Apache Corporation: Changing the lives of Egyptian girls one school at a time

In the grand scheme of things, $15,000 isn’t that much money. But for thousands of girls living in rural Egyptian villages, $15,000 is the difference between literacy and illiteracy, learning to add and subtract and the ability to write poetry. The right of education is possible through gifts made by Apache Corp., one of the sponsors of Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and a partnership with Springboard-Educating the Future. The collaboration means Egyptian girls have the opportunity to learn and, in turn, teach the next generation.

In 2005, Rodney J. Eichler, president and chief operating officer of Apache Corporation, was living and working in Egypt when he was approached about one-room schools for girls. One visit to an existing school, and Eichler was immediately behind the idea. When presented with the relatively low amount of money it took to build a school for 35 girls and led by two teachers, Apache board members, employees and friends jumped at the opportunity.

“They fell in love with the idea and were taking out their checkbooks,” Eichler said. “These schools transform shy little girls and provide an opportunity to break the cycle of illiteracy.”

Girls in rural villages often go their entire lives without learning to read, and many are married and become mothers in their early teens. In addition to problem-solving and analysis techniques, reading, writing and math, the girls are also taught the basics of female hygiene, an unknown topic to many young girls. An element unique to the one-room school is updated bathroom facilities, a rarity in poor areas, schools and homes.

The one-room schools are patterned after UNICEF’s schools and are built to last for 50 years or more, feature cool marble floors, high ceilings for optimal natural lighting, sun breaks to prevent overheating and the use of prevailing winds for cooling. The girls start the day with physical exercise and then follow with group time, learning corners, presentations, recess, sports and cleaning time. Eichler said the students sing, learn about famous Egyptian role models and learn Arabic.

“It’s hard not to get excited when you see them acting in very expressive plays or involved in art programs,” Eichler said. “They are learning new ways of thinking.”