Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live At Daybreak
Battle Against Poverty Around the World
Aired December 11, 2003 - 05:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The United Nations Children' Fund says the battle against poverty around the world has hit a glass ceiling and the big reason is not enough girls are getting an education. But, things are improving.
CNN's Michael Shoulder (ph) has the success story of a girl named Lolita (ph).
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAEL SHOULDER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Some children are determined not to obey their parents. Lolita Kumari (ph) is one of them. Lolita wanted an education. Her parents believed it was a waste of time. Listen to what Lolita's mother used to think.
"What is the use of letting a girl study?," she says, "ultimately, she'll only have to cook."
"Everyone used to call me a boy since I wanted to go and study," says Lolita. "When I went to study secretly, my younger brother once slapped me and my father and mother supported him, telling me he's a boy and if a boy hits you, you have to tolerate it."
Lolita lives in the Indian state of Bihar (ph), where only one in three girls goes to school. It's no coincidence that with so few educated girls, Bihar is the poorest state in all of India.
Lolita finally persuaded her parents to let her study at a new village school for underprivileged girls called a jojagi (ph), or awakening center. At the age of 12, Lolita began learning to read and write. Lolita advanced to a special boarding school where the food was more plentiful than at home, the classes more varied and where the core curriculum includes karate.
These girls usually come from a background which is very backward, says the school's director, so they're very withdrawn, scared, introverted and shy. Karate training, she says, helps them to open up.
Lolita was a natural at karate. Now, at age 18, she teaches other girls at the boarding school that did so much for her. Her father explains how much has changed in their village since Lolita stubbornly started school six years ago.
"Today, everyone here realizes the advantages of sending their daughters to study," he says. "Today, if they call 30 girls to study, 50 show up." Even Lolita's mother is sold. "Now, people are saying look how well a girl has developed from our community. It is," says her mother, "very nice to hear."
Michael Shoulder, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 11, 2003 - 05:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The United Nations Children' Fund says the battle against poverty around the world has hit a glass ceiling and the big reason is not enough girls are getting an education. But, things are improving.
CNN's Michael Shoulder (ph) has the success story of a girl named Lolita (ph).
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAEL SHOULDER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Some children are determined not to obey their parents. Lolita Kumari (ph) is one of them. Lolita wanted an education. Her parents believed it was a waste of time. Listen to what Lolita's mother used to think.
"What is the use of letting a girl study?," she says, "ultimately, she'll only have to cook."
"Everyone used to call me a boy since I wanted to go and study," says Lolita. "When I went to study secretly, my younger brother once slapped me and my father and mother supported him, telling me he's a boy and if a boy hits you, you have to tolerate it."
Lolita lives in the Indian state of Bihar (ph), where only one in three girls goes to school. It's no coincidence that with so few educated girls, Bihar is the poorest state in all of India.
Lolita finally persuaded her parents to let her study at a new village school for underprivileged girls called a jojagi (ph), or awakening center. At the age of 12, Lolita began learning to read and write. Lolita advanced to a special boarding school where the food was more plentiful than at home, the classes more varied and where the core curriculum includes karate.
These girls usually come from a background which is very backward, says the school's director, so they're very withdrawn, scared, introverted and shy. Karate training, she says, helps them to open up.
Lolita was a natural at karate. Now, at age 18, she teaches other girls at the boarding school that did so much for her. Her father explains how much has changed in their village since Lolita stubbornly started school six years ago.
"Today, everyone here realizes the advantages of sending their daughters to study," he says. "Today, if they call 30 girls to study, 50 show up." Even Lolita's mother is sold. "Now, people are saying look how well a girl has developed from our community. It is," says her mother, "very nice to hear."
Michael Shoulder, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
