ANNUAL REPORT 2013
CHANGE BEGINS WITH HER
ANNUAL REPORT 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 Mission & Values 4 Program & Vision 5 Letter from Founder, Erin Guttenplan Subedi 6 Why Girls 7 2013 Highlights 8 Our Impact 10 Why Girls 11 Stories from the Field 13 Leadership & Finances 14 Our Supporters 16 Letter from Director, Sarah Andrews
Cover Photo Credit: Adam Sittler Photo Credit: Rachael Weaver
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When girls are educated, their countries become stronger and more p r o s pe r o u s . - First La d y M i c h e l l e O b a m a
Photo Credit: Rachael Weaver
WHO WE ARE
OUR MISSION Edge of Seven generates capacity-building services, volunteer support, and awareness for projects that create access to education, health, and economic opportunities for girls and women in the developing world.
OUR VALUES Expanded Opportunity We envision a world where every person is empowered to create the life they want to live. Our work is aimed directly at leveling the playing field of opportunity for girls and women, who most often face barriers to educational and economic advancement.
Creative Expression We believe that stories and innovation have the power to change the world. We embrace creative expression as we seek solutions for the challenges facing girls and women across the globe.
Love for Community We know that we do not have all the answers, and that we have much to learn from the communities where we work. We value collaboration in everything we do, which is why all of the projects that we support are initiated at a local level.
Commitment to Growth We believe that important changes in the world often start with one individual. Sparking growth in knowledge, spirit, and opportunity for the girls and women we serve, the volunteers who travel abroad with us,and the partner communities we work with is our ultimate goal..
Passion for the Edge We believe that discovery happens when we step outside our comfort zones. We believe that empathy strikes when we walk in someone else’s shoes. Our programs are designed for those seeking adventure, impact and exposure to new experiences, cultures, and ideas. We believe that it’s through this exposure that individuals will become empowered to change the world for the better.
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OUR VISION At Edge of Seven, we believe that educating and empowering girls and women in the developing world is not only the right thing to do, it’s also the best way to alleviate global poverty and improve the health and well-being of each and every person on the planet. Our Community Development projects aim to do just this by giving more girls and women access to education, health, and economic opportunities. We also believe that each of us can play an important role in contributing to the empowerment of girls and women worldwide. By fusing international travel with service, we create unique volunteer opportunities that lead to development on both a personal and global level. The adventures we offer are life-changing, and our volunteers push their personal limits in order to improve the lives of girls in the developing world.
OUR PROGRAMS Community Development Program Provides funding and expertise to various infrastructure projects, such as schools, community centers, dormitories, and community water supplies, which create access to empowerment for girls and women. International Volunteer Program Places service-oriented volunteers at our project sites overseas with the goal of promoting cross-cultural understanding and providing additional support to our community development initiatives. Photo Credit: Adam Sittler
Photo Credit: Rachael Weaver
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Dear Team Edge of Seven, Thank you for your continued support over the last year. You are empowering girls around the world. You are giving your time, money, and support because you believe that every person should be empowered to create the life they want to live and reach their full potential. You continue to humble and inspire us, so thank you for being YOU. In the fall of 2009, I swapped the comforts of life in the U.S. for a backpack and five months in Asia to volunteer, discover, and learn. The experience changed my life. I was introduced to families who fought daily to provide basic necessities to their children – food, shelter, and water. I saw schools collapsing around students as they struggled to learn. Throughout this experience of living in rural Nepal, I began to connect what I knew about the lack of opportunities for girls and women with what I was seeing firsthand. And despite the overwhelming adversity that broke my heart at times, I was transformed by the thread woven throughout every story – HOPE. Hope like that held by Ramita, a young girl who almost dropped out of school at the age of 10 because the closest primary school was over an hour’s walk from her village. She helped her family in the fields every day, before and after school, and persevered to make time for her studies. In 2011, she