#international day of the girl
Photo by Yagazie Emezi
Published in the Guardian
2020
A child’s direct stare during the parade for International Day of the Girl Child in Monrovia, Liberia
‘Photography speaks multiple languages and can spur a range of emotions. Knowing that it is art, but can also be used as a weapon. It’s a dangerous and beautiful tool, depending on who is holding the camera.’
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Every girl deserves the freedom to shape her own future, to be healthy, happy, and confident. Happy International Day of the Girl!
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…communicate with others in Kiswahili and English.
Qabale Dida, School committee member, Sololo, Kenya
…get relevant skills for community transformation.
Adbuba Dima, Village Elder, Kenya
…get connected with the world.
Tana Wako, school parent
Dadach Ellele Primary School
Dadach Ellele Primary School, Kenya, grade 5
Dadach Ellele Primary School, Kenya, grade 4
Dadach Ellele Primary School, Kenya, grade 5
…education my children without depending on fundraising from well-wishers.
Qabale Dima, School Cook
Dadach Ellele Primary School
..I can be self-reliant and also help empower others in my community.
Ramole Primary School, Kenya, grade 5
Ramole Primary School, Kenya, grade 5
Dadach Ellele Primary School, Kenya, grade 4
Ramole Primary School, Kenya, grade 5
Dadacha Ellele Primary School, Kenya, grade 4
Elllele Primary School, Kenya, Grade 4
…buy my own car and drive it myself!
Ramole Primary School, Kenya, grade 5
19 year old Thereza is a student in the Nwoya District of Northern Uganda and she’s the oldest in a family of 5 children. Because her village didn’t have a school, her father took her on the back of his bicycle to the primary school where he worked.
When she entered high school, there were 160 students in her grade, more than 90 of them girls. But soon, early marriage, lack of funds, or the need to stay home and care for the family, began causing the other girls to drop out. By the time Thereza sat for her Junior Year exams, she was the only girl left.
Thereza found it uncomfortable being the only girl in school. “It was tough at first, and I thought of leaving school like my friends.” she said. The boys would insult or threaten her, so she decided to talk to a teacher. They met together with the boys and asked them to treat her like a sister and support her like they would their own siblings.
Thereza still sometimes finds it tough to be the only girl in school, but she wants to be a teacher, so she knows that she needs to keep studying to achieve her goals. She has some advice for girls who may be questioning their place in school. “Set a goal in life and follow it, you will always achieve it. It is important to have confidence in yourself, to know that you can succeed and not allow yourself to be intimidated.”
Learn more about how we support girls here.
In 2012, The United Nations marked October 11th as International Day of the Girl Child to highlight the unique challenges that girls face around the world. Last year, we displayed of girls and boys around the world with signs proclaiming why they believe in girls’ education. This year, we’re telling the stories of some of the girls that participate in our education projects from around the world.
Hezbalem is from rural Ethiopia, and she grew up not knowing her parents. When she was 10, she moved to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s Capital, to work as a baby sitter. She still managed to remain in school and supplement her income by selling lottery tickets. As she got older, her sight started to wane, and she eventually was rendered blind. She was forced to quit school so she could learn braille.
But, not all hope was lost. Thanks to a scholarship fund, she was able to continue her education and successfully passed her elementary school exams. She continued to sell lottery tickets until she reached 10th grade when she became a recipient of a scholarship from IIRR’s Economic and Social Empowerment of Youth program. She receives a stipend every month to cover school-related costs. She’s been excelling in school and receiving high marks, and has just started school as an 11th grader.
Hezbalem believes it’s extremely important to educate girls. “The road to learning is challenging,” she says “so girls should get the support they need to overcome those obstacles.”
Girls’ education is one of IIRR’s core tenets. This year, 2,500 at-risk youth were provided business training and supported in starting micro-enterprises as an incentive for returning to and remaining in school. 108 girls were also given scholarships to attend school.
You can learn more or support our work by visiting www.iirr.org
Dadach Ellele Primary School, Kenya
Age 13, Grade 4
Marquette University School of Education
