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Welcome
Teach A Girl, Change The World Build a Brighter Future Together
Join the TAHIRIH ASSOCIATION in our mission to create lasting social change in our world.
TAHIRIH ASSOCIATION: BEYOND BARS Reentry Project
BEYOND BARS Reentry Project
Your donation helps support our organization's mission to advance equity to secure strong futures for women with the Tahirih Association's BEYOND BARS Reentry Project that uplifts formerly incarcerated women who are rebuilding lives, families, and communities. We promote healing for formerly incarcerated women by taking a multifaceted approach to the intersection of poverty, criminality, racial healing, equity, and reconciliation.
Our Programs
Our BEYOND BARS Reentry Program is offered to formerly incarcerated women within the State of Hawai'i and throughout the US with online courses that are part of 25-module Skillset Development and Expressive Arts Program.
This innovative program serves those who are involved in the trauma-to-prison pipeline who face significant challenges to employment opportunities, housing, adequate access-to-care, and more. Rehabilitation services offer optimal healing within a construct of conscious transformation for personal growth, educational methodologies to reduce recidivism, and mental health referrals.
Our justice-involved staff believes that those who have gone through the trauma-to-prison pipeline system better understand what is truly needed for successful reentry. Our staff includes formerly incarcerated individuals as well as professionals from various occupations in diverse industries who bring rich lived experiences to their service.
As a member of the Going Home Hawai`i Consortium the Tahirih Association is active in creating a new approach to corrections.
Our Impact
Find out how we've made a difference in the community and the lives of those we serve. We are committed to improving the lives of others.
Contact Us
Have a question or want to get in touch? We'd love to hear from you. Contact us today and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
Tahirih Association:. Educate A Girl, Change The World
Your donation helps support our organization's mission to advance equity to secure strong futures for women and girls around the world. Why? Because every girl deserves the chance to learn, grow, and realize her fullest potential. But in too many parts of the world, girls face unimaginable obstacles just to access education. At Tahirih Association, we believe that educating a girl can truly change the world one empowered young woman at a time. We invite you to join us in building a brighter future for girls everywhere.
Why This Matters
When a girl receives an education, she gains more than knowledge she gains the power t o shape her life, influence her community, and even uplift her nation. Educated girls are less likely t o marry young, more likely to advocate for their rights, and have healthier families. But for many girls, cultural barriers, economic challenges, a n d safety concerns stand in the way of accessing this fundamental right.
Your Impact
Every dollar you give is an investment in a girl's future - and in the future of our world. Together, we can break down barriers and open doors t o opportunities that will empower girls to become leaders, innovators, and changemakers. When you teach a girl you truly change the world.
How You Can Make a Difference
With your help, we can create lasting change for girls around the globe. Your contribution will directly support initiatives that provide safe learning environments, scholarships, and mentorship programs for young women eager to transform their future.
Our Programs
From providing education to supporting health care initiatives, Tahirih Association offers a range of programs to support communities in need. Learn more about our work.
Donate
Your contribution can make a big difference in the lives of those we serve. Donate today to help support our mission of empowering girls and women, and vulnerable communities.
Our Impact
Here's how your generosity helps:
• Provide a young girl with school supplies for a full year
• E n s u r e s afe transportation to and from school
• Fund a semester of tuition f o r a girl at risk of dropping out
• Support a mentorship program, connecting girls with inspiring role models
• Sponsor a year of education, empowering a girl to break free from poverty a n d achieve her
dreams
Our Educate A Girl, Change The World Scholarship Program has awarded 22 scholarships to girls and women ages 12-74 who have proven themselves agents of change in their communities. They are located in six countries: · Lakota/Oglala Nation (1) · Liberia (10) · Honduras (1) · Namibia (1) · South Africa (1) · United States (8)
Contact Us
Have a question or want to get in touch? We'd love to hear from you. Contact us today and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
Under Kumu Charlani's leadership, the hālau embodies the pri
Hālau Ha'a Hula 'O Kekau'ilani Na Pua Hala O Kailua: Honoring Legacy, Preserving Culture
Hālau Ha'a Hula 'O Kekau'ilani Na Pua Hala O Kailua stands as a vibrant center of Hawaiian cultural preservation, where the sacred art of hula is taught, practiced, and shared with deep reverence for tradition. Under the guidance of Kumu Hula Charlani
Hālau Ha'a Hula 'O Kekau'ilani Na Pua Hala O Kailua: Honoring Legacy, Preserving Culture
Hālau Ha'a Hula 'O Kekau'ilani Na Pua Hala O Kailua stands as a vibrant center of Hawaiian cultural preservation, where the sacred art of hula is taught, practiced, and shared with deep reverence for tradition. Under the guidance of Kumu Hula Charlani Kalama, this hālau carries forward a legacy that spans generations, rooted in the wisdom of her mother and the rich cultural heritage of Windward O'ahu.
