Educating Girls Globally

Educating Girls Globally (EGG) is St Margaret’s College’s own charity, dedicated to increasing the standard of, and access to, girls’ education worldwide.

EGG's Mission

Established in 2013 in the spirit of St Margaret’s founding value of Dedication to a Higher Purpose, EGG is led by our students. For more than a decade, EGG has helped thousands of girls to access education, both directly and indirectly, locally and globally.

 

EGG's Vision

EGG is rooted in the belief that education has the power to transform lives. Since its founding in 2013, by the College’s then Head and Deputy Head Prefects Gussie Cohen and Lucy Tothill, EGG has united students to raise vital funding and make a tangible impact on girls and young women.

When girls receive education, the benefits ripple through their communities, improving health outcomes, reducing domestic and sexual violence, fostering socio-economic growth, and breaking the cycle of poverty. The vision of EGG is to empower young women through education, granting them independence and the agency to shape their own futures. 

EGG's Impact

Since its inception, successive EGG committees have achieved the following:

  • $120,000+ raised for a range of local and global charities
  • Completed infrastructure projects at girls’ schools in Malawi, including the construction of security walls, bathroom facilities, and a boarding house accommodating over 60 girls, thereby ensuring a safer and more accessible learning environment
  • Fundraising for Dzaleka and Palestine Refugee Camps, ensuring that girls in the most vulnerable circumstances can access education
  • Throughout the year, students bake and sell treats in support of Full Bellies, as well as helping to prepare lunch bags for distribution
  • Handcrafting and selling bracelets during lunchtime workshops, with proceeds going to the charities selected by the EGG Committee.

Leadership and Governance

Students in Year 11-13 are invited to join the EGG Committee. Led by our current Head and Deputy Head Prefect, the committee is responsible for organising fundraising events and initiatives, including a biannual EGGstravaganza where our staff bravely take to the stage, mentored by our students. The Committee also plan the EGG Sleepover, and act as ambassadors for the charity, encouraging students throughout our College to advocate for all girls to have access to education.

The committee is mentored by Executive Principal Diana Patchett and supported by staff members throughout the College.

Founders Gussie Cohen and Lucy Tothill remained actively connected to the charity as Trustees for a decade before transferring governance back to St Margaret’s. Diana Patchett, Director of Community Relations Jane Lougher and Foundation Manager Erin Reeve currently serve as the Trustees of EGG.

 

The 2025 EGG Committee

The 2025 Committee is continuing EGG’s mission to advocate for girls’ education and raise funds for important causes. Upcoming initiatives include EGGstravaganza on Thursday 31 July, where St Margaret’s College staff courageously take to the stage to entertain our community, a badge design competition open to all students, muesli bar making in support of Full Bellies on Sunday 22 June, and a pancake and egg breakfast.

This year, the EGG Committee has chosen to support Tepesua, CAMFED, The Tanzania Project, Christchurch Aunties and Full Bellies:

CAMFED

CAMFED is an international non-profit organisation dedicated to eradicating poverty in Africa through the education of girls and the empowerment of young women. Operating in countries including Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana, Tanzania, and Malawi, CAMFED provides financial support for school fees, uniforms, books, and menstrual products. It also offers mentorship programmes and support for post-school opportunities, ensuring that girls not only attend school, but become leaders in their communities.

By the end of 2023, CAMFED Malawi had supported 761,985 girls to attend school. Nearly 35,000 graduates in the CAMFED Association of Women Leaders in Malawi are taking action on the big issues their communities face, from hunger and child marriage to unemployment and climate change.

Christchurch Aunties

Christchurch Aunties is a New Zealand-based network that supports women and children who have experienced domestic violence. By providing essential items and support, the organisation helps create a safe and nurturing environment for affected families.

Christchurch Aunties is a network of over 6,500 individuals supporting women and children in Christchurch, Ashburton, and the Waimakariri and Selwyn districts who have experienced family violence or displacement. While its primary focus is on immediate needs, its support indirectly contributes to girls’ education by stabilising their home environment, allowing girls to attend and focus on school.

Full Bellies

Full Bellies is a grassroots charity in Christchurch that provides nutritious food to children in need by delivering food bags to schools. By ensuring that children have access to healthy meals, Full Bellies addresses food insecurity, which is a significant barrier to learning. Its work supports girls’ education by improving concentration, attendance, and overall academic performance.

Currently, Full Bellies produces 1,200 lunch bags weekly, each providing a full day of nutrition. With the help of 150 volunteers, Full Bellies addresses food insecurity, a significant barrier to learning. Its efforts have led to a 9% improvement in school attendance rates among students receiving the lunch bags. Full Bellies is also supported by our partner, The Fife Foundation, a not-for-profit entity founded by St Margaret’s alumna Gina Satterthwaite.

Tepesua

Tepesua Community Based Organization was founded in 2015 by Ms. Hellen Nkuraiya in Kenya. It was formed with the aim of promoting education, empowering women, and supporting community development. It operates educational institutions including Tepesua School and Enkiteng Lepa School, Tepesua Cultural Eco Camp, and a village for widows and vulnerable women.

Women and girls are empowered through beadwork, crocheting, sewing, permaculture farming, and livestock ownership.

Currently, a third of the pupils at Enkiteng Lepa School are sponsored by the charity’s partners, two thirds by Ms. Hellen Nkuraiya, and the remainder supported by their own families.

The Tanzania Project

The Tanzania Project focuses on improving educational infrastructure and resources in Tanzania. Its initiatives include school rehabilitation, scholarship programmes, and school lunch programmes. By addressing barriers to education such as poverty and lack of resources, the project supports girls in accessing and completing their education, thereby promoting gender equality and empowerment. The Tanzania Project is also supported by our partner, The Fife Foundation.

Find out more about how our students are making a positive difference.

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