Tererai Trent, Zimbabwean Scholar, honored through a bronze statue in New York City
Tererai Trent (54) is a US-based scholar originally from Zimbabwe. She was denied education just because of her gender. She taught herself how to read and write while still living with her parents in rural Zimbabwe.
In 1988 she migrated to the United States after she was discovered by a non-profit organization from the United States of America when they visited her village. At the age of 18 she was already a mother of four child but without a high school education.
She migrated to the US where she has earned bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees. The education scholar experienced domestic abuse as she pursued her education. Since then she has been championing the rights of girls and women since then.
In 2011, Oprah Winfrey donated USD$1.5 million for Tererai and Save the Child organization to spend in putting in place a better infrastructure at her elementary school in Zimbabwe.
Tererai Trent was chosen as one of the 10 women to be honored through erecting a bronze statue in New York. This was part of a global campaign to increase the number of women statutes all over the world.
The Schattners encourage the members of the public to participate in nominating of the women who should be immortalized in bronze.
The artists hope that in future the statues will be diverse and include gender expression, race, sexual orientation, class and ability.
