This Irishman Goes Global

Sometimes we take what we perceive as the most basic of things for granted. Growing up in Ireland, going to school was something that we did. This was never questioned. There were good days and bad days, but most important of all there were school days.  Living in Kenya, life was not so straightforward. Kakenya Ntaiya presents to us a life on her TED talk that seems to be world away from those traditional days growing up in Ireland. The reality for Kakenya was her norm was something that could not have been even considered in Ireland or the United States in modern times. Previous generations in Ireland and the United States grew up with the now sexist and dated perception that the woman’s place was in the home. However, growing up these women were still treated as children and all were entitled to a fair and free education. While the perception may have been that the man was the ultimate breadwinner and head of the family, the woman was still treated as an equal in the classroom...

Laura Boushnak, “For these women, reading is a daring act” (5:05) https://www.ted.com/talks/laura_boushnak_for_these_women_reading_is_a_daring_act If knowledge is power, education is the tool through which this power grows and prospers. Education is the true vehicle that allows an individual the opportunity to climb the ladder in society. It is the vehicle that provides hope. It is the vehicle that provides belief. It is the vehicle that provides a pathway to success. We all agree that education should be free and accessible to all. It is perceived as a right that every young child enters a school and has the opportunity to learn, grow and develop. We have become conditioned to this being the norm. Yet the reality around the world is so different. Laura Boushnak presents to us a world where the equal opportunity for all to an education does not exist. She shares and relates her own personal experiences with those who have encountered similar struggles. As a photographer, sh...