Greta Thurnberg speaking at Glastonbury in 2022 (Raph_PH)
Greta Thurnberg was only 15 years old when she first sat on the cobblestones outside the Swedish parliament building and held a large handwritten sign that said ‘School Strike for Climate.’ Since that day, her words have captured the world’s attention.
“Many people say that Sweden is just a small country, and it doesn’t matter what we do,” said Greta in her infamous December 2018 speech at the UN COP24 Climate Summit. “But I have learned you are never too small to make a difference.”
“If a few children can get headlines all over the world just by not going to school," she said, "then imagine what we could all do together if we really wanted to.”
It’s not just Greta. Remarkable young women, like Vanessa Nakate and Malala Yousafzai, are changing the world. All three spoke at panel discussions at the New York Times Climate Hub last year about the role that young women play in vocal activism. The message evoked? You can never be “too young” to shape the future or improve the lives of others.
"I have learned you are never too small to make a difference." Greta Thunberg pic.twitter.com/OIiZ3lVnYl
— The Female Lead (@the_female_lead) April 27, 2021
“Our time is now—our rights, our future”
These words are the slogan that marks today: the 10th anniversary of the International Day of the Girl (IDG). IDG is a day dedicated to celebrating the voices of young women and girls and championing their rights. It’s a day to listen and learn, but also to support the efforts being done to address the challenges women and girls continue to face - worldwide - due to their gender.
The leaders of our future are our children, students, entrepreneurs, volunteers and activists - and they can be found all across Canada.
At Covergalls, we are passionate about supporting and advocating for women and girls. As advocates for gender equity, we aim to help to empower women and girls and raise our voices in support of those who cannot. By working together, and creating a system of support and accountability, we can ensure the rights of girls across the globe are protected!
Sudbury takes part in International Day of the Girl
Today Skills Ontario is holding its first in-person International Day of the Girl at Science North since the start of the pandemic. The “International Day of the Girl” Celebration Event will take place from 9:30am to 2:00pm and future incredible young working tradeswomen, Kendra Liinamaa and Danielle Robb. The event celebrates young girls and attendees will hear young girls share their perspectives on skilled trades and technologies, what they want to be when they grow up and why, their favourite tool, and what interests them. While registration is closed for the event, make sure to follow along with the event by following @SkillsOntario and @SkillsYWI and the hashtag #SkillsIDG2022!
Skills Canada is also hosting a virtual event, “Sit Down” with Plumber Paige, that will premiere on Skills Ontario's YouTube channel at 10:00 am. This event is ideal for students in grades 5-8 to attend. To learn more about their events click here.
Covergalls will also be posting throughout the day today, so keep an eye on our channels! Check out below a list of other ways to get involved, or engage, with International Day of the Girl.
Ways to get involved in #IDG2022 #DayoftheGirl
Join the IDG 24-hour Virtual Forum, convened by Plan International. There will be various events and different times - around the world! - so have a look at what you might be able to attend.
Check out the “International Day of the Girl: Celebrating Girls Around the World” by Jessica Dee Humphreys and Rona Ambrose, and illustrated by Simone Shin. The book offers an introduction to the International Day of the Girl and its worldwide significance and is a finalist for the 2022 Yellow Cedar Award, which celebrates nonfiction books for readers in Grades 4-8.
Listen to “Alright, Now What?” a podcast run by the Canadian Women's Foundation. Every other Wednesday, experts and partners come together and put an intersectional feminist lens on one hot topic or story. Episode 35 (on September 21) covered the climate crisis and interviewed Sydney Piggot, who has worked with several youth initiatives focused on gender and climate justice.
Learn about the latest research on girls’ rights by reading “State of the World’s Girls Report: Equal Power Now,” Plan International’s 2022 global survey of 29,000 girls from 29 countries, including Canada.
Read UNICEF’s article on the 6 ways the lives of girls are different today than they were a decade ago
Watch this interview with Kendra Liinamaa, who is the Keynote speaker at Skill Canada’s event today.
Join the digital campaign! To encourage and inspire girls to see themselves as leaders and to claim #EqualPowerNow, Plan International is asking to share a message to your younger or older self called “A Message to My Younger / Older Self.” What is your message?