This Sunday, March 8,
is International Women’s Day, and Girl Scouts around the world are ready to celebrate!
Commemorated every year since its inception in 1911, International Women’s Day is
a global opportunity to observe the economic, political, and social achievements
of women who have done amazing things in the past and present, as well as those
who will make their mark in tomorrow’s world. Additionally, this special day
commemorates the work of suffragettes, who fought for women’s right to vote,
and reminds us of all the work yet to be done to achieve full equality for women
across the globe.
It’s no secret that girls
and women everywhere still face barriers to equal opportunities, equal pay, and
equal right to self-determination. And as we all know, one vital aspect of gender
equality is the need for equal access to education. That’s why this year, in
celebration of this critical day for women and girls and all of those who benefit when women and girls
thrive (that’s everyone!), Girl Scouts is committing to the cause of increasing
access to education for girls everywhere.
Our momentum around
this critical initiative hit a high this week as our very own Anna Maria Chávez, CEO of Girl
Scouts of the USA, and Kathy Hannan, GSUSA’s national president, along with
several of the incredible Girl Scouts we serve, were invited to represent the
Girl Scout Movement at the White House alongside President Obama and First Lady
Michelle Obama. Together, we announced a groundbreaking new initiative in partnership
with the Peace Corps. Let Girls Learn supports the advancement of
girls’ access to education worldwide, and is an important step toward lessening
the inequality gap for women.
And there’s more. As
part of celebrating International Women’s Day throughout the week, Girl Scouts
from six different councils will be serving as delegates to the UN Commission
on the Status of Women in the nation’s capital and participating in a variety
of programs and events. They will be speaking on panels, learning about the UN
process, and engaging with UN delegates and entities—it’s an amazing
opportunity to show the world that Girl Scouts rock! And on March 9, Girl
Scouts will host an event during the commission entitled “The State of Girls: The Well-being of Girls
in the United States.”
Advocating
for girls is what we do, and it is our deepest hope that we can continue to
provide girls with opportunities to lead, to challenge social norms, to blossom
in ways they never imagined, and to take a place at the table when it comes to
challenging and changing the many inequalities that still exist for girls and
women everywhere.
Today,
tomorrow, and always, remember that you matter, and you can be the difference!
Happy International Women’s Day to women and girls everywhere!
How
will you celebrate?