was accepted into the first class at our Solukhumbu Girls Hostel and completed grade 12 two years later. At Edge of Seven, we believe that educating and empowering girls and women across the world is not only the right thing to do, it’s also the best way to alleviate global poverty and improve the health and well-being of each and every person on the planet. Our Community Development projects, like our Higher Secondary School in Basa and our College Hostel in Salleri, do just this by giving more girls and women access to education, health, and economic opportunities. On a personal note, last year my husband and I welcomed a beautiful baby girl into our lives, our precious June. June is half American and half Nepali. It’s not lost on me every day how entirely different her life would be if she was a girl born in a developing country. It’s actually what fuels me. We recognize that our work is just a drop in the bucket of what needs to be done globally to eradicate poverty. But, if you are one of the 726 girls, like Ramita, that we have affected to date you see a path that wasn’t present before. And these 726 girls who are now able to attain an education will go on to help others – communities -- transform their lives. To me, that’s the very definition of HOPE. Thank you for your support now and always,
LETTER FROM FOUNDER,
ERIN GUTTENPLAN SUBEDI
Erin Guttenplan Subedi, Edge of Seven Founder
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OUR YEAR
Since 2010, Edge of Seven, in collaboration with communities in Nepal, our international partners, and our volunteers, has achieved the following: Provided direct access to education for 726 girls in rural Nepal; Directly impacted 1,330 individuals in rural Nepal through community infrastructure improvements; Engaged 112 Western volunteers in our work on the ground; Completed five schools buildings in Nepal’s Gorkha and Solukhumbu Districts; Completed two large-scale community water supplies in rural Nepal in communities where girls were being kept out of school to help their families collect water for their household; Completed one dormitory that provides room and board for 40 girls every two years in Nepal’s Solukhumbu District, who are all the first in their families to attend grades 11 and 12; Introduced the environmentally-friendly and earthquake-resistant earthbag building method to remote communities lacking access to traditional building materials; Assisted in the production of two documentary films aimed at exposing the challenges girls in Nepal face when pursuing an education.
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First Class of Graduates from the Solukhumbu Girls Hostel This year, we celebrated the incredible achievements of the 38 girls at our Solukhumbu Girls Hostel in Salleri, Nepal who graduated from Grade 12 and fulfilled their dreams of achieving a higher education. These girls were the first to move in to our hostel when we completed it in 2011, and it is truly remarkable to see how far they have come since then. To fully understand the challenges these girls were facing in their lives before they came to the hostel, consider that seven out of every 10 girls in the Everest Region of Nepal drop out of school before Grade 10. This high dropout rate is attributed to several cultural and societal factors. Many girls cannot continue on to pursue a higher education due to household obligations and early marriages. In rural areas, commute times to schools are lengthy, and there is often a shortage of adequate schools nearby. Most girls cannot spare the time it takes to get to and from school. Finally, many parents don’t see the value of educating their daughters. By creating access to education, we can begin to change this situation for girls in Nepal. We are so proud of our graduates, and we are also excited to announce that we welcomed 40 new girls to the hostel in September, each of whom is currently on track to graduate in the spring of 2015. Thank you to everyone who has worked to support these girls in reaching this amazing milestone!
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Basa Higher Secondary School is Complete In 2013, Edge of Seven, the community of Khastav, and our local partners and volunteers put the finishing touches on the Basa Higher Secondary School, a eight-classroom facility that serves hundreds of students in grades 11 and 12 in the Basa VDC of the Solukhumbu Region. Before this school was completed, the only higher secondary school in the entire Solukhumbu was located in the district capital of Salleri, a 10 hour walk from Basa. As Salleri is too far for a daily commute from Basa and most families can’t afford to pay for housing, most students in Basa were dropping out of school before grade 10. By providing access to a higher secondary education in this remote region, we are helping to ensure that students in Basa have the opportunity to take their schooling to the highest level possible. The Basa Higher Secondary School is accessed not just by students in Khastav, but by students in several neighboring villages.
