The document discusses the plight and power of girls around the world. It notes that millions of girls face barriers to survival and development simply because they are girls. The document outlines some of the challenges girls face, such as lack of access to education, health care, and discrimination. However, it also discusses the power girls have to uplift themselves and their communities when they reach their full potential. The document proposes plans to help empower girls through initiatives focused on nutrition, water, health, education, microfinance, and maternal/child health. It promotes the International Day of the Girl as an opportunity to advocate for girls' rights globally.

1. In support of
Because I am a Girl
Presentation: The GIRL ISSUE

2. The GIRL ISSUE is real, and it’s affecting girls and
women around the world – but what is it?
The
The Girl Effect, courtesy of The Nike Foundation

3. The POWER and PLIGHT of GIRLS
There’s an urgent need to stand up for the rights of millions of girls around the world who
face barriers to survival and development, simply because they’re girls.

4. “I never understand why boys and girls are not equal to each other. In rural areas elders
think
that girls are born to give birth and to marry and for cleaning the house. Girls who live in
rural areas…are not sent to school. Their parents are not aware of the changing world
yet.”
- Girl, 15, Turkey Because I am a Girl: State of the World’s Girls Report (2007)

5. Plan’s Because I am a Girl Reports
The State of the World‟s Girls is a nine part series examining the development of girls
around
the world. Over time, these reports will build a picture of how gender affects the lives of
girls around the world.

6. The PLIGHT of GIRLS
Discrimination against young girls and women remains deeply entrenched and widely
tolerated around the world.
Seventy percent of the 1.5 billion people living on $1.25 a day or less are female.

7. Time Girl NOT in School Girl in School Boy in School
6 AM Rises, bathes, prays
Sweeps compound, fetches water, washes dishes
7 AM Rises, bathes, prays, revises
lessons
9 AM Cooks lunch Goes to School
9:30 AM Takes lunch to mother on the In school
farm, works on farm
2 PM Working on farm School day ends, lunch in School day ends, lunch in school,
school, extra studies plays football
6 PM Working on farm Takes food to mother on Fetches water, bathes
farm, helps her
7 PM Returns home, cooks dinner Cooks dinner, bathes study/ play
8 PM Dinner, washes dishes Dinner, washes dishes
8- 11 PM Various (rests, plays, talks to Goes to teacher for extra studies
friends, more housework)
12 AM Goes to sleep
Daily timetable from Gambia, Because I am a Girl :The State of the World‟s Girls
Report (2007)

8. The POWER of GIRLS
Despite the obstacles girls face, they have a unique power to uplift not only themselves,
but everyone around them.

9. “When girls reach their full potential, through improved status, better health care,
and education, it is the most effective development tool for society as a whole. As a
country‟s primary enrolment rate for girls increases, so too does its
gross domestic product per capita.”
- Kofi Annan, former United Nations Secretary General

11. The PLAN for GIRLS
• Nutrition
• Clean water
• Heath centres
• Food security
• Girl scholarships
• School construction
• Training opportunities
• Business skills education
• Entrepreneurial initiatives
• Birth certificate registration

12. The PLAN for GIRLS: Water & Sanitation
A clean supply of water ensures health and hygiene.
A source of safe water close to home means girls can go to
school instead of spending their time travelling to collect
clean water.

13. “Progress in child health is unlikely to be sustained if one third of the developing world‟s
children remain without access to clean drinking water and half of them are without
adequate sanitary facilities.”
UN Plan of Action from the World Declaration on Children

14. The PLAN for GIRLS: Maternal & Child Health
Provides nourishment and care for expectant mothers, and children with limited access to
food and health care.

15. The PLAN for GIRLS: Education
Many girls stay home while their brothers go to school.
Send girls to school and see their futures improve as they learn valuable skills, delay
marriage and pregnancy.

16. “There is no tool for development more effective than the education of girls. If we are to
succeed in our efforts to build a more healthy, peaceful and equitable world, the
classrooms of the world have to be full of girls as well as boys.”
Kofi Annan, former United Nations Secretary General

17. The PLAN for GIRLS: Microfinance
Young women will use these skills to earn
higher wages to help their families and improve
their communities in order to lift themselves out
of poverty.

18. International Day of the Girl
How can a single „Day‟ change all of this?
The United Nations has declared October 11th
the International Day of the Girl Child.
This day will create an opportunity to advocate
and recognize girls’ rights globally.

19. YOU can Help! Join the movement
Visit our website to learn all the fun and exciting ways YOU can get involved in
spreading the word and standing up for girls’ rights!
www.becauseiamagirl.ca
Join the conversation on social media and share your thoughts!
Facebook: Because I am a Girl Canada
Twitter: @biaagcanada
YouTube: BecauseIamaGirlCAN
Blog: blog.becauseiamagirl.ca

20. “All women were
once girls, but not
all girls will live to
become women.”
Powerful words from Saba, a member of the
Because I am a Girl Speaker’s Bureau, who
shared this thought with a room of
diplomats at the United Nations, shortly
before October 11th was declared
International Day of the Girl