago.这所大学是600年前创办的。
• The Foundation gives money to help artists.那家基金会捐款帮助艺术家。

6 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

7 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

8 launch   

vt.发动，推出；发射；n.发射，下水，投产

参考例句：

• The makers are about to launch out a new product.制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。
• Would it be wise to launch into this rough sea?在这样汹涌的大海中游泳明智吗？

9 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

10 millennium   

n.一千年，千禧年；太平盛世

参考例句：

• The whole world was counting down to the new millennium.全世界都在倒计时迎接新千年的到来。
• We waited as the clock ticked away the last few seconds of the old millennium.我们静候着时钟滴答走过千年的最后几秒钟。

11 trauma   

n.外伤，精神创伤

参考例句：

• Counselling is helping him work through this trauma.心理辅导正帮助他面对痛苦。
• The phobia may have its root in a childhood trauma.恐惧症可能源于童年时期的创伤。

12 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

13 disease   

n.疾病，弊端

参考例句：

• The doctors are trying to stamp out the disease.医生正在尽力消灭这种疾病。
• He fought against the disease for a long time.他同疾病做了长时间的斗争。

14 investment   

n.投资，投资额；(时间、精力等的)投入

参考例句：

• It took two years before I recouped my investment.我用了两年时间才收回投资。
• The success of the project pivots on investment from abroad.这个工程的成功主要依靠外来投资。