Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories

International Day of the Girl: 'My Voice, Our Equal Future'

Submitted

Fri, Oct 9th 2020 01:30 pm

Girl Scouts – the region’s leading voice on girl leadership is proud to celebrate with more than 1 billion girls around the world

From Girl Scouts of Western New York:

In celebration of International Day of the Girl on Sunday, Oct. 11, Girl Scouts of Western New York is proud to stand with the 1 billion-plus girls around the world who are fighting for their voice and an equal future. In these uncertain times, Girl Scouts is here to provide consistency and stability for girls. Girl Scouts isn’t cancelled and continues to adapt to meet the needs of girls today.

In celebration of International Day of the Girl, local Girl Scout, Arianna McKnight of Western New York – a GSWNY girl advisory board member – was selected to have her video featured in the national Girl Scouts of the United States of America – “Girls Speak Out” event on Oct. 11, during a weekend of 2020 International Day of the Girl events that are virtual and open to the public.

Arianna is 16 years old and, in her video, she answered a series of questions around girls and equity. She said, “In order to build equity in their lives, education, communities and families, girls need to remember that they are strong and have the ability to persevere through challenging times. Girls need to advocate for themselves and kindle their inner strength. It is important to have a strong support system and surround themselves with people that will empower them to make a change in their community. Girls need to find out what they are truly passionate about and work hard to make their dream a reality. They need to seek out girl-led organizations and build relationships that will empower girls to be their best selves.”

This year’s “Day of the Girl” theme, “My Voice, Our Equal Future,” elevates the voices of girls from across the world around the solutions that girls would like to enact to achieve an equitable world, both now and in the future. This worldwide celebration of girls led by the United Nations also shines a bright spotlight on the inequities that girls face. Right now, girls are facing unprecedented challenges. With school delays, closures and the threat of learning loss – falling behind in reading and math as schools close and pivot to online education in the wake of COVID-19; and girls are grappling with the unconscionable, far-reaching threats and impacts of racial and income inequities that present barriers to their advancement and so much more.

Girl Scouts’ mission is to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. For many girls, Girl Scouts levels the playing field and provides girls with opportunities – access to connections and resources to help them realize their dreams and make them a reality. Girl Scouts is a place where girls can relax, knowing they’re accepted for exactly who they are today and all they can be tomorrow.

Girl Scouts is the preeminent leadership organization for girls and young women. The proof is in the results including: 69% of today’s women senators, 100% of women secretaries of states, 80% of female tech leaders, and 90% of female astronauts who have flown in space in the U.S. were all Girl Scouts.

The Girl Scout experience is enriching and unique; it grows alongside girls and offers them year-round engagement in exciting programs with hands-on activities that interest girls most in important skill areas such as science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), outdoors, life skills, and entrepreneurship all for a year-long membership fee of $25 (financial aid is available as no girl is turned away based on an inability to pay).

Also, a special benefit exclusive to Girl Scouts that’s not well known, is the SAGE tuition rewards program. This program allows girls and adult volunteers who renew their membership during GSWNY’s renewal campaign to start earning money toward college that can be used at 400 participating colleges and universities.

Girls love Girl Scouts because it’s where girls call the shots. Girl Scouts are learning about robots, hiking, painting murals, feeding the hungry, and even impacting policies to change the world. Plus, 89% of parents say their daughters are happier because of Girl Scouts.

Girl Scouts is the place where girls can have a voice and the support to fight for an equal future. Attend a free upcoming event (virtual or in-person) to learn more about Girl Scouts. Girls ages 5-17 can join Girl Scouts and adults age 18 and older can volunteer anytime and for more information, call 1-888-837-6410 or visit www.gswny.org.

Girl Scouts of Western New York serves nearly 15,000 girls and 7,000 adult volunteers across the GSWNY jurisdiction, including Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming counties. The council’s administrative service centers are located in Batavia, Buffalo, Jamestown, Lockport, Niagara Falls and Rochester.

Hometown News

View All News