Because I am a Girl Blog

Changing the world for girls isn’t only about giving, donating, fundraising and raising awareness. It’s also about how we live our lives as Canadians

Did you know that the choices we make here can impact a girl in the developing world? Nowhere is this more true than what we choose to put in our lunch boxes and on our dinner plates, so today I’m writing about how to eat to save the world!

Eat fair

Food often travels a long way before ending up on our plates, making it hard for us to know about the lives of the people who grew or produced it. Unfortunately, the relationship between food producers and sellers is often unfair, with producers not receiving a fair price for their products. Child labour and human slavery are the harshest examples of this kind of unfair relationship.

The chocolate example: It’s hard to imagine that eating a delicious chocolate bar could at the same time be  supporting slavery, but it could mean just that. More than a quarter of a million children work in the industry in West Africa, though it’s unclear how many are girls. These child workers face exploitation, health hazards and are kept out of school.

If you want to dig deeper into the issue, check out these two resources: The BBC covered the story of child trafficking in West Africa’s chocolate plantations in the documentary Chocolate: The Bitter Truth. Canadian journalist Carol Off wrote about chocolate’s sinister history in her book Bitter Chocolate: Investigating the Dark Side of the World’s Most Seductive Sweet.

Think twice before you bite that chocolate bar – pick one that has been fairly traded! For more tips and tricks check out: How to Be A Socially Conscious Consumer.

Green eating

What you eat can have a global environmental impact as well, and changing climate has a big impact on girls (stay tuned to posts next month on how climate change and girls rights are connected!).

Certain foods – like meats and processed foods – take more energy to produce, so they have a bigger carbon footprint than other edibles. Organic foods avoid using energy-intense pesticides and fertilizers that can have a dangerous impact on soil and water quality as well. The distance your food travelled to get to your plate also makes a difference!

(Photo credit: John Loo)

Inspired by The Huffington Post’s article on the 50 Best Moments for Women in 2011, we decided to do our own version here on the blog. Check out our roundup of big stories in 2011 that have a pro-girl twist!

A day for girls: Many of you were part of this history! As the year 2011 drew to a close, Plan’s campaign was successful, and the UN declared October 11 the annual International Day of the Girl Child. Stay tuned for the first official Day of the Girl coming up in October 2012!

Princess power: For centuries, the British throne went to the first born son of the king or queen. In 2011, they changed the rules: now the first born child – son or daughter – will be first in line for the crown!

It’s a girl!: The world expected that the 7 billionth baby would be a girl born in India, where a baby is born every second. Instead, Danica May Camacho, a little girl, was born to her parents in the Philippines.

Peaceful ladies: In 2011, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to three women – Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee, and Tawakkol Karman – “for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work.”

Rise up: The Arab Spring, with revolutions occurring all over the Middle East and North Africa, had women activists standing alongside men. It makes sense, because democracy isn’t democracy with only one half of the population involved. The Occupy Movement is another place where women raised their voices alongside male protesters.

Did we catch them all? What do you think was the best moment for girls last year?

(Photo credit: NS Newsflash)

Landmines are bombs buried or hidden on the ground. They are intended to be a tool of war, but they can’t tell the difference between the foot of a soldier, the tire of a tank, and the foot of a child. When pressure triggers them to explode, they can cause serious injuries and even death.

Peace after a conflict doesn’t eliminate the danger of landmines; many are left over, hidden or buried in farmers’ fields, roads and even areas that children play. There are currently millions of landmines left unexploded in 72 countries around the world.

Girls and mines

Ironically, keeping girls at home to help with household chores helps protect them from landmines. 75% of child casualties happen to boys because they are more involved with outdoor activities like herding. But, the Landmine Monitor worries that girls casualties are under-reported, especially if girls with disabilities are being hidden and not receiving care. Girls do face a risk when they go out to collect water and firewood, herd animals, or do farm work.

Meet Song Kosal from Cambodia: When she was six, Song stepped on a landline while working with her mother in a rice paddy. Her leg was severely injured and had to be amputated. Song’s disability has inspired her to become an activist against landmines, working as an ambassador for the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. She also competed in Miss Landmine Cambodia, a beauty pageant that challenges conventional ideas of beauty.

