Activities Galore on International Day of the Girl 2021

With enthusiasm, creativity, curiosity and commitment, GSGC-sponsored clubs celebrated the world’s ninth annual International Day of the Girl. This year’s IDOG theme was “Digital Generation. Our Generation.” Building up to the day, many GSGC clubs prepared by capturing girls’ speaking about issues important to them. Several clubs participated in She’s The First’s #GirlsGetLoud social media challenge. How inspiring to see such engaging videos and photos from such articulate girls in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Madagascar. Other activities ranged from conversations about girls’ rights to tree planting, screenings of mind-expanding films, guest speakers, theater performances and poems. Read about some of what went on below. Clubs are listed in alphabetical order.

Believe Girls Clubs’ (Zambia) IDOG celebrations included initiatives such as a workshop on leadership, helping prepare for final exams in November, helping alumnae apply to university and college, and discussing team-building and communication. Club member Charity had the honor of being selected for the international #GirlsGetLoud panel, “A Girl-Led Rights Conversation,” organized by She’s the First, a girl-centered non-profit that partners with numerous organizations in Africa.

Girls Time Club (Zimbabwe) celebrated IDOG at a special GSGC-sponsored event at Lulu Educational Academy, a secondary school in Victoria Falls. Some 50 young people, including academy boys and girls, learned from two guests whose jobs involve technology. In keeping with IDOG 2021’s theme, “Digital Generation. Our Generation,” the speakers introduced new terminology such as 4IR (4th Industrial Revolution) and talked about the advantages of technology — easy access to information about career options, for example — and technology’s role in economic growth. They emphasized the importance of problem solving, critical thinking and creativity to achieve success in today’s world. Discussions focused on problems in Africa concerning accessing digital tools and the Internet, such as the cost of high-priced data bundles and smart phones and gender roles that often prevent women from accessing technology.

ISEPE Girls Club (Zambia) celebrated the Day of the Girl with poems, drama, dances and speeches by the girls. Members received new T-shirts for the occasion and wore them on a march to end the celebrations.

Matula & Yosefe Girls Clubs (Zambia) honored IDOG with a visit to a boarding school for high achieving girls. Club members also made presentations about the celebration during a live radio broadcast.

Mugurameno Girls Club (Zambia) performed a special dance to celebrate IDOG. And GSGC-sponsored primary school girls performed poems, songs and dances.

Nosy Ankao Girls Club (Madagascar) enjoyed preparations for IDOG and GSGC’s participation in the #GirlsGetLoud social media challenge. Club member Severa captured her thoughts on equality in a photograph. Because of a lack of infrastructure, she and others were not able to videotape a message. Leading up to IDOG, the club invited parents to watch the girls’ theater performance which featured their views on girls’ rights and the negative consequences of early marriages.

Rise N Shine Clubs (Zimbabwe) screened the film “Her-A Disintegrated Notion” for a local school audience and again for their own boys and girls. Club discussions about the film touched on what it means to be young women and young men’s role in reducing gender-based violence in the community.

Tikobane Boys Club (Zimbabwe) devoted the month to recognizing and appreciating GSGC-sponsored girls. Their activities included creative ideas through poetry, drama and singing, as well as using art to send social media messages of hope for girls. The club invited women from the community to speak about removing cultural barriers that prevent girls from succeeding. And finally, boys got together with girls to learn through shared games that boys and girls can work together for the good of all. One Tikobane Boys Club member recorded a powerful video message that touched on the plight of girls through history. He pledged his support for the empowerment of girls and women and championed the important role all boys must play in protecting and promoting the rights girls.

Wayi Way Creatives Village Girls and Boys Clubs (Zambia) began their IDOG celebration learning traditional pottery making from women in the village of Mukuni. The afternoon was filled with fun and excitement as the girls and boys together presented poems, songs and dances around the “Digital Generation. Our Generation” theme. They played games that encouraged team work and critical thinking. Finally, two facilitators, a girl and a boy together planted four avocado trees to mark the day.