Photo Credit: Rachael Weaver
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A g i r l i s a s v a l u a ble to our world as a tree i s t o a f o r e s t . W hen a tree grows strong, t h e w h o l e e n v i r o nment benefits. When a g i r l g r o w s s t r o n g and healthy, her family, h e r c o m m u n i t y a nd her country can feel t h e p o s i t i v e e f f e cts. - UN Sec r e t a r y G e n e r a l B a n K i - M o o n
Photo Credit: Adam Sittler
WHY GIRLS?
At Edge of Seven, we believe that investing in girls and women in the developing world is the best solution to ending world poverty. That’s because: High Drop-Out Rates 1 in 5 girls in developing countries who enroll in primary school never finish. Yet when just 10 percent more girls are educated, a country’s GDP grows by three percent. (USAID) Early Marriage 1 out of every 7 girls in the developing world will marry before the age of 15. Studies show that early marriages lead to poorer health and economic outcomes for a girl and her family. Yet, girls who stay in school for seven or more years will, on average, marry four years later and have fewer children. (USAID) Low Enrollment It’s estimated that there are more than 75 million girls not in school in the developing world. (PLAN) Earning Potential Studies show that every year of schooling increases a woman’s earning power by 10 to 20 percent, allowing her to lift her family out of poverty. (PLAN) Maternal Health A child’s probability of survival is increased by 20 percent when household income is controlled by the mother, rather than the father. (United Nations)
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In September 2013, we welcomed 40 new girls to our Solukhumbu Girls Hostel in Salleri, where they are all studying in grades 11 and 12 at the local higher secondary school and are on track to graduate in the spring of 2015. We’d like to introduce you to a few of these girls and share their stories of hope. Laxmi - Ask Laxmi what she hopes to learn by attending
college through the Solukhumbu Girls Hostel and she’ll simply reply, “Everything.” In her village, Laxmi has seen many people die of ordinary health problems that are easily solved in the developing world. This is why she wants to become a nurse someday. “People here often die of very simple causes,” she said. “I want to change that. Without this education, my life would be very miserable, and I could not achieve my dreams.”
Pipala - Pipala’s home village is located a full three-day walk
from Salleri, the district capital of the Solukhumbu. Before coming to the Solukhumbu Girls Hostel, Pipala had never been outside of her village. She admits being intimidated at first to leave home, but she pushed through her fears in hopes that attaining an education would help her achieve her dream of becoming a singer and an artist. “Life is very beautiful with education,” she said. “And full of obstacles without it.”
Maya - As one of eight siblings, Maya knows the demands,
challenges, and hardships her parents faced trying to provide for a large family. Maya says that she plans to have a smaller family so that she can focus all of her resources on giving her children the best care and opportunities available. “I want to be a selfdependent person,” she said. “To be educated is like winning a lottery. After you win it, you can choose your way in life.”
Photo Credit: Rachael Weaver
Photo Credit: Rachael Weaver
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Rama, 19 Rama is one of eight girls in her family. Because her mother gave birth only to girls, she was treated very cruelly by Rama’s father and other members of her community. “Sons are viewed as prestigious in a family,” Rama said. “And daughters are like an unwanted guest.” Rama’s parents arranged for her eldest sister to be married at the age of 16. By 17, her sister had her first baby. When Rama’s parents told her that she would follow the same path, she protested. She worked hard at school in order to receive scholarship assistance to the Solukhumbu Girls Hostel, where she is now in grade 11 and hoping to become a teacher. “In my society, it is not seen as a good thing to be born as a girl,” she said. “But I believe that if girls are educated they can be equal to men. I want to become a teacher, because teachers are able to change lives. If there were no teachers, there would be no doctors or scientists. If it were not for the hostel, I would die with my dream in my heart.”