An end to landmines

In 1997, 157 countries got together to sign the Mine Ban Treaty. Each group that signed promised to stop using landmines in conflict and destroy their stockpiles of mines. But the ban isn’t total: the latest news from the Landmine Monitor shows that mines are still being laid in Afghanistan, Colombia, Israel, Libya, Myanmar, and Pakistan.

It’s not just about who’s using landmines, though. It’s also about who produces and sells them. There are 12 countries that are busy producing landmines, including the United States!

Do you think landmines should be banned? 

Today we have the inside scoop on how to start a Because I am a Girl Club from Miranda,  a grade 11 student in Ontario. When Miranda joined the Because I am a Girl Speaker’s Bureau, she got a crash course in THE GIRL ISSUE. She decided she needed to bring the cause to her school.. By starting a Girl Club, that’s exactly what she did!

KJ: What made you want to start a girl’s club?

After my first few Girls’ Speakers Bureau meetings, I was very inspired and motivated to bring Because I am a Girl to my school. Social justice isn’t emphasized at my arts-based school, so I felt that having a Girls’ Club would be a great way for girls to express themselves and advocate for other girls in developing countries.

KJ: Can you tell me about your members and when you meet?

Last year, my club consisted of eight Grade 10 girls. We’d usually meet once a week. This year, I’ve partnered up with Student Council, made up of boys and girls from Grades 10 to 12, and we are hoping to do bigger school-wide events. I strongly believe that the key to eliminating gender inequality is to educate boys and get them involved, which is why I expanded my initiative to include girls and boys.

KJ: What kind of activities do you do together?

A typical meeting usually consists of an ice breaker, brainstorming new fundraising ideas, and discussing our goals for the school year and how we can achieve them. Other times, we create posters and announcements, have a meeting with our club advisor, or learn a new topic through the modules found on planyouth.ca. In the past, we raised money through candy and bake sales, and raffles. A highlight from last year was when my club partnered with Boston Pizza to have a Because I am a Girl night. We helped serve and Boston Pizza donated a portion of the sales to us. It was very fun and allowed us to talk about Because I am a Girl a lot.

KJ: What were the first steps to getting the club started?

Before approaching one of my teachers, I made sure I had some ideas written down. My main goal was to raise awareness and money for Because I am a Girl. I sat down with her and talked about the Because I am a Girl campaign and why the school needed a club. She was very thrilled and immediately supported my initiative. Within a few days, I got the principal’s approval and led my first club meeting.

KJ: Do you have any tips for other girls who want to start one in their schools?

It’s very important to find an open teacher who is willing to work with you and help you reach your goals. Although your club will be a student-led project, it is still great to have a club advisor to help you out. Any club or sport will agree that getting people to join is always the hardest part. I suggest that you make lots of posters and announcements ahead of time, use social media to spread the word, and ask your club advisor to bring it up at the next school staff meeting. Make sure your meetings are energetic and encourage everyone to contribute. If you need any ideas, materials, or resources, don’t hesitate to contact Plan staff for help. They are more than willing to help you!

Now it’s your turn to answer a question, lovely readers! Are you part of a Girl Club? What kind of activities does your club do?

Here at Because I am a Girl, we’re always on the look out for media that is girl-friendly. Wanna know some of our absolute favourite pro-girl sites? Well, you’re in luck ’cause today we feel like sharing!

Gender Across Borders: If you want real global girl news, look no further. This blog doesn’t shy away from the tough issues, like violence against women or racism.

Jezebel: When we want entertainment news, with a girl power twist, we head to Jezebel.com. Because while there is nothing wrong with wanting to talk about pop culture, it’s nice to have some news and gender analysis in there, too.

Young Feminist Wire: Sick of going hunting for news stories that talk about girls as world-changers? The Young Feminist Wire, brought to you by the Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID), helps us keep on top of news stories about girls and women taking action for our rights around the world!

Rookie: We can’t decide what we like best about Rookie. Is it that the monthly themes are so good? Or that the editor is a teen herself? Or that they stare issues like “girl hate” straight in the face? It’s all three, and much more. If you haven’t added Rookie to the lists of sites you read, you should!

Shameless: Gloria Steinem loves Shameless Magazine, and you will, too. This Canadian mag is “your regular dose of fresh feminism.” Check out their stories, from politics to playlists to crafting how-tos.

