VOA标准英语2011--Kenyan Women's University Prepares Stude

Kenya's capital, Nairobi, is home to Kiriri Women's University of Science and Technology (KWUST), the only university in East Africa that caters¹ specifically to women. Officials and students say having an all-famale environment better prepares the school's graduates to be successful leaders in the working world by developing their self-esteem and self-expression.
It's a unique sight in East Africa, a university comprised entirely² of women students.
In a country where only about 12 percent of students pursuing math and science majors in 2007 were women, many see Kiriri Women's University of Science and Technology as a way of getting more women into a world traditionally run by men.
Fast Facts: Kiriri Women's University
Founded more than a decade ago
Offers degrees in mathematics, computer science, and business administration
First graduation in 2006
Currently has 108 students
Njeri Gikonyo is the university's deputy vice-chancellor. "We even give them special seminars on how women can manage in the workplace, how women can excel in the workplace, and all the barriers they have to go through to overcome that (discrimination). So, when they graduate, they end up being very special and in that way, they make a name for themselves in the market," she said.
Educators say in mixed university settings, women students commonly feel intimidated³ by their male counterparts and tend to be quiet in class.
But in an all-female setting, women are forced to develop leadership roles,
Business and marketing⁴ lecturer Judith Muriuki said, "There has to be people who come out to give their views, express themselves. In other situations where the two groups of people are mixed together, the ladies will tend to shy off and not really come out. They will leave all the answering, all the participation⁵ to the men."
Student Nancy Nekesa Wamacho says she is inspired by her fellow students. "If we go to schools where there are men, mostly in sciences and other things, men tend to perform much better than us. That one makes us think we cannot perform. But when you are here, and you see a girl performing, then we are in a position to say, 'she is doing it, it means I can also do that'," he said.
The intimidation⁶ many women students feel stretches back to childhood. In traditional Kenyan communities, young girls are taught to perform household chores and become wives and mothers at an early age.
Given a choice, financially-strapped families typically send their boys, rather than girls, to school.
But educators say girls' and women's access to education is improving in Kenya, with the government's 2030 economic plan and the United Nations' Millennium⁷ Development Goals. Last year, in fact, girls made up 45 percent of Kenya's secondary school enrollment⁸.
Still, says deputy vice-chancellor Gikonyo, there is yet a long way to go, especially in the working world. "A lot of the organizations are male-dominated in the management level. There really does seem to be a glass ceiling for women at some point," she said.
A ceiling Kiriri Women's University of Science and Technology aims to shatter.

1 caters   

提供饮食及服务( cater的第三人称单数 )； 满足需要，适合

参考例句：

• That shop caters exclusively to the weaker sex. 那家商店专供妇女需要的商品。
• The boutique caters for a rather select clientele. 这家精品店为特定的顾客群服务。

2 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

3 intimidated   

v.恐吓；威胁adj.害怕的；受到威胁的

参考例句：

• We try to make sure children don't feel intimidated on their first day at school. 我们努力确保孩子们在上学的第一天不胆怯。
• The thief intimidated the boy into not telling the police. 这个贼恫吓那男孩使他不敢向警察报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

5 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

6 intimidation   

n.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
• The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。

7 millennium   

n.一千年，千禧年；太平盛世

参考例句：

• The whole world was counting down to the new millennium.全世界都在倒计时迎接新千年的到来。
• We waited as the clock ticked away the last few seconds of the old millennium.我们静候着时钟滴答走过千年的最后几秒钟。

8 enrollment   

n.注册或登记的人数；登记

参考例句：

• You will be given a reading list at enrollment.注册时你会收到一份阅读书目。
• I just got the enrollment notice from Fudan University.我刚刚接到复旦大学的入学通知书。