International Day of the Girl is celebrated every year on October 11. It was declared by the United Nations to amplify the voices of young girls around the world and increase awareness of issues faced by them. According to the United Nations, achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment is an integral part.
This year the theme of International Day of the Girl is 'Digital Generation, Our Generation.' UNICEF believes in acknowledging the growing digital world and how a digital gap can also widen the gender gap.
130 million girls didn’t go to school today— not because they didn’t want to, but because they weren’t given the chance.
An excerpt from a project I did reads, "Education is something we take for granted nowadays in the United States because according to law, all students are entitled to a free and appropriate public education. This isn't the case all over the world.
Some of my students wouldn’t get educated at all in other countries. Others wouldn’t be able to go to school some days if they hit puberty and didn't have access to self care items or because of social norms.
This project's goal is to empower girls to further their educations and make a difference in the world by giving them material to read about fabulous women in history as well as changes that will happen to their bodies and minds as they grow up. It will educate all students on the accomplishments of females of all races, religions, ethnic backgrounds, and cultures throughout the history of the world. My hope is that the girls will grow up with the confidence that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to. I envision a bright future for them without a gender wage gap and feeling like every job is accessible to all."
“The ability to read, write, and analyze; the confidence to stand up and demand justice and equality; the qualifications and connections to get your foot in that door and take your seat at that table—all of that starts with education.”
–Michelle Obama, Let Girls Learn speech, International Women’s Day 2016
There are many things we can do to empower and advocate for girls, including fighting for equal educational opportunities and access to jobs regardless of their sex.
Ways to Celebrate
- Start young - check out this Sesame Street "Girl Muppets Around the World" on Google Earth
- or Google Earth project I created from the book The International Day of the Girl.
- Research a female** who has done great things and to create a digital presentation (check out mine on Sutori or use Google Slides) or write an opinion essay.
- Make a digital poster to post publicly, in schools, libraries, and other public places. It should persuade a person to listen to, watch, read, support, etc. an important female** in history.
- Create a ____ Day (such as Amelia Earhart Day) in honor of an important female**. Be sure to select a date of significance from that person's life. Make a poster or calendar header with at least 3 facts listed.
- Participate in Hour of Code. The official event takes place December 6-12, but you can do these coding activities year round.
- Fundraise or donate to organizations that make this initiative a priority.
**especially consider women from groups that are underrepresented in media, print, etc.
Looking for more?
Read about Brenda Berkman, first female FDNY firefighter and advocate for gender equality in the workforce here.
See my completed DonorsChoose project titled "You Glow Girl! Celebrating HERstory" here. You can find some great books to display in your class library and use for research. Be sure to click "View Complete List" under "Where Your Donation Goes" to see all resources.
Another fully funded DonorsChoose project was created to encourage females to consider STEM careers. Check out "I See Me, A Scientist to Be!" here, where you'll find a book list as well as other science materials. Books include biographies of important women scientists, such as astronauts Sally Ride and Ellen Ochoa, physicist / chemist Marie Curie, and anthropologist Jane Goodall as well as postcards that will teach students about lesser known female scientists.
This is a book project of fiction and non-fiction includes characters from all different backgrounds. It's from a funded Donors Choose project titled "I See Me and the Color of My Words," which you can see here. Students who are Hispanic, Asian, Native American, African, African American, Jewish, Muslim, disabled, adopted, and in foster care or just facing challenges will be able to say, "I see me in this story!" They will also be able to reach outside their own life experiences to understand how others feel through reading.
