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Today we celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child. Being a girl in some areas of the world mean, early marriage, having kids when you are still a child yourself and no education due to your gender. I cannot imagine what it would be like to have been married while I was still a child, to not have gone to school with my friends or to be able to follow my dreams like other children.
I am extremely lucky that I grew up in a country that values girls and women. Our society values education and there is law that prevents you being married as a child. You certainly cannot be married at seven years of age, which for some countries happens. How scary would it be for the little girl to find herself married to an older man, new life, early pregnancy and stuck in this situation with no way out.
As a mother to girls I find myself empowering them even at this young age. The twins early on saw roles that they thought only men could do and they said that is not for girls. Hubby and I were soon to nip this in the bud and told both kids that they can do anything they put their minds too. They are just as good as men or anyone for that matter. What ever their interest holds and they want to be good at they can do! Gender is irrelevant!
I make sure my girls have all sorts of experiences, toys and interactions that promote learning and development. I create craft, we build Lego, do puzzles, read books, explore nature, do science experiments, play games on the computer (educational ones), play doctors, the twins are very entrepreneurial and love to have a shop that sells very expensive items, and much more.
“Educated mothers are twice as likely to send their kids to school”
“A child born to a literate mother is 50% more likely to survive past age 5″
Below is part of the film of “Girl Rising – Ethiopia Chapter”. It is about a better life for women and saying no to child brides. The photography and story is very moving.
“Girls with 8 years of education are 4 times less likely to be married as children”
How Can You Help?
Why not sponsor a child, or give a gift of clean drinking water or bicycle for a girl. You can pick and make life better for a community and family in need.
What Do You Do To Empower Girls?
Do you have girls or know someone that does? What do you do to empower them to be what ever they wish to be? I make sure that I tell my girls they can do and be anything they wish. If they are interested in something I make sure to nurture this interest. I also make sure to give them well rounded experiences that are not gender specific, so this allows the girls to see that it does not matter if they are girls or boys in relation to activities, as long as they enjoy what they are doing that is the main thing in my book.
How are you celebrating the day of the girl child? Let us know.