Meet our HER Club Heads.
Our work would not be possible without HER Clubs, which host book drives, fundraise, and spread awareness about girls’ education.
Kara Rippey – sidwell friends school
Kara became interested in girls’ education in middle school when she joined her peers in fundraising for a girls' school in Kenya. During her Sophomore year, she learned more about HER and its mission to collect educational materials and build libraries across the world. Kara became enthusiastic about HER and later became a Co-Head during her Junior year. Out of all aspects of the club, Kara’s favorite part is being able to virtually meet and engage with the students from HER’s libraries.
Alix Nikolic de Jacinto – Sidwell Friends School
Alix has always been interested in gender equity and educational reform, but it wasn't until middle school that she began to truly research and act on her interest. She participated as a tutor in programs like KidPower and later wrote articles about the shortcomings of the American education system and potential reforms. Her concern about the accessibility of education in her own communities led her to read accounts from girls in foreign countries and their struggle to receive an education. She is grateful for her own resources at Sidwell and hopes to use them to provide educational opportunities to girls abroad.
Violet Boyd – Sidwell Friends School
Violet became interested in girls’ education in elementary school after she read I Am Malala. She was inspired by Malala’s courage and wanted to get involved in the movement for girls’ education. HER club was the perfect opportunity for this. As a co-head, Violet helps organize school material drives, host club meetings, and imagine new ways to support girls’ education. She loves how rewarding it feels to work with the club for a cause that they are all passionate about.
Mallory Stack – Sidwell Friends School
Mallory’s love for reading as a young girl inspired her to help other girls gain the same educational access. While in middle school, she began to meet with elementary school girls weekly to help foster a love for learning. When Mallory learned about the HER Club and its mission in Freshman year, she was immediately excited to join the club. She hopes that her efforts will help give girls in developing countries the opportunity to receive a good education and to follow their ambitions.
Past HER Club Heads
Karenna warden – Sidwell Friends School 2020-2021
Karenna spent much of her childhood at her local library, books introducing her to worlds outside of her own and fostering her imagination. Through HER, she ensures that other girls have access to these powerful spaces. She joined Sidwell Friend School's HER club in ninth grade and now is a Co-Head of this branch. With other Co-Heads, Karenna applies to grants, arranges book drives, holds bake sales, and hosts discussions. Through HER, Karenna has also befriended students at the Sarosh Academy Swat in Pakistan.
kate lewis – sidwell friends school 2020-2021
Kate's interest in girls' education began in tenth grade after she wrote a research paper on female illiteracy in South Sudan. She saw HER Club as an opportunity to address the education disparity prevalent in many developing countries. As a Co-Head of Sidwell's HER Club, Kate helps raise funds, create picture books for HER libraries, and connect with children at HER affiliated schools in Pakistan. She hopes her efforts will provide children with the tools to pursue their intellectual interests and fulfill their dreams.
Arsema gossaye – sidwell friends school 2020-2021
Zoha and Hannah reached out to Arsema her freshman year, and after exploring the HER website and learning more about what the two founders of HER had done, she was eager to join their efforts. Since then, Arsema has been a Co-Head of the HER club at Sidwell Friends School in an effort to continue the work Zoha and Hannah are doing to help create more equitable circumstances for girls in underdeveloped countries to obtain a good education. She has helped the Sidwell HER club engage more people in this work so that others will have the educational opportunities those at Sidwell are offered.