A Name Rooted in Legacy
The hālau's name itself tells a story of lineage and place. "Kekau'ilani" honors Kumu Charlani's mother, Elizabeth Kekau'ilaniKaai'akawaha Ako Correa Kalama, known affectionately as Aunty Nana or Lani Kalama, who was herself a respected Kumu Hula. "Na Pua Hala O Kailua"—the pandanus flowers of Kailua—connects the hālau to the beloved Windward O'ahu community where it was born and continues to thrive. This name embodies both familial devotion and deep connection to 'āina (land).
Foundations of Respect and Protocol
At the heart of the hālau's practice is a principle passed down from Kumu Charlani's mother: when a songwriter is alive, it is only proper to seek their mana'o (thoughts and intentions) as well as permission before performing their work. This practice ensures that each hula carries the authentic spirit and meaning intended by its creator. It is through this respectful approach that "your song comes to life in our halau," as Kumu Charlani explains—honoring not just the mechanics of movement, but the living essence of Hawaiian artistic expression.
A Presence in the Community
Hālau Ha'a Hula 'O Kekau'ilani Na Pua Hala O Kailua has become a cherished presence throughout O'ahu, sharing the beauty of hula at diverse community events.
The hālau has been featured in:
- Mahina ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi Celebrations: The hālau's Hula Academy entertained a full house at Ola Ka ʻĪ, kicking off Hawaiian Language Month with performances that celebrated the inseparable connection between Hawaiian language and dance.
- "I Love Hula in Kailua" Series: This popular monthly program, sponsored by the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, brings free hula performances to the heart of Kailua Town. The hālau's participation in this series helps fulfill the foundation's mission to celebrate Hawaiian cultural traditions and share the cultural expertise that exists within the Windward community.
- Shine A Light for Caregivers: The hālau has performed at this annual celebration, which raises awareness for caregivers who often become isolated and withdrawn. Through their performances, the hālau helps "shine a light" to show caregivers they are seen, appreciated, and supported.
- "Journey to Emalani": The hālau has been part of PBS Hawai'i presentations, including programs that commemorate Queen Emma's historic 1871 visit to the upland forests of West Kaua'i, sharing these cultural narratives with broader audiences.
Students, 'Ohana, and Alumni
The strength of Hālau Ha'a Hula 'O Kekau'ilani Na Pua Hala O Kailua lies not only in its kumu but in its devoted students, supportive mākua (parents), and loyal alumni who return to support their hālau family. This sense of 'ohana—family—creates a nurturing environment where cultural knowledge is passed down with care and students learn that hula is more than performance; it is a responsibility to honor those who came before and protect what will be passed to future generations.
Aloha 'Āina: Dancing for the Future
Under Kumu Charlani's leadership, the hālau embodies the principle of aloha 'āina—love and respect for the land and people of Hawai'i. Kumu Charlani, who describes herself as "an alien in my own country," leads her students with the understanding that their work is an act of cultural resistance and preservation. "I will stand for my aina for the future of our children, openness yet to be born," she declares, "that this aina belongs and will always be within our people of Hawaii."
Through every performance, every protocol observed, and every student taught, Hālau Ha'a Hula 'O Kekau'ilani Na Pua Hala O Kailua ensures that the heartbeat of Hawaiian culture continues to pulse strong and true.
A Living Tradition
Hālau Ha'a Hula 'O Kekau'ilani Na Pua Hala O Kailua represents more than a school of dance—it is a sanctuary where Hawaiian language, music, history, and values are woven together through the sacred practice of hula. By honoring the protocols taught by previous generations and maintaining deep connections to community and 'āina, the hālau serves as a beacon of cultural integrity and hope for all who seek to keep Hawaiian traditions alive and thriving.
