Day 10: Invest in Girls’ Leadership and Decision Making

Sponsored by Child Fund Alliance

 

ChildFund Alliance is a global network of 11 child-focused development and humanitarian organizations reaching more than 32 million children and family members in 70 countries. Our members work to end violence and exploitation against children; provide expertise in emergencies and disasters to ease the harmful impact on children and their communities; and engage children, their families, and communities to create lasting change. Our commitment, resources, innovation, and expertise serve as a powerful force to help children and families around the world transform their lives.

ChildFund Uganda

ChildFund Uganda has been implementing development programs since 1980, and today works closely with nine implementing partners across the country. With regard to girls, ChildFund Uganda’s interventions include, but are not limited to, empowering girls through a child-friendly accountability methodology to take up leadership positions, sensitize their child peers, as well as parents and caregivers on their rights and responsibilities, and holding duty bearers accountable on issues that affect the girl child. ChildFund Uganda has also built the capacity of girls on menstrual hygiene management and development of reusable sanitary towels. This is premised on the fact that numerous girls drop out of school due to a lack of sanitary towels to manage their menstrual periods.

Linda

“What adults need to know about girls today is: Girls must have equal education with boys […], girls are not for marriage […], and parents must give children guidance and counseling so that they become better citizens in the future.”

Jovia

“What the government can do to keep girls in school is [to improve] water, sanitation and hygiene. Some of the girls, when they experience menstruation, fear going to school because there are no corners for changing their pads [and] they don’t have clean toilets. Some are embarrassed because there are many people.”

Santa

“I’m currently part of the WEB Safe & Wise Children’s Advisory Counsil, and from that have managed to sensitize girls about the dangers of online sex, encouraged many girls to stand for leadership posts and to stand up for themselves. Because when you stand up for yourself, you get quick help.”

 

Cinderella

“We should take girls more seriously, giving them a better education, taking violence and abuse more seriously, funding women’s organizations, and teaching parents the rights of children.”

 

ChildFund Ethiopia

ChildFund Ethiopia launched in 1971 and currently operates 13 community-based child development programs in four regions (Amhara; Oromia; Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Regions; and Addis Ababa). Working for the wellbeing of girls, ChildFund Ethiopia’s interventions include the empowerment of girls through different methods, including peer education; facilitation and support of girls’ clubs at school; raising awareness amongst children, youth, and their parents regarding the rights of girls; and creating opportunities for girls to participate actively in different community-based associations as leaders and decision-makers. ChildFund Ethiopia also collaborates with schools to become girl-friendly by installing girls’ hygiene rooms. This helps them focus exclusively on their education and decreases school dropout rates for girls.

Tihitina

“I wish to see that all girls have the right to participate actively in different issues and that they can decide on their issues without others’ influence.”

 

Children Believe India

Children Believe in India has worked with vulnerable children and populations over the last five decades. The country programs strive to be a Center of Excellence on Gender and Social Inclusion, meaning that the promotion of gender equality through gender responsive and transformative actions have formed the core of our interventions. Targeted efforts have been taken to build girls’ leadership through various programs, including ChildFund Alliance’s Child-Friendly Accountability Mechanism. This has enabled girls to emerge as champions who lead several changes in their communities, including addressing gender norms that act as barriers to education. Such girl leadership has resulted in better education for girls, a decline in child marriages, and improved agency of girls on behalf of themselves.

Sadhana

“My wish is for all girls to complete their education and pursue degree courses, with women leading in all areas. That’s my dream. I will continuously work to ensure the voices of women and girls are heard.”

 

#IDG2023 #DayoftheGirl #IDGxWGG #GirlsRightsNow #11DaysofAction #InvestInGirls #ActionforGirlsRights