American Tammy Tibbetts was the first in her family to finish college. As a journalism graduate from The College of New Jersey, she intended to work in digital media—but a volunteer experience right out of college changed the course of her life.
Spending her nights and weekends working with an organization helping girls go to school in Liberia, she realized she could use her media skills to help women all over the world get an education. She created a video campaign with friends that later evolved into a nonprofit organization. She’s the First was born.
She’s the First raises money to sponsor girls who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to continue their education. It also empowers college students across the U.S. to get involved in the movement.
Maheshwari, a scholar in India who’s sponsored by She’s the First, graduated from high school in 2013. No one else in her family had gone to school beyond the eighth grade.
“If I hadn’t gone to [high school], I would have been married…and I would have had children and my life would have been the same as any other village girl, always waking up in the morning, cooking, looking after children,” she said in a video.
Now active in 10 countries and sponsoring hundreds, She’s the First is helping girls all over the world become first-generation graduates. At 29, Tibbetts is just getting started.
(Photo: She’s the First/Facebook)