Today is the first International Day of the Girl Child, declared by The United Nations.

According to the Status of Women website.” Canada has led the international community in adopting this day, along with the support of Plan Canada. This day will make a difference in the lives of girls and young women as citizens and as powerful voices of change in their families, their communities and their nations.

Girls throughout the world face higher rates of violence, poverty, discrimination. In Canada, girls have higher rates of depression, sexual harassment and dating violence.

There is a growing recognition around the world that support for girls and their basic human rights is key for healthy communities.

Improving girls' lives has a ripple effect. What is good for them is good for all of us.

This international day will promote equal treatment and opportunities for girls around the world in areas such as law, nutrition, health care, education, training, and freedom from violence and abuse.”

So, what exactly can we do as individuals to improve the lives of girls? At Women in Nuclear-Canada our members are promoting science to young girls. Throughout the school year we run a GIRLS (Girls in Real Life Science) program that helps girls better understand how science connects to their lives and provides hands-on fun experiments, led by a female mentor who has been successful in the science being studied. Our hope is to ignite a life-long curiosity for science and math, which will result in a raised awareness of career opportunities open to all girls. In the next decade it is expected that workers will require a highly technical skill set to compete for the best career choices. Providing girls with a life-long love of science and math will better prepare them for high paying careers in sciences and technologies.

Leave a comment and share your stories about the ways you are improving the lives of girls.

To girls around the world, Happy International Day of the Girl Child.