Hardly Magazine: Even though it’s got all the usual ladies mag topics like style and beauty, Hardly Magazine isn’t about creating cookie cutter teen girls – instead, they treat their readers like the thinking, creative individuals they are.

Still haven’t got your fill of fun girl-friendly media? Here are the runners up:

• Feministing
• The F Bomb
• The Ms. Magazine Blog
• Bust 

Where do you go for news and entertainment with a big dose of girl power?

(Photo Credit: smswigart – catching up)

Imagine opening your lunch box, and finding it empty. Afternoon classes are tough enough to get through, but especially on an empty stomach.

Meseret Yohannes, a pre-school teacher in Ethiopia, has seen hunger enter her classroom: “Once, when I was working with my children, a six-year-old girl fainted and fell on the wall. I immediately took her to the nearby clinic. The nurse told me that it was hunger, not sickness.”

Hunger is a reality for many children all over the world, but it shouldn’t be a barrier to education. Plan has found that adding lunch to its education programs helps make sure that no one misses out on their lessons.

Take a tour of a school lunch program in Rwanda with Plan Canada CEO Rosemary McCarney:

How do school lunches help children to stay in school?

• Children with full stomachs are better at concentrating on their studies.
• Parents don’t have to send their children out to work to cover the cost of food.
• Girls, who often are the last to eat, don’t have to fight for their fair share.
• Because Plan’s lunch programs often include starting a school garden, children learn how to grow and harvest their own food.

Check out how you can make a difference: give a Mango Tree!

What’s in your favourite packed lunch?

Do you ever wonder what it is like to make a real difference in the life of a girl living in poverty? Sylvie Begin, a real estate broker living in Ottawa, knows. In the time that she’s been a Plan sponsor, she’s supported 27 girls! Thanks to her support, many of these girls have reached 18 and graduated from the program.

Child sponsorship is a one-on-one way to make a difference in a girls life. Sponsors contribute $37 per month, which supports education, nutrition, water and sanitation, healthcare  in a girl’s community. In return, they receive regular updates, letters and photos.

Sylvie continues to support 10 girls. Last week I had the chance to chat with her and find out more about what child sponsorship is all about!

KJ: You support 10 girls through Plan’s sponsor a child program. Can you tell me a little bit about them?

I’ve supported 17 other girls in the past ten years – another one has just graduated. Now I support a girl in Mali, two in Togo and two in Pakistan, and five in Haiti. In the past I’ve sponsored girls in Vietnam and Afghanistan as well.

KJ: What made you decide to become a Plan sponsor?

My mother sponsored children when we grew up. I remember the picture of a little boy from the Biafra region in Nigeria on the fridge. That was really a model for me, and I’ve continued to sponsor children since then. My daughter who is 19 sponsors children now too! When she was younger, I gave her a child to support for her birthday. She donated her birthday money and fundraised to support her. I think it helped her understand a lot more about the world.

KJ: How do you keep in touch with your sponsored girls? Have you ever been to meet them?

Each year I write a letter and make copies. Then I add a note that’s a bit more personal, because the girls send me letters, pictures and drawings. I tell them, “Make sure you work hard in school!”

This February I’m going to meet two of the girls I support in Haiti for the first time. My daughter is coming too.

KJ: What do you think is the biggest challenge that faces the girls you sponsor?

Education! In Pakistan, I support one girl who wasn’t in school, even though she was 6 or 7 at the time. It was a struggle to overcome cultural ideas about girls’ education in that community, but now she’s finally in school. It’s important that she’s able to find a job, that she’s able to pass on education to her own daughters.

In Haiti, there are lots of single moms and girls are depended on to take care of their siblings. Because of this responsibility, many girls are unable to go to school.

In Mali, I’ve been helping to build a school and there’s a goal to make sure that 50% of students are girls. It’s a challenge to enroll enough girls to reach that 50% goal.

KJ: Do you have any advice for anyone else thinking about becoming a Plan sponsor?

I’ve been able to inspire many of my friends to become sponsors. Sometimes people are concerned that organizations spend too much money on administrative costs, but I’ve been involved with Plan for a long time and looked at their financial reports. 79% of the money I give goes to the communities, not into running the organization.

Sponsorship makes a lasting difference. The needs of each village are taken into account and Plan gets involved in the long term. It changes lives!

Now it’s your turn, readers: Tell us where your sponsored girl is from!

