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International Day of the Girl Child is held annually on 11 October. Established by the United Nations (UN), this day is an opportunity to bring greater awareness to the particular challenges facing girls, particularly those living in poverty.

It is also a chance to celebrate girls’ achievements, promote empowerment, and advocate for the fulfilment of human rights for girls around the globe.

In celebration of International Day of the Girl Child, we’re taking a moment to pause and reflect on what the day means, and how you can mark the occasion yourself.

What is the origin of International Day of the Girl Child?

Twenty-five years ago, the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women was held. More than 30,000 people from 200 countries gathered in Beijing to recognise the human rights of women and girls.

This conference led to the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action which is the most comprehensive policy agenda for the empowerment of women. It was the first UN declaration that was specifically for girls and women’s rights.

On 19 December 2011 the UN adopted Resolution 66/170 which declared 11 October as the International Day of the Girl Child. It was decided this day would be used to bring awareness to issues faced by girls around the world, including:

access to education;
child marriage;
gender-based violence; and
sexual and reproductive rights.

Each year a different theme is attached to the day, to keep the occasion current with contemporary priorities, and the pressing issues faced by women and girls.

What is the theme of International Day of the Girl Child in 2022?

International Day of the Girl Child 2022

This year’s theme is “Our time is now – our rights, our future”. 2022 marks the 10th anniversary of the International Day of the Girl. While there has been increased attention on issues that matter to girls amongst governments across this period, the investment in girls’ rights ultimately remains limited.

With adversity however, comes resourcefulness, creativity, tenacity and resilience. As the United Nations says “it is time for us all to stand accountable – with and for girls – and to invest in a future that believes in their agency, leadership and potential”.

How you can get involved with International Day of the Girl Child activities

You can get involved with International Day of the Girl Child by spreading awareness about the challenges facing girls around the globe, or by donating to a cause that implements programs to improve the lives of girls.

Spreading awareness and educating people around you is an important role you can play. You can do this by sharing information on your social media or starting a conversation with colleagues, friends or family.

Another way you can get involved is by donating money to charities helping girls and young women in developing countries. One of the biggest challenges girls face is access to education.

At ChildFund, our work in education is focused on ensuring that girls have equal access to school and learning opportunities. This includes offering girls in South East Asia school scholarships, which cover tuition costs and provide girls with the school supplies and resources they need to stay in school.

If you’d like to show your support for girls on International Day of the Girl Child, consider donating one of our scholarships to a young girl.

You might also like to get a group together at work to contribute, as part of a workplace giving or corporate social responsibility program.

An equal future: supporting the rights of girls everywhere

At ChildFund, we don’t believe that girls’ futures are set in stone at birth. Every girl should have the right to choose their own path, access education and live life on their own terms.

Together, let’s empower girls and young women with the opportunities they need to succeed. If you would like to help girls in developing countries you can purchase a scholarship for a girl as a one-off donation or donate monthly to provide life-changing support.

Today it is estimated that more than 1.2 billion children worldwide may live in poverty, which means they lack access to proper health care, nutrition, housing and education. This problem has only become worse during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to a further increase in challenges for affected families.

Now, more than ever, people in developed countries need to step up to the plate to consider how they can make a difference in these lives. If you’d love to help, you can donate monthly to support childhood education in these impoverished countries. But how do you go about this?

Creating lasting change

You can make a monthly donation to ChildFund Australia to support change for childhood education in developing communities. By committing each month, you’ll be able to help these children and their families and provide a level of consistency that they would otherwise miss out on. Your donations will also help fund important health and safety work in these communities.

The advantage of monthly donation

You may have been used to giving money to charities as and when they arise, and this money will also find its way to a good cause. However, when you commit to making a monthly donation regularly, it helps a charity such as ChildFund Australia focus on its goals and deliver our work in childhood education.

Adjusting your donation

You can make a flexible monthly donation should you wish, by adjusting the amount that you give each month. The important thing is that you are giving consistently and making changes to childhood education as you do so.

ChildFund Australia will keep you up-to-date on our work and show you where your money is going. This will help you see how you make a difference to the education of real children.

Making one-off donations

And if you wish, you can also make additional, one-off donations to childhood education by purchasing Gifts for Good, which can make a tremendous difference. For example, for a donation of $76, you can donate a School Supplies Set which gives the gift of essential school supplies for a student.

For many parents, school supplies like pens, pencils and notebooks are unaffordable. Your donation can provide a student with the items they need for a successful year of learning, along with a backpack to carry them in. A good quality school bag can also help children to carry their school supplies more safely and comfortably.

Supporting the three pillars

ChildFund Australia supports children in developing nations through the three pillars of Health, Education and Safety. Your monthly donation will mean more children than ever can attend school and have the means to stay and continue their education. Your donation will also help to train new teachers, improve facilities at individual schools and purchase learning resources. Your generosity will reach children in need of many different ethnicities, ages and abilities.

Claiming tax deductions

Did you know that your donation is tax-deductible? In fact, you can submit any tax-deductible donation over $2 as part of your annual tax return. A tax-deductible donation is a monetary gift given without the promise of something in return and includes community appeals. Just remember that for a donation to be tax-deductible, it needs to be made to a charity that has a Deductible Gift Recipient status, just like ChildFund Australia.

Once you’ve made a one off donation, you should expect to get a tax receipt within two weeks. If you sign up for a monthly donation, you will receive an annual receipt, typically sent at the end of July, ready for tax season.

Donate monthly today

If you would like to regularly donate for childhood education in developing countries, sign up to donate monthly to ChildFund Australia today. Your donation can make a difference to the education of 1,000 children per year, helping them to reach their fullest potential in life.

Gifts for Good

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