She’s the First sponsors girls’ education in low-income countries

She’s the First, a student organization sponsored by the College of Education, was recently named best new student organization by the Office of Student Life & Engagement at Augusta University.

The organization is a student-run chapter of a global not-for-profit that sponsors girls’ education in low-income countries. It fosters leadership and awareness in students who lead each of its 193 chapters, and inspires creative fundraising and cross-cultural communication.

Founder Audra Warren, a junior middle grades education major, said starting the club was a labor of love that she started as a freshman: “I’m really passionate about girls’ education.  When you educate a girl in a poverty-stricken area, it enables them to make better choices for themselves, start businesses, support their families and break that cycle of poverty.”

And in just its first year at Augusta University, the organization has swelled from its single founder to 60 members, and has taken on volunteer work and fundraising.

Current president Joaquin Esquivel, a middle grades education major, said he hopes to strengthen the foundation that Warren laid: “Next year we want to be more active and have more events. So it gives us fuel for the future.”

His goals include increasing membership to 80 students, doing more recruitment and fundraising, and hosting bigger events, including a 5K run, a kickball tournament, bake sales, raffles and volunteerism.

Both Warren and Esquivel hope that more students will see the social and leadership development opportunities the organization offers, including event planning, communications, fundraising and networking.

“People want to get involved and they want to be a part of something bigger than themselves. People want to give back. This is a great place to do it,” Warren said.