LIGHT OF AFRICA Social & economic development program
The Light of Africa (established 1996) offers life skills program to youth in both Pretoria (Mamelodi Township) and Bela Bela (Warmbaths Township). They have consistently offered critically needed programs that serves these impoverished communities in South Africa. Superspar Bela Bela and Startspoort have partner with Light Of Africa to d
The Light of Africa (established 1996) offers life skills program to youth in both Pretoria (Mamelodi Township) and Bela Bela (Warmbaths Township). They have consistently offered critically needed programs that serves these impoverished communities in South Africa. Superspar Bela Bela and Startspoort have partner with Light Of Africa to distribute bread
and other foodto needy families. The Rutangwana Creche and the Kemoja program are day care centers for vulnerable children. Collaborating with government, business, and social groups, the Light of Africa fights poverty through with their programs for community development, job creation, food security, recycling, gender issues, and violence against women.
Educate A Girl, Change The World Scholarship PROGRAM
Support the Tahirih Association. 100% tax deductible in US.
$0.00
For 83 cents a day you can help educate a worthy education candidate. Contribute once a month $25 or more!
The Tahirih Association is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) membership organization administered by a Board of Directors and Advisors.
Contributions support a wide variety of educational programs with emphasis on art and science programs.
The Tahirih Association grants educational scholarships to women, youth, and individuals around the world who demonstrate excellence in artistic expression, technology and science. Scholarships are awarded annually with priority given to female applicants. Scholarships may also be granted in co-sponsorship with other educational institutions, social and economic development programs, or religious institutions.
The Tahirih Association produces educational materials related to the life of Tahirih, women’s history, and information about the ongoing struggle for universal human rights.
About the Tahirih Association
WHAT WE DO
The Tahirih Association is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) membership organization administered by a Board of Directors and Advisors. Our mission is to support girls and women around the world by providing tools on-site programs as well as online that uplift, empower, and motivate them for personal transformation and excellence.
Scholarships a
The Tahirih Association is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) membership organization administered by a Board of Directors and Advisors. Our mission is to support girls and women around the world by providing tools on-site programs as well as online that uplift, empower, and motivate them for personal transformation and excellence.
Scholarships are awarded annually to girls and women who are agents of change in their communities. Each has demonstrated excellence in artistic expression, technology, or science. Scholarships are awarded annually with priority given to female applicants.
Contributions support a wide variety of educational programs with emphasis on art and science programs.
Our programs include:
1. BEYOND BARS Prison Project - Women's Community Correctional Center & Federal Detention Center, Kailua and Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaiʻi
This innovative in-prison and re-entry program offers:
A 25-module Personal Development Curriculum Program
Mentor programs
Recovery system that addresses social and cultural determinants
Gender-responsive approach that acknowledges the unique pathways into, and out of, the criminal justice system for women
Rehabilitation services offer optimal healing within a construct of conscious transformation for personal growth, educational methodologies to reduce recidivism, and mental health referrals
Public awareness about the intersection of incarceration, physical wellness, mental health, and trauma.
In 2023 we produced and the award-winning documentary, BEYOND BARS: Prison Women Speak that features three women telling their stories how and what led them to prison. The film has been
viewed around the world
2. Educate A Girl, Change The World Scholarship Program
Since 2000, we have awarded 22 scholarships to girls and women ages 12-74 who have proven themselves agents of change in their communities. They are located in six countries:
· Lakota/Oglala Nation (1)
· Liberia (10)
· Honduras (1)
· Namibia (1)
· South Africa (1)
· United States (8)
3. Light of Africa - Mamelodi Township,
South Africa
This public-private partnership is a social and economic development project offers:
· Hygiene products
· Food distribution to elders, and safe houses to women and children experiencing domestic violence
· Food sustainability through garden program
· Domestic Violence safe house
OUR HISTORY
The Tahirih Association is dedicated to promoting the vision of Tahirih (Ta-hair-AY), who lived from 1815-1852. She was one of the earliest women in the struggle for human rights and equality. This legendary 19th century Persian poetess and legal scholar has become known as Joan of Arc of the Eastern world. Tahirih was a transformational leader who called for social and religious freedom at a time when she herself was not allowed such rights. Tahirih’s courage, commitment to justice, and sacrifice remain an inspiration to all.
The Tahirih Association produces educational materials related to the life of Tahirih, women’s history, and information about the ongoing struggle for universal human rights.
The Tahirih Association endeavors to empower and motivate individuals with service programs that:
Promote equality of all people
Foster social well-being, harmony, world unity, and universal brotherhood Advances gender equality; and
Utilize the arts to educate the public about Tahirih’s mission.
Contributions support a wide variety of educational programs with emphasis on art and science programs.
Support Tahirih Association
Help us make a difference by making a donation to Tahirih Association. Every contribution counts!
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