Girls Friendly Society (GFS) is celebrating International Day of the Girl with their #GirlsAllowed campaign, which asks women to reflect on what they wish they had been allowed to do or be and share empowering messages for girls today. The online message board, which is filled with heartfelt entries, provides a candid glimpse into the everyday struggles and enduring impact of gender stereotyping on women.
GFS’s CEO, Laura Sercombe said “International Day of the Girl is an important day of the year for the charity. Girls as young as six are telling us that they are unable to be themselves. This impacts their relationships, harms their well-being, damages their confidence and limits their access to opportunities.
At GFS we give girls the skills and experiences they need to overcome these barriers and grow up confident, happy and able to follow whatever path they choose. We have been supporting girls for nearly 150 years, and we will continue to for however long girls need us.”
The heartfelt messages are being handwritten into origami hearts and given to girls at GFS groups as part of their International Day of the Girl celebration. GFS are urgently calling for more women to add messages to the virtual message board, ensuring that every GFS girl receives a personal message of empowerment and encouragement.
International Day of the Girl is a United Nations’ day of observance held every year on 11 October and recognises girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world. GFS focuses their work on girls in the most deprived areas of England and Wales, where it is known that girls’ futures are disproportionately disadvantaged. Through early intervention, GFS works with girls aged 5-12 years, to prevent the degradation in confidence and self-esteem that comes around age 11.
GFS girl in Liverpool said “It’s good coming to GFS because you can learn how to trust others, and know that you are perfect just the way you are.” Parent in South Wales said “She was previously in a behavioural plan at school. Since attending GFS she has been able to control how she behaves and is able to talk about why she’s upset and resolve problems before they escalate”.
To find out more about GFS, donate or add to the message board, visit gfs.org.uk, gfs.kudoboard.com/boards/bVpjhuxo/girlsallowed or watch a 3-minute video to hear from the girls themselves.
On International Day of the Girl, Girls Friendly Society (GFS) is launching their #GirlsAllowed campaign to support girls and young women in deprived areas of England and Wales. The campaign encourages women to reflect on what they wish they had been allowed to do or be and to share empowering messages for girls today.
GFS CEO Laura Sercombe said “We know that girls as young as six are telling us that they are unable to be themselves, which has a huge impact on their relationships, well-being, confidence and access to opportunities. At GFS, we give girls the skills and experiences they need to become confident, happy and able to follow whatever path they choose.”
The heartfelt messages are being handwritten into origami hearts and given to girls at GFS groups as part of their International Day of the Girl celebration. An online message board has also been set up, which is being flooded with an outpouring of love and encouragement from women to girls. GFS is urgently calling for more women to add messages to the virtual message board, ensuring that every GFS girl receives a personal message of empowerment and encouragement.
To find out more about GFS, donate or add to the message board, visit gfs.org.uk, gfs.kudoboard.com/boards/bVpjhuxo/girlsallowed or watch a 3-minute video to hear from the girls themselves.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.