International Day of The Girl Child 2024
Every year on October 11, the world comes together to celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child—a day dedicated to recognizing the rights of girls and the unique challenges they face globally. This year’s theme, “Girls’ Vision for the Future,” inspires us to look beyond today’s barriers and imagine a future where every girl is empowered to pursue her dreams, live free from discrimination, and become a leader in her own right.
Why Celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child?
Girls represent some of the most vulnerable members of society, facing multiple challenges that often hold them back from achieving their full potential. From limited access to education and healthcare to issues such as child marriage, gender-based violence, and social stigmatization, girls face numerous barriers that boys may not encounter.
The International Day of the Girl Child serves as a powerful reminder that the world cannot afford to ignore the needs and rights of girls. It’s a call to action for communities, governments, and organizations to invest in girls’ futures, ensuring that they grow up with the same opportunities as boys to learn, lead, thrive, and contribute to their societies.
This day also provides an opportunity for girls themselves to raise their voices, share their visions for the future, and advocate for their rights. It’s a day to listen to the concerns, ideas, and aspirations of girls.
How We Celebrated The Day At HAFAI
In line with this year’s theme, “Girls’ Vision for the Future,” HAFAI celebrated the day by bringing together over 100 girls from different Internally Displaced Camps (IDPs) in Abuja – Durumi, Kuchingoro and Karonmajiji, as well as some communities, ensuring that they had a platform to share their aspirations and dreams, while also celebrating their importance and achievements.
At the heart of our celebration were the insightful conversation circles, where the girls gathered to share their thoughts and dreams for the future. They also shared stories of personal goals and aspirations, and visions of a world where girls are given the same opportunities to succeed as boys. The girls spoke passionately about their desire for equal access to education, the need for their voices to be heard, and their dreams of becoming doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs, and even community leaders.
Each girl was given the opportunity to speak freely, with their peers listening intently, offering support and encouragement. For many of these girls, this was a rare chance to be heard, to express themselves openly, and to receive the acknowledgment they deserve. It was clear from their contributions that they are powerful change agents, full of ideas and aspirations that can shape the future.
The day was not only about discussing the future of girls; it was also filled with engaging activities that allowed the girls to have fun, showcase their talents, and build connections with one another. Some of the highlights included:
Girl-Talk Discussions: These informal sessions were designed to give the girls a space to talk about issues that matter to them—from self-esteem and self-confidence to navigating peer pressure and maintaining positive body image.
Drama: Through drama performances, the girls expressed themselves creatively while discussing critical topics such as girls’ education and gender equality.
Games and Spelling Bee: A day of celebration wouldn’t be complete without fun! The girls participated in games and a spelling bee competition, which helped boost their confidence, teamwork, and intellectual skills, while also allowing them to relax and enjoy themselves.
