Comments on: Day of the Girl (and a small revolution in the birthplace of humanity)

By: Louise Wetheridge

Louise Wetheridge — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 16:05:16 +0000

I agree wholeheartedly, Carron, that we should be thinking about gender inequality and girls every day of the year. Your experiences of the fight for girls’ right to education in Tanzania resounds with my own experiences from ActionAid’s Transforming Education for Girls in Tanzania and Nigeria (TEGINT) project, funded by Comic Relief.

Poor rural girls supported by empowerment initiatives (girls’ clubs, school parliaments, exchange visits…) tell us about their high aspirations for education (over 87% want to go to university) but how these aspirations are hampered by three major obstacles: poverty, pregnancy and early marriage.

I believe that by explicitly addressing gender discrimination, in schools, in communities, in education systems, and in our own attitudes and behaviours, we can truly transform girls’ education and generate a socially just society.

ActionAid’s 2012 video showing a few girls’ experiences of education and life can be viewed at http://www.sendmyfriend.org/teach/films/tanzania2012.

By: Elly

Elly — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 09:53:32 +0000

An inspiring, beautifully written post Carron. These personal stories are essential to informing effective strategies for change, but are often are missed in policy and academics, so thank you for sharing them with us.

Its a shame that young women, such as Rose are not running the UN, rather than a mere days reflection… but maybe at the end of the MRMV campaign they will be!

Best of luck, I am extremely proud to be involved and you have my full support.

By: Elly

Elly — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 09:50:40 +0000

An inspiring, beautifully written post Carron. These personal stories are so essential to informing effective strategies for change, but are so often are missed in policy and academics, so thank you for sharing them with us.

Its a shame that young women, such as Rose are not running the UN, rather than a mere days reflection…. but maybe at the end of the MRMV campaign they will be!

Best of luck, I am extremely proud to be involved and you have my full support.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 12:54:42 +0000

Very powerful. Thank you!

By: Sara

Sara — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 18:35:33 +0000

“Inspirational. Smart. Compassionate.” Might be apt words for this blogger as well. Thanks for a beautifully written post. Made me think about all the girls facing enormous challenges on this planet – unimaginable for us in the Western world. I’m an academic and in my bid to be enlightened and ‘enlighten others’ I often forget to focus on the gender dimension to my research. Will reread this post whenever I forget to analyse the position of a girl in the theoretical discourse I initiate and engage in with my students and in my writings. Thanks for the provocation, reminder and inspiration.

By: James Stevenson

James Stevenson — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 13:50:45 +0000

Lovely piece Carron – you could be a journalist…

“The BIAAG campaign will… address the barriers that prevent girls from completing their education”. Sounds like a very smart way of focusing a campaign to me.

By: Wouter

Wouter — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 09:58:57 +0000

Carron, thanks for sharing this wonderful story of Rose and reminding us that its world’s first girls day today. I think it is a great initiative of the UN to shed a light on the many problems girls face when coming of age, but as you rightly point out, one day is not enough. Very glad you also mentioned Malala Yousafzai, an enormous inspiration to us all. My thoughts are with her and all the other girls today that stand up against injustice and for their rights.

By: Claire Folkes

Claire Folkes — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 09:43:34 +0000

Having read Carron’s blog it made me realise how fortunate my daughter is. She doesn’t have to undergo forced marriage at 13 (her current age), and is enjoying secondary education. Carron’s words are incredibly powerful, and made me immensely proud to be part of the My Rights My Voice programme