Story posted Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Expanding Lives
Niles West Program Teaching African Girls How To Lead In Homeland
By DWIGHT ESAU Journal & Topics Reporter
A unique non-profit effort to expand and enhance the lives of young African women has been started at Niles West High School in Skokie.
For the past two summers, the High School District 219-based organization called Expanding Lives has brought seven young African women to the Chicago area. They are trained and provided with life skills so they can return home and become leaders and problem-solvers in their local communities. Most of the activities now take place at Niles West.
The effort has captured the attention of the staff at the high school and throughout District 219 and the Niles community. Last week, the district's DECA Business Club and Dance Marathon teamed up to hold a fundraiser for Expanding Lives at Niles West.
The Harlem Wizards, a professional team of basketball players performing trick ball-handling and shooting skills, played a "star team" made up of students and staff from Niles West and Niles-area junior high and middle schools. A halftime raffle was conducted, and DECA and Dance Marathon students provided concessions.
The idea for Expanding Lives was born in Leslie Natzke's mind when she served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Niger, Africa, several years ago. Now an ESL teacher at Niles West, she discovered that only a tiny fraction of Niger girls stay in school beyond a few elementary years.
"They need some education and encouragement that there is something better for them and their communities," Natzke said.
"When I got to Niles West, with its large, culturally diverse student body, I started talking to other teachers and officials, and Expanding Lives became a reality two years ago."
The Niger girls spend six weeks in Chicago and Skokie in the summer.
"We don't tell them what to do, we broaden their horizons with some ideas of how they can become leaders in their communities back home, and how they can obtain more education so they can become productive citizens," Natzke said.
"This program is working because the Niger students are responding and because Niles West and many local organizations have begun supporting us."
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