Reverse, Reset, Restore
This is for all of us who have been wounded by our own (and others) judgements and expectations, who have listened to those inner voices and believed the lies we've sold ourselves and for those who truly want to love and honour who you were always meant to be. If you've struggled with self-acceptance, poor body image and a belief system that is no longer serving you (if it ever did!), then this podcast is your reminder that you're not alone and you can choose to make changes - from your health and wellbeing, to your thoughts and the way you move in the world.
Reverse, Reset, Restore
Knowledge is Equality. Celebrating Female Champions of Educational Access -International Women's Month 2025 - Part 3
Who fights for education when it's denied? Throughout history, remarkable women have risked everything to ensure knowledge isn't just a privilege for the fortunate few. This episode shines a light on three revolutionary women who transformed education across three centuries.
Meet Maria Montessori, the Italian physician who defied convention by placing learning directly into children's hands. Her radical approach – emphasizing self-directed discovery instead of rigid memorization – now shapes education in 140 countries worldwide. Then there's Clara Barton, whose establishment of one of America's first free public schools was just the beginning of her extraordinary legacy that would eventually lead to founding the American Red Cross.
Finally, we explore Malala Yousafzai's courageous journey – from Pakistani schoolgirl speaking out against Taliban oppression to surviving an assassination attempt to becoming the youngest Nobel Prize laureate in history. Her ongoing fight for girls' education reminds us that in many parts of the world, simply wanting to learn remains a dangerous act of defiance.
These women teach us that education isn't just about acquiring knowledge – it's about empowerment, opportunity, and transformation. Their unwavering belief in accessible education has rippled across generations, changing not just individual lives but entire societies. As Malala powerfully stated, "One book, one pen, one child and one teacher can change the world." Share this episode with someone who believes in education's power to transform lives, and join us next time as we continue celebrating the women who accelerate action by defying gender expectations.
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You're listening to Reverse, reset. Restore a space for exploring transformation, healing and the choices we make in this ever-evolving journey called life. I'm Sally, a change practitioner, recovering self-saboteur and someone who owes so much to the trailblazing woman who paved the way before me. This is episode three of our International Women's Month series, where we dive into the theme for International Women's Day Accelerate Action, because action isn't just something to admire. It's something we can do. Change comes from within.
Speaker 1:Education has long been a battleground for equality. Throughout history and even right now, there have been amazing women who have fought to make knowledge accessible, to break down barriers and to ensure that education is a right accessible for all, not for a privileged few. In today's episode, we'll discuss three remarkable women who accelerated change in education or fought against regimes hell-bent on stopping women and girls receiving education, even at great personal risk Maria Montessori, clara Barton and Malala Yousafzai. Their dedication to learning and teaching and giving opportunity to girls to have an education didn't just change their own lives. It continues to change the world. What if education wasn't about memorization but about discovery? Maria Montessori changed the way we think about learning. Maria was ahead of her time. Born in Italy in 1870, she became one of the first female physicians in her country. But her real passion lay in education, where she eventually went on to develop the Montessori method, a revolutionary approach that emphasized hands-on, self-directed learning, observing how children learn naturally. Maria sought to improve education methods by placing learning into the hands of the learners and allowing exploration and discovery to lead them. Montessori's belief that children thrive when given freedom and respect was radical in an era of rigid, rote-based schooling. And today Montessori schools exist in 140 countries, shaping the way millions of children now learn.
Speaker 1:And then there's Clara Barton, born in Ocean Away in 1821 in Massachusetts, whose contribution to education would be just one part of her incredible legacy. As a teacher, clara not only opened one of the first free schools in New Jersey at a time when public education was still a rarity, she would later go on to serve as a nurse and then advocating for better medical care, and established the American Red Cross. Clara's beliefs, followed up by her actions, ensured that education extended beyond classrooms to life-saving humanitarian efforts, while also helping to pave the way for women in leadership in healthcare and education. And we're actually going to fast forward to modern times, to right now, and we're still living in a world where girls worldwide are still fighting for the right to obtain an education. For us women and girls who have been fortunate enough to be born and live in places where education is already a right, we've never had to consider the danger of seeking education. But what if speaking up for your right to learn put your life at risk?
Speaker 1:Malala Yousafzai didn't just fight for her own education. She has become a global symbol of resilience and activism. Symbol of resilience and activism. Born into Pakistan, malala was just a teenager when she began speaking out against the Taliban's ban on girls' education, and her activism almost cost her her life when she was shot in 2012. Luckily for us, she survived and has become an even stronger advocate. Today, as the youngest Nobel Prize laureate, she continues to champion education for girls worldwide, proving that one voice can make an extraordinary impact.
Speaker 1:Maria, malala and Clara came from very different backgrounds, but each of them shared an unwavering belief in the power of knowledge. They understood that education is the foundation of progress and fought against societal norms to make learning accessible for all. Learning accessible for all. So what can we learn from these incredible women? Education isn't just about acquiring knowledge. It's about empowerment, opportunity and change. Whether it's a child in a Montessori classroom, a young girl in Pakistan or a student in a free school in 19th century America. The impact of education ripples across generations. If we want to accelerate change, we must continue the fight for accessible, quality education. We need to support our educators. Education we need to support our educators, advocate for learning opportunities and never take the power of knowledge for granted, because, as history shows us, when women fight for education, they don't just change lives, they change the world and give opportunities, not just to girls, but to everyone.
Speaker 1:Thanks for tuning in today. If this episode inspired you, please share it with a friend. Keep the conversation going. In our next episode, celebrating International Women's Month and focusing on the International Women's Day topic of accelerating action, we'll be looking at the women who defy gender expectations action. We'll be looking at the women who defy gender expectations. Before we end this episode, I want to give a quick shout out to some of the educators in my life that made a difference Mrs Knight, mrs Hay, professor Susan Seidel and Professor Matthew Gallagher, among others. They are the exact type of people that our final quote from Malala talks about. Thank you so much for sowing into my life in ways that have extended beyond the classroom. Let us remember one book, one pen, one child and one teacher can change the world.