Globally, there are approximately 65 million girls out of school. The Circle of Sisterhood is a national foundation that works to inform people about the various issues women and children face each day as well as raise funds for education. The organization partners with different sorority women across the country as a way to bring awareness to different universities.
SJU Circle of Sisterhood consists of an executive board that is made up of females from different St. Joe’s sororities. The organization holds events and fundraisers throughout the school year as a way to raise money as well as educate others in the St. Joe’s community about the foundation’s mission.
An education is something that can be taken for granted and is a privilege to have. SJU Circle of Sisterhood president, Emily Elizabeth Renz ’23, believes that it is important for the St. Joe’s community to recognize that an education is not guaranteed for all people, especially women in developing countries.
“I’m so fortunate to be receiving a higher education, but others aren’t as fortunate as we are at St. Joe’s,” Renz said. “I felt it was a little bit my responsibility to help those in need receive the resources and education that they deserve.”
Last spring, the organization collaborated with SJU Panhellenic Council (Panhel) by hosting a bake sale outside of campion as a way to not only raise money, but also allow students to become more familiar with Circle of Sisterhood.
“A lot of people are aware of what Panhel is on campus and are aware of them as an organization, but aren’t really aware of Circle of Sisterhood,” Renz said. “We wanted to be able to [hold a bake sale with Panhel] to promote [Circle of Sisterhood].”
Elizabeth Rattazzi ’23, education and awareness chairperson for the group, acknowledges that education is a privilege she has had all of her life. She uses this acknowledgement as motivation to help other females achieve the same opportunities she has been given.
“I have been able to have an education that has never wavered,” Rattazzi said. “I never had to question if I’d be able to go to high school, or if I’d be able to go to elementary school. They [women in underprivileged countries] are not guaranteed an education. If they can’t afford it, they don’t get it.”
In order to bring more awareness to these topics, Catharine Argiriou ’24, community outreach chairperson, shares that the executive board is hoping to expand to new members and become a club on campus so people outside of sororities can join.
“Right now Circle of Sisterhood is just an executive team, but we’re looking into making it open as more of a club to have more people join and grow its presence on campus,” Argiriou said.
The Circle of Sisterhood provides students with a voice to advocate for what they believe in. Rattazzi is passionate about advocating for the rights of all women to receive a proper education. When reflecting on why she joined the executive board of SJU Circle of Sisterhood, she connected it to her own personal goals.
“I’m an elementary and special ed double major. So education is something I’m very interested in. I believe everybody deserves to get an education,” Rattazzi said. “I felt like this was really near and dear to me.”
Any effort made to bring awareness to this lack of access to education can make a difference in providing an education to more women across the world.
“$53 can fund one girl for a year of education in certain countries,” Rattazzi said. “So even if you don’t think you’re raising that much money or making that much effort, just bringing awareness and raising as much money as you can, can make the world of a difference.”
To learn more about Circle of Sisterhood or to make a donation, please visit https://circleofsisterhood.org/
