International Day of the Girl Child

Today, 11th Oct is International Day of the Girl Child

I’ve been a supporter of Girls Education and Development in Asia for well over a decade.

These 7 quotes below explain why:

1. “Look….look Sital Uncle, I just read this whole book in a morning!”
– Summer 2010: This is Rhianna, my then 8-year-old niece. A book worm who inspired me to start a charity challenge to educate 10 girls for 10 years in India through Room to Read‘s Girl’s Education Program.

2. “One of the first things we do is teach girls public speaking & influencing skills to convince parents not to pull them out of school”
– March 8th, 2014: A teacher during visit to a rural Cambodian school on International Women’s Day (IWD); explaining why the 13-15-year-old girls were such amazing presenters (..they were seriously good!).

3. “We are educating the boys on gender equality and how they can support their sisters”
– March 8th, 2014, the same Cambodian school during a IWD learning session.

4. “I know what I’m good at, and I choose subjects I’m successful in (not the subjects my parents choose!). My mentor has really boosted my confidence.”
– March 8th, 2014, in Cambodia. A 14-year-old girl explaining the role of female adult mentors outside the school.

5. “We are teaching the girls the self-confidence to have a voice, speak up and influence. With a focus on collaborating rather than competing”
– 2016 International Woman’s Day visit to a rural Sri Lankan school where we sat in on a Leadership workshop for teenage girls. I was blown away with the professionalism of the session.

6. “They participate in debating competitions, learn to have their own opinions & challenge people on many different issues. I don’t understand myself, but I know this is their passport to a better life than I had.”
– 2016 IWD in Sri Lanka. The mother of two teenage girls we met during a home visit to a rural farming family with Room To Read Country Manager, Shevanthi Jayasuriya.

7. “Only boys were allowed to go to school in my time. Education would’ve changed my life.
– My 85-year-old mother who grew up in a rural Indian town.

DEIB in the Workplace

If we truly want to create a more diverse, equitable & inclusive workplace with a sense of belonging (DEIB), it needs to start much earlier.

By equipping girls with the right education, mentorship and leadership skills Along with instilling belief that they’ve an equal, yet unique, contribution to make. If we are to truly overcome bias, male allyship needs to start at school, not the workplace.