World Vision Australia celebrates inaugural International Day of the Girl Child

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

World Vision Australia will join people and organisations around the world to celebrate the inaugural International Day of the Girl Child on Thursday 11 October 2012, which aims to raise awareness of gender inequalities between boys and girls. 

The International Day of the Girl Child draws attention to the different types of discrimination and abuse that many girls around the world face including lack of access to education, exploitation and early marriage practices. 

World Vision Australia Gender Advisor, Michelle Lokot, said World Vision is working in communities around the world to address these issues.

“Discrimination and violence against girls, and violations of their human rights still happen every day. Some 600 million women worldwide are illiterate compared to 320 million men.

“Studies show that girls with higher levels of education marry later, have smaller families, survive childbirth at higher rates, experience reduced incidences of HIV/AIDS, have children more likely to survive to the age of five, and earn more money,” she said.

Michelle Lokot said with the help of Australian child sponsors and other donors, World Vision is making a difference in the lives of girls around the world by encouraging communities to educate girls.

“World Vision is challenging cultural perceptions, and emphasising that educating girls brings immense benefits to the community.

“With the support of child sponsorship funding and through awareness-raising and advocacy at the community level, girls now have the opportunity to attend school,” said Michelle.

World Vision is calling on people around Australia to do what they can to give girls a brighter future. This could include:

1) Educating yourself on the scale of the issue
Read up about gender issues and ensure you stay across the latest developments. Good sources of information include the Issues page on the world vision website (www.worldvision.com.au/issues), www.halfthesky.org, www.thegireffect.org, and www.unwomen.org

2) Using your voice or your social media presence: Think about ways that you can help raise awareness of the issues facing girls around the world. You could talk about it at your workplace or with friends, write a post on Facebook or join the conversation on twitter using the hash tag #dayofthegirl

3) Sponsoring a girl: World Vision Australia’s child sponsorship program provides support to children and their communities to bring about long term solutions to poverty. The program focuses on building resilient communities so that children can flourish.

4) Making your next gift purchase one that benefits women and girls: The World Vision Gift catalogue includes a section exclusively dedicated to women and girls with gifts such as a bicycle for a girl for $100, send a girl to school for $140 and a sewing machine for $170. Visit our website to view the range of gifts available.

More details of World Vision’s work and how to child sponsor can be found at worldvision.com.au or by calling 13 32 40.

Media contact: Stephanie Cully – 0418 911 654 / Stephanie.cully@worldvision.com.au/@stephcullywva
Note to Editors: World Vision Australia Gender Advisor, Michelle Lokot is available for interview

Media Releases, Poverty, Asia and the Pacific, Forced Marriage, Gender Equality, International Day of the Girl Child

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