There’s a funny thing that happens to me each year on this day…I turn a year older! In honour of my special day,  I am going to talk about one awesome way to support Because I am a Girl: by giving up your birthday gifts in support of girls!

There are a few ways you can do this!

1. You can ask people to donate on your behalf
2. Create a fundraising page and give your guests and loved ones the link,
3. Add some Gifts of Hope to your wish list!
4. Turn your party into a fundraising bash like Enza Ruscillo, who held a big event for her 40th birthday and had each guest donate $5!

Still need some convincing? Okay, I’ll give you a pop quiz:

Q: Tell me 3 gifts you received last year for your birthday!

If you can’t name three in 10 seconds, it sounds like their memory didn’t linger long. Having a birthday for a cause can help make your special day more meaningful for you, and make a life-changing difference for the girl that receives your gift!

Adding a cause to your wish-list is becoming popular, but it doesn’t mean that you have to go home from your party completely empty handed. It’s okay to include a few special items you’re wishing for, alongside your request for gift-givers to support your favourite cause.

(Me? I’m also hoping for some jogging gear!)

(Photo Credit: Theresa Thompson)

We inherit a lot from our parents. Things like our eye and hair colour, or whether we are short and tall.   They also shape the way we see the world, and impact many of our life decisions.

Unfortunately, there’s another thing parents can pass on to their kids: poverty. It is very difficult to grow up and out of poverty if you were born into it.  Poverty can pull families in for generations … unless the cycle can be broken.

This is what that cycle can look like:

The question is, how to we stop the cycle? Plan does it by investing in children. Here is how that helps:

Getting out of poverty has been compared to climbing a ladder: you can’t start to climb out unless you can get your foot onto that first rung. So, breaking the cycle of poverty means being empowered to take that first step. Plan’s work aims to give families that leg up.

 What do you think the first step is to ending the cycle of poverty for girls?

Crystale Boisvert was in the middle of writing a letter to her Member of Parliament in support of Because I am a Girl when she heard that the UN had officially adopted the International Day of the Girl. Not wanting the letter to go to waste, she sent it to us instead.

Her letter is heartfelt, powerful, and loooonnngggg – clocking in at more than 2000 words, it’s more like an essay than a note of support. We wanted to share some of the highlights with you! Here’s Crystale:

To find a purpose in my life where I felt like I was making a difference is a dream that I have lived with since my youth.

I am so blessed to be living the life of a Canadian, yet I am consumed with one question: where do I start? Though there has been so much progress throughout history there is so much to be done.

I have decided to dedicate at least a percentage of my time in volunteering and bringing awareness to charities. I asked my heart to guide me to the movement I felt most passionate about, and the answer that followed was “Because I am a girl”.

Why you ask?

We have all experienced a bad day; we have all felt sorrow and loneliness. I try to remind myself every single day that it could be worse.

I could have been living the life of a six-year-old Nepali girl, who is bonded by a Kamalari contract and is a slave to her master for almost what would feel like eternity. I could have also been baby in China who was abandoned or even killed because I could never be any value to my family. I could have been a refugee Somali mother, migrating to Kenya away from famine, hoping to find nutrition for her dying children, yet she is faced with another troubling disaster, rape and torture. I just cannot imagine…

It has been too long that a woman’s worth has been overlooked and abused. For thousands of years we have been subjected to cruelty, rape, murder, genocide, and inequality as a mere pawn to what we can truly say to a man’s world. We have been dispensable, yet in reality what does it mean to be a girl? Doesn’t that mean something?

I ask you to consider declaring September 22 as the International Day of the Girl, not only for the millions of girls who are suffering in developing countries, and other types of regimes, but also for the ones who are blessed to have the privilege of equality, education and freedom. Why you ask? We want to always remember what past generations have accomplished for us. We want it to be a reminder to girls and boys of all ages to forever be grateful within their hearts of all the opportunities we have been given. We want to continue to respect and love our mothers, sisters, grandmothers, aunts, cousins, friends, teachers, and partners for all that they are and all that they do.

I ask you when you have a chance to YouTube John Mayer’s “Daughters.” Every single time I hear this song I tear up, and I know you will too because somewhere down the line there has been a woman so dear to you that has brought you some kind of comfort.

Crystale
Live.Love.Laugh