Rising Tide In 2013, Edge of Seven worked with Arcos Films and our local partners in Nepal to produce a segment of the Rising Tide Project, a video, web, and works series that aims to help women rise so they can lift the world. The goal of Rising Tide is to promote awareness and understanding of the importance of women to the success of developing countries. The first segment of this project is focused on educating girls in Asia, and focuses on the communities Edge of Seven works with in Nepal. For more information on this initiative, visit www.risingtideproject.org.
Photo Credit: Rachael Weaver
Photo Credit: Daniel Perlaky
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MANAGEMENT
Pro
Edge of Seven is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization. As a social purpose venture, we take great pride in our financial transparency and accountability to our donors:
LEADERSHIP
MANAGEMENT - 3%
Julia Alvarez . Board Member
FUNDRAISING - 6% PROGRAM SERVICES - 91%
Ursula Miniszewski . Board Member
Sarah Andrews . Executive Director Edge of Seven
Erin Subedi . Board Chair EF Education
Emily Stanley . Board Secretary Denver Foundation
Travis Hughbanks . Board Member SlaterPaull Architects JVA Consulting
Global Greengrants
Revenue
2011
2012
2013
Charitable Giving Earned Income - Volunteer Program Total Revenue
$116,062 $90,253 $206,315
$119,168 $109,287 $228,455
$176,944 $31,460 $208,405
Program Services Fundraising Management & General Total Expense
$176,072 $6,865 $7,878 $190,815
$204,028 $11,290 $15,612 $230,930
$172,474 $11,274 $5,637 $187,902
NET INCOME
$15,500
$(2,475)
$20,503
Expense
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Our Loyal Supporters This list includes donors who contributed $200 and above in 2013 and other key supporters. We have done our best to be accurate in compiling this list of extraordinary supporters. If we missed someone or misspelled a name, we sincerely apologize and ask that you let us know about the error. Curt Albee Julia Alvarez Africa School Assistance Project Wayne & Judy Andrews Anonymous Ellie Antrim Arhaus Furniture Tamara Arredondo Elinor Asay Anne Banister James Baraglia David Bergeron Josh Blythe Bobulinski Foundation Stacia Bobulinski Tony Bobulinski Matt Boddy Bruce Boisen BoldLeaders John Bossange Julie Bradley William Bradley Breadloaf Corporation Joshua Burgess Jillian Burghoff Burners Without Borders Scott Burrows Andrew Chardain Aaron Chevalley Kimberly Clayton Allison Cleary Clif Bar Foundation James Cochran Colorado School of Mines Comedy Works Jennifer Cryer David & Vicki Dansky
Devon Dean Richard Deane Kim Deetjan Kevin Deighan Delaware Community Foundation Denver Equestrians Marilyn and David Dickey Dinse, Knapp & McAndrew PC Bob Donegan DU Rotaract Club Rachel Ecklund EF Education Embassy Suites Downtown Eduardo Enriquez David Epstein Frederick Esch Ex Officio Terry Findeisen Flatgrass Realty Bridget Fontenot David Foster Michael Frost Michael Gamel-McCormick Erwin Geiger Carmen George Glen Gonzalez Astrid Graf Kurt Gresham Lee Grutchfield David Gussack Steve Guttenplan Paul & Judy Guttenplan Glynn Gallagher & Company H+L Architecture Myra Hagan Matt Haley Jillian Hall
Aaron Hammer Ella & Tina Happel Barbara Harman Eileen Hartstock Buddy Haun Megan Hibberd Andrea Hildebrand Shufen Ho Bailey Hoover Brianne Hovey Liling Huang Nancy & Fineas Hughbanks Sarah Andrews & Travis Hughbanks Indigo Izze Lisa Irelan Jeff and Lisa Jones Rolf Keilman King Arthur Flour Jeanne Kirk Gerald Knievel Diantha Korzun Joseph Kropf Mamoun Laraki William Lockwood Lohi Fitness Dorothy Lorenze Lush Cosmetics John Lynch Harry Lynch Jay Maguire Matt McCall Michael McHugh Mari McKinney Jeff McKittrick Hayes & Casey McManemin Dale & Robert Megill
