Global Weekly Update August 8, 2011

Understanding EFA FTI to Become a Powerful Advocate

Many of us need to know more about the Education for All Fast Track Initiative (FTI) in order to better advocate on its behalf. Here are your opportunities to learn more:

• This Wednesday, August 10 at 9 pm ET. RESULTS Education Campaign Manager Sarah Beardmore and Senior Policy Associate Jen Maurer will tell you why RESULTS supports FTI, and what supporting FTI funding will do to assure more kids receive a quality education. Call (712) 432-3100, passcode: 761262.
• This Saturday, August 13, at 2 pm ET. Bring your group together for the August Global National Conference Call. Our guest speaker will be Carol Bellamy, Chair of FTI! Ms. Bellamy is the former Executive Director of UNICEF and Director the Peace Corps. Call in number is: (888) 409-6709.
• The Education for All Fast Track Initiative website is a great resource for information on how FTI works, amazing success stories, and information on the power of education.
• FTI Fact Sheet. This is 5-page, comprehensive resource can be shared with allies and members of Congress. A shorter version will be forthcoming.

Plug In to Our August — October Education for All Campaign

From August through October we want to generate the political will to move the president and his administration to make a 3-year pledge totaling $375 million to the Education for All Fast Track Initiative (FTI) at the November 6–8 pledging conference. Here are the key tactics we’ll need your help with:

• Generating bipartisan cosponsorship for the Education for All Act of 2011 (H.R. 2705) and educating your members of Congress about FTI. H.R. 2705 calls for more focus in the United States’ global education policy and for our country to invest in FTI as a way to get more hard-to-reach kids in school. Find background on the EFA Act and FTI here. Take action by writing a letter or making a call. Ask your friends to take action too.
• Generating editorials, op-eds, and letters to the editor calling on the administration to improve our nation’s education policy and to fund FTI. If you want to write to write an op-ed or pitch an editorial, join us for this skill-sharing call on August 17 at 9:00 pm ET. Call 712 432-3100, passcode 761262 to be part of it. If you want to write a letter to the letter, use our LTE Action Alert.
• Engage our communities in our by telling them about the power of educating girls. One might consider doing a screening of the movie, To Educate a Girl, for example. See our outreach resources for more inspiration and help.

Ask Your Reps. to Cosponsor the House Microfinance Bill

Have you asked your reps. to cosponsor the Microenterprise Empowerment and Job Creation Act of 2011 (H.R. 2524)? Ninty-seven (97) representatives signed the House microfinance letter to USAID, but only 5 are on the bill so far (Honda, Schakowski, Stark, Lofgren, Rush–go CA and IL!). The bill reauthorizes previous microenterprise legislation (PL 108-484) and provides means and incentives for USAID to direct substantially more microenterprise resources to the very poor.

Take action today! Ask your representatives to cosponsor the bill!

Make a phone call to your representative’s office using our action alert.

Read this action sheet on the bill — it has great facts about microfinance & the bill and will guide you in writing a letter.

Our bill fact sheet summarizes the bill, and you can share it with your rep.’s office.

Visit our microfinance page of the website, under “Take Action,” for more resources and updates on the bill.

Upcoming Fundraisers: Can You Send a Friend to One of These?

There are some great grassroots fundraisers in the coming months. Can you invite friends, family, colleagues, others to one of these events? Contact Grassroots Fundraising Associate Cindy Levin for more information on the events.

• Sept 15: Tacoma, WA, Dinner Speaker: Julia Bolz, women’s rights activst and founder of Ayni Education International
• Sept 24: Santa Fe, NM, Afternoon Tea Speaker: Early Childhood Education staffer for Rep. Lujan, who is a Head Start graduate, teacher and early childhood professional
• Sept 28, Austin, TX, Concert Benefit
• Oct 1, Sitka, AK, Dinner Speaker: Julia Bolz, women’s rights activst and founder of Ayni Education International
• Oct 1, Atlanta, GA, Concert benefit (Date could change to a later October weekend)
• Oct 2, Columbus, OH, Afternoon Benefit Speakers: Charie Daniels, Policy Council Representative of Linden Head Start plus Tiffany Grinstead, RESULTS volunteer, former Head Start student
• Oct 16, Chicago, Microfinance Success Party Speakers: Larry Reed, author or the Microcredit Summit Campaign State of the Campaign Report plus Patrick Hughes, President of Inclusion Solutions
• Oct 19, Seattle, Dinner Speaker: Sir Richard Feachem, former Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria
• Oct 28, Houston, Dinner Speaker: Marianne Willamson, RESULTS board member, author & international lecturer

Educated societies are healthier and more stable societies. Helping provide the resources and leadership to ensure all children have access to education is among the wisest investments we can make to promote security around the world.

I support language that encourages the Administration to contribute to a multilateral education fund. Our participation in the Fast-Track Initiative will allow the U.S. to leverage funds from other donors to multiply the impact of each U.S. dollar spent to increase access to basic education. Education is the backbone of healthy, stable societies, and our investment today will reap great rewards in the future.

— statement by Rep. Nita Lowey on the introduction of the Education for All Act of 2011

August 8–September 5: Congressional recess (Meet face-to-face meeting with your legislator in your district)

August 10: Issue Training Call on the Fast Track Initiative. 9:00 pm ET. (712) 432-3100, passcode 761262. What is the Fast Track Initiative? How is it related to our Education for All campaign? How does it relate to the Education for All Act? Call will be lead by Sarah Beardmore and Jen Maurer

August 13: Global Conference Call: Carol Bellamy, Director of FTI is guest speaker. Focus on Education for All and the Fast Track Initiative. 2:00 pm ET. (888) 409-6709

August 17: Education for All Media Grassroots Skillshare. 9:00 pm ET. (712) 432-3100, passcode 761262. Interested in writing an op-ed on our Education for All campaign for your local paper? Want to pitch an editorial but need some tips? Call in to swap best practice ideas. Jove Oliver and Ken Patterson will faciliate this call.

August 30: RESULTS Introductory Call. 9:00 pm ET. Know someone who should know more about RESULTS? Have them register today!

August 31: Training Call on Creating Community Partnerships. 9:00 pm ET. (712) 432-3100, passcode 761262. Get practical advice from activists and staff on how to partner in your community on EFA and other issues.

September 10: Global Conference Call: Focus on Education for All. 2:00 pm ET. (888) 409-6709