Our Little Roses Celebrates International Day of The Girl Child
This year marks the 10th anniversary of International Day of The Girl Child. This day of observation supports more opportunities for girls and increases awareness of gender inequality faced by girls worldwide. This inequality includes areas such as access to education, nutrition, legal rights, medical care, and protection from discrimination, sexual violence against women and forced child marriage. The lives of girls are celebrated as the rights of women are put front and center as the holiday leads into its 10th year following its codification in 2012 by the United Nations.
History
The International Day of the Girl Child was designated on October 11, 2011, by the United Nations General Assembly in Resolution 66/1701 so that starting in 2012, October 11 will be commemorated to promote the recognition of the rights of girls and to raise awareness of the problems they face around the world, mainly in undeveloped countries.
The creation of a day for girls in the universal calendar was promoted in 2009 by the NGO Plan International, an organization that operates in several countries around the world. It did so through its international campaign “Because I am a girl”, which focused on ending the double discrimination suffered by millions of girls around the world due to their gender and age.
The day was proposed as a resolution by Canada at the United Nations General Assembly. Rona Ambrose, Canada’s Minister for the Status of Women, championed the resolution. A delegation of women and girls made presentations in support of the initiative at the 55th Commission on the Status of Women.
Source: United States Mission Geneva
Challenges Girls Face
“Girls around the world continue to face unprecedented challenges to their education, their physical and mental wellness, and the protections needed for a life without violence. The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened existing burdens on girls around the world and wore away important gains made over the last decade,” according to Wendy L. Bourgault, Executive Director at Our Little Roses. Now more than ever, it’s important to help contribute to the betterment of the lives of girls all over the world.
A major challenge around the globe is education for girls. Nearly 1 in 4 girls aged 15–19 globally are not in education, employment or training, compared to 1 in 10 boys. The analysis presented in this report by Unicef lays out six core investment themes and examples of investable opportunities for girls and calls on commercial organizations and investors, with an eye on social and economic impact, to adopt bold investment approaches across these themes.”
Six Pathways to Employment for Adolescent Girls and Young Women
- Jobs
- Education For Girls
- Skills
- Sexual & Reproductive Health
- Safety
- Inclusion
International Day of The Girl Child at Our Little Roses
This day is truly aligned with our mission of transforming and empowering girls in Honduras through education and love. Those in our care are given access to education for girls from daycare to college. On top of basic education, we provide a holistic approach that includes woodworking, dance, arts and crafts, poetry, and so much more. We provide opportunities to learn about many different career paths, not only those typically available to women in Honduras.
Our Little Roses has built a safe community where girls in our care are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. We provide access to healthcare – including mental, medical, dental, and vision to ensure the health of girls in our care.
The inclusion and participation of girls in the Honduran economy is very important, and especially at Our Little Roses, as we look to improve the lives of girls who have faced gender disparity in education and the workforce for what seems like an eternity.
For more than 3 decades Our Little Roses has looked to combat issues girls face in Honduras on a daily basis by offering a better life and education to the girls in our care. Some of our alumni have gone on to live very successful lives. Like Dr. Jensy, who went on to become a cosmetic dentist; Heather Hertz, who is an engineering manager; and Katy Kawas, who works as the coordinator for Our Little Roses Ministries.
Dr. Jensy & Katy Kawas.
We are dedicated to building better lives for girls in Honduras: Our time is now — our rights, our future. We are proud of our mission to empower girls to grow into smart, educated and kind young women that will pave the way for a brighter future.
Are you interested in helping Our Little Roses make that future a possibility? Learn about our sponsorship opportunities today!