Sparky Millikin Paul Millman Michele & Ed Minch Ursula Miniszewski Mondelez International Foundation Mondo Vino Thomas Mullard Holley Murchison Patricia Needleman Robert Neeld Oogave Katherine Ortorsky AJ Oscarson Kathryn Ott Oval Skating Club Oxford Hotel Deborah Palmer Jonathan & Maggie Pearson Amanda Pena Bustillos Daniel Perlaky Keith Plum Polar Bottle Laula Priscilla Abby Quiroz Rainwater Charitable Foundation Pete Reed Catherin Reiher Renegade Brewing Brian Retelle Sharad Robertson Michele Rogers-Scully Rotary Club of Grand Lake Ann Schlesinger Erika Schlichter Michelle Schroder Jennifer Seelig Karma & Sonam Sherpa
Claire Slattery-Quintanilla Megan Smith Space Gallery Jessica Spomer Jason & Celina Stabell Shannon Stambach Emily & Ben Stanley Jen-ai Stokesbury Mona Stolz Jay Strom Erin & Binod Subedi Ivan Sun Kevin Sun Yihfen Sun Heaven Tesfaye The Mountain Fund The Small World Ali Tolbert Therese Tran Truex Cullins Architecture William Truex Jeff & Donna Turi Michael Uhde Joe Uhde Stephen Urquhart Lydia Vanderburg Pam Warren Rachael Weaver Wes Flanders Brewing Sally Wier Phillip Wilson Wizard Graphics Janice Woods Grant Wozencroft Lauren Wright Jesse Young David Zwick
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We c a l l u p o n o u r sisters a r o u n d t h e w o r l d to b e b r a v e - t o e m b race t h e s t r e n g t h w i t h i ng t h e m s e l v e s a n d r ealize t h e i r f u l l p o t e n t i a l. - Malala Yo u s f z a i
Photo Credit: Rachael Weaver
Dear Friends, Last May, we at Edge of Seven joined our local partners in congratulating the first class of girls to graduate from the Solukhumbu Girls Hostel in Salleri, Nepal, where 95 percent of the incoming class completed Grade 12. As most students in the region drop out of school before grade 10, each of these girls became the first female in her family to attain a higher education. The hope and promise that they possess within themselves is immeasurable, and we could not be more proud of all that they have achieved. Last fall, when a new class of 40 girls moved in to the hostel, they shared their stories of past hardships and their hopes for a better future. Girls like Kamala, who narrowly escaped an arranged marriage at the age of 16. Girls like Pasang, who is one of six children her mother supports on her own while she struggles to pay off her ailing husband’s medical bills. Girls like Sabina, who until coming to the hostel refused to believe what she heard growing up – that in some other countries women were seen as equal to men. Despite all of these circumstances, these girls carry a fierce determination to change the course of their lives for the better. At Edge of Seven, we strive to create access to education and other empowering resources so that girls like Sabina, Pasang, and Kamala will be able to fully realize the gifts they have within themselves, and so that they can move forward in their life empowered to make their own choices. The girls at the Solukhumbu Girls Hostel are determined to attain an education so they can do just that, and I find myself humbled again and again by their perseverance. As a new mother to a young daughter myself, I have never felt more passionate about the work we are doing at Edge of Seven, and I send heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for your support. Because of you, we touched the lives of 726 girls and women and 1,330 individuals in rural Nepal in 2013, and we are on track to double this impact next year. As one of our students Juna Maya has said, “Education can take you from a life of darkness to a life full of light and hope.” Thank you for lending your energy to this cause and for bringing light and hope into the lives of so many. All the best,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
Sarah Andrews, Edge of Seven Executive Director sarah@edgeofseven.org
SARAH ANDREWS
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EDGE OF SEVEN www.edgeofseven.org 1031 33rd Street, Denver, CO 80205 info@edgeofseven.org