While we are in the process of working towards gender equality, we still have a long way to go. International Day of Girl child is a good reminder to work towards gender equality. This day is celebrated to encourage girl’s empowerment and involves working towards making their access to opportunities and resources easier.
With the covid-19 pandemic in the picture, girls have not been able to access various resources and opportunities in terms of work and education especially online education. As students, their lack of proper access to online learning will create a disproportionate gap in the learning process and ultimately make the process of working towards gender equality difficult.
Table of Contents
- Why is international girl child day celebrated?
- International girl child day in India
- International girl child day events and activities
- Increase social awareness
- Invest in girls’ education
- Amplify the voices of young women
- Engage with communities that work for women’s empowerment
- Talk to young children about gender equality
- Conclusion
Why is International Girl Child Day Celebrated?
United nations general assembly in 2011 adopted a resolution and decided to declare October 11th as the international day of the girl child to recognize the rights of girls and the unique challenges faced by them around.
The world international girl child day was introduced and adopted by the United Nations in recognition of girl child and the various issues that they face such as gender inequality, abuse, child marriage and lack of education etc.
International girl child day 2022 will mark the 10th anniversary of this day. It is celebrated every year to increase awareness about issues pertaining to girls and for working towards their empowerment and growth. This day holds importance for all the girls in the world as we are moving towards creating a more gender-equal world through our contributions.
International Girl Child Day In India
Right to education ensures that every kid irrespective of their gender gets minimum compulsory education that will ensure basic literacy. But as a matter of fact, 50% of girls in India do not get access to affordable education or even education at all.
According to a report by United Nations nearly 1 in 4 girls in the age group of 15-19 globally are not in education training or employment as compared to 1 in 10 boys. These statistics are an indicator of how far we still have to go to achieve gender equality.
A major focus and agenda for international girl child day should be on creating opportunities for girls and making reach to resources easier in a country like India where gender- inequality is extremely prevalent. Taking these steps is very important to ensure the upliftment of girl child.
We live in a technologically advanced world where online learning platforms in India are gaining prominence for their affordability and ease of access hence encouraging girl child education and empowerment and creating chances for them to become digitally empowered can help them in accessing education with a click of a button.
International Girl Child Day Activities And Events
There are different ways in which this day can be celebrated to honour the girl child and we can work towards creating an agenda for their empowerment and easier access to resources.
Increase Social Awareness
One of the best ways to celebrate this day is to increase your as well as everyone else’s social awareness about issues that impact young girls such as poverty, abuse, illiteracy, early child marriage etc.
Reading up and talking about these issues publicly and with each other can help in increasing awareness and create support and solidarity to work towards eradicating these pressing issues.
Invest in Girl Child Education
Besides increasing one’s social awareness it is also important to take action and work towards creating empowerment of girls. One can choose to fund the education of a girl child or engage with organizations that do so.
There are various online classes for children that are affordable like 88 guru whose packages start at just Rs88/-
Affordability is very important when it comes to ensuring proper access to education. So, this international girl child day, gift an affordable education package to girls who don’t have access to these resources and make them digitally empowered and educated.
Amplify the Voices of Young Women
Engaging with the community and women who are working for these relevant causes can be an amazing way to commemorate international girl child day.
Talking to young women leaders and understanding the work that they do, amplifying their voices by sharing their cause and amplifying their work on social media can be your contribution towards women’s empowerment in this way
Engage With Communities that Work for Women’s Empowerment
Various non-governmental organizations work towards women’s empowerment and education of girls. Engaging with these organizations can help you do your bit for society and can be the first step towards a gender-equal world.
Different organizations work in the domain of women’s education and rights, reducing abuse against girls, providing them with vocational training and making them socially independent and adept.
Talk To Young Children About Gender Equality
To bring about change at the grassroots level it is essential to start young. Teaching young girls and boys about the importance of education and teaching them about gender equality in a healthy way, breaking stereotypes and gender norms and guiding them to respect each other.
Most importantly it is essential to teach young children about the challenges that young girls face and encouraging them to work towards reducing them will make them empathetic and kind along with being educated.
So, this international girl child day take some time out and talk to young children surrounding you about the different difficulties and problems encountered by girls all around the world and encourage them to work towards reducing them.
Conclusion
To conclude on this international girl child day, do your bit and celebrate this day in whichever way you can because as Mahatma Gandhi says ‘Be the change you want to see in the world’ and to attain equality of the sexes and reduce the problems encountered by young girls it is important to do things at your level to bring about a change in the long run-up.
