The International Day of the Girl Child

July 12, 2013

Innovating for Girls Education

Jacqui Southey UNICEF NZ

• There are currently 61 million children around the world who are not in school. Approximately 39 million (or 63%) of these children are girls

Jacqui Southey UNICEF NZ

•Why are some children not able to go to school?

• Because it’s not safe‘In many parts of the world

… terrorism, war and conflicts stop children from going to schools. We are

really tired of these wars.’ Malala: speech to the UN, July 2013

• Because they are a girl

• Because of poverty

• Because of the distance to travel to school

• Because of extreme weather

Not enough classrooms or equipment.

Not enough trained teachers.

Some schools don’t have a clean environment with running water or proper toilets.

Some children don’t have nutritious food during the school day.

One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can

change the world.

Education is the only solution. Education first.

Malala: speech to the UN 2013

Imagine what your life would be like, now and in the future, if you weren’t able to go to school and enjoy your right to an education

Jacqui Southey UNICEF NZ

Malala

- Lived in Swat valley, Pakistan

Jacqui Southey UNICEF NZ

Malala

• Swat valley is Pakistan’s most beautiful valley. It is also called Switzerland of Pakistan.

Jacqui Southey UNICEF NZ

Taliban

• Sadly, militants in Swat, Pakistan, have destroyed 191 schools including 122 schools for girls.

Jacqui Southey UNICEF NZ

Who is Malala

•Born: July 12, 1997 (age 17),

•Nationality: Pakistani

• Nominations: Nobel Peace Prize

Jacqui Southey UNICEF NZ

- Education, woman’s and girls rights activist- Believed that every child should have an

education- Played a vital role in bringing education to

areas of Pakistan and the world where there is no concept of education.

Jacqui Southey UNICEF NZ

• In early 2009 at the age of 11/12,

• Malala wrote a blog under a pseudonym* (Gul Makai) for the BBC detailing:

• her life under Taliban rule, • their attempts to take control of the valley, • her views on promoting education for girls.

Jacqui Southey UNICEF NZ

Jacqui Southey UNICEF NZ

• On 9 October 2012,

• Malala was shot on her school bus in north western Swat by Taliban gunmen for the "crime" of promoting girls' education

Jacqui Southey UNICEF NZ

• On July 12, 2013th, Malala Yousafzai speaks publicly for the first time since she was shot in the head by Taliban gunmen in October 2012

‘They thought that the bullets would silence us, but they failed.

Malala Yousafzai speaking up for girls education

Jacqui Southey UNICEF NZ

Jacqui Southey UNICEF NZ

• And then out of the silence came thousands of voices.’

Jacqui Southey UNICEF NZ

Homework

• Do research and find a human rights activist (a modern day prophet) who has done work to make our world better (in an area that you are concerned about);

• Create a poster board to depict that person’s life and what he/she has done;

• Use a lot of pictures and the most important facts.

Every child has the right to go to school.

31 Million girls are currently out of school.

Jacqui Southey UNICEF NZ

Education cannot be taken for granted.

Jacqui Southey UNICEF NZ

c

Girls who remain in secondary school are less likely to marry young

Jacqui Southey UNICEF NZ

Only 36% of students enrolled in primary school in Somalia are girls.

Jacqui Southey UNICEF NZ

It is estimated that 75% of Syrian refugees living in Jordan are not attending school.

Jacqui Southey UNICEF NZ

Education takes many forms.

One of those is to reflect on, and makes sense of, trauma and change.

Jacqui Southey UNICEF NZ

Girls have the power to bring about change for a better world.

Jacqui Southey UNICEF NZ

Education has the power to change lives.

Nazia – rescued from child labour, now a blossoming student.

Jacqui Southey UNICEF NZ

Returning to school is an important step in the post conflict healing process.

Jacqui Southey UNICEF NZ

Education is essential for social, economic and political progress.

Jacqui Southey UNICEF NZ

People need to know and care about children’s rights and issues concerning children.

Jacqui Southey UNICEF NZ

Raising the profile of children’s rights empowers girls to make positive lifestyle changes.

Jacqui Southey UNICEF NZ

Education empowers girls to become successful young women.

Jacqui Southey UNICEF NZ