Three delighted young women picked up their cheques for £2000 at the House of Lords, after winning Financial Mail’s Breaking the Mould essay competition.
The contest, which was open to 14-18 year olds across the country, asked girls to think about inspirational women leaders in 2004 who had broken the mould in male dominated fields.
The winning entry, by 14 year old Flora Easton, captured the imagination of judges who picked her out for the £1500 cash prize. Her interview with Afgani former presidential candidate and current minister for women, Dr Massouda Jalal, described how the university lecturer had not only broken the mould in a country where there is 80 per cent female illiteracy, but moreover, had managed to transform a male dominated society.
The essay begins: ‘The day that Dr Massouda Jalal finally removed her burqa at the end of Taliban rule was a highly symbolic moment,’ and goes on to document Dr Jalal’s bravery in face of a dangerous and violent regime, describing how despite Taliban rule she worked undercover for the UN and Wold Food Program as well as running an underground school for girls.
Flora, who says that she was overawed by Dr Jalal’s confidence and bravery, said that she had pledged to give £500 of the winnings to an afghani charity of Dr Jalal’s choosing.
Abiola Adeogun, 14, wrote a very personal essay detailing the inspirational influence that Condeleezza Rice. The American Secretary of State, who according to Abiola has changed the direction of world politics, received over 100 essay submissions, ranking her number one as a female icon for young women .
‘The world is not a very fair place and being black and being a woman means Rice had to work twice as well to get a chance.’
A very different entry came from Olga Akroyd, 18, who chose Queen Rania of Jordan because of the feminine style of leadership which is helping to overturn Jordan’s $7.5 billion debt.
‘Her manner of improving Jordan’s economy is rather feminine in style – instead of investing more harsh reforms, Rania encourages the instillation of small independent businesses. This gentle, persuasive method, however, has proven to be just as effective, if not better, than the typically masculine aggressive measures.’
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