On October 11, the United Nations will hold its second annual International Day of the Girl Child (IDG). This will bring world attention to the many obstacles that girls must overcome to claim their fundamental human rights. More important, through the IDG Summit, girls across the globe will be engaged in discussions and activities affecting their lives. Currently, there are 77.6 million girls worldwide who are not enrolled in school so the theme of this year’s IDG, Innovating for Girls Education, is well chosen.
 
A UNICEF report states that girls’ education “is the one consistent positive determinant of practically every desired development outcome, from reductions in mortality and fertility, to poverty reduction and equitable growth, to social norm change and democratization.” 

Our partners have taught us that social rather than academic issues hinder girls’ educational progress. Through contributions by people like you, VGIF works with grassroots partners to develop innovative approaches to keeping girls in school. In nomadic cultures girls' attendance in school is sporadic at best. But in Niger, an innovative program sponsored by VGIF and RAIN for the Sahel and Sahara matches girls with women mentors who help the girls stay in school. The mentor and mentee meet once a week to discuss important topics like hygiene, nutrition and the importance of education. They also work to involve the community in the common goal of girls’ education. One mentor said, “Working from within the village will help the school to grow as more and more families understand the importance of school. If there is a student that is not in school, we make a home visit to talk with the student and their parents.” 

 

Today’s girl is tomorrow’s leader. So, in celebration of girls everywhere, VGIF will actively participate in the IDG. Our new Program and Office Assistant, Aimee Constantineau, will attend several IDG events and will keep our members informed on the proceedings. Keep your eye on our Facebook page and twitter account to hear Aimee’s insights throughout the day. 

 
The IDG program will also be webcast (http://dayofthegirlsummit.org/day-of-the-girl-webcast/).
 
And, you can make a difference in girls’ lives by making a donation to VGIF. JustGive.

 

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Call for VGIF CSW Delegates
VGIF will be an active participant at next year’s meeting of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). The 58th Session will meet in New York March 10 – 21, 2014.  The priority theme will be “Challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for women and girls.” The Review theme will be: “Access and participation of women and girls to education, training, science and technology, including for the promotion of women’s equal access to full employment and decent work.”

If you are interested in attending CSW as a VGIF delegate, please email Staci Alziebler-Perkins, VGIF Program Director, at salziebler@vgif.org indicating the dates you would be in NY and available to attend meetings, and if you have attended in the past as a representative for VGIF or other NGO. VGIF is entitled to 20 delegates who will be selected based on interest in the above UN issues, and the numbers of days you can attend.  Please respond by November 15, 2013.