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Because I am a girl enjoys the support of an inspiring group of
celebrated ambassadors. We recently brought them together at our Plan Canada
office to reaffirm their commitment to Because I am a girl.
We also had the chance to interview them on why they support the cause,
how they feel about the girl issue and also what they think about
international day of the girl. Here's what they had to say.
Can you talk to us about why you chose
Because I'm a girl to champion? Because I'm a girl resonated with me
because
as a girl I was never denied any opportunity. I'm a sportscaster,
a job that was normally given to men. It would break my heart to think that other
girls in other countries wouldn't be given the same opportunities
to make their dreams come true. I chose to champion because I am a girl
because I am a girl. I'm one of four girls. My mother had four daughters; she
always called us her girls and was immensely proud of us,
and being raised in a family of all girls, there were never any double standards.
Everybody was equal and I can only wish that on all the girls in the world.
I think that girls are the key to eliminating poverty. I traveled
with Plan Canada. I worked with girls
in Haiti with the Because I Am a girl campaign and I think that
once your eyes are opened to
other parts of the world at least I couldn't help but be extremely passionate about that
and I believe in people. I believe in
humanity. I believe in young girls. I see myself
in young girls. I remember being a little girl with all the dreams in the world.
And the idea that you have the ability to
how do I explain? The idea that we have the ability to affect positive change
by our actions, by making a choice to
to literally make the world
a better place and empower people to make their own
world a better place, to me that's a very exciting thing.
I selected because I'm a girl to champion because I've been in the field
in Africa on a number of occasions
and i've seen how girls are often more disadvantaged
than the guys. And when you give a girl just the slightest
advantage it's incredible how they help their family and the community.
For me it's a no brainer. Well I've always embraced
girls causes. I really believe in the cause of the girl child that the girl
child
is the major agent of change in our world today. Canadians can also
contribute to this cause globally and
having lived in India I have a lot of experience with the girl child and it's
something that I feel very passionately about. And why is international day of the girl
important to you? International day of the girl on October 11
is kind of like our birthday. We are special. Girls are special, every day
of the year
but on that one day we get to celebrate a little bit more and people get to
remember us just a little bit more.
I think it's absolutely essential to set aside a day to stand up
and celebrate as well as recognize the importance of girls rights in the
world. The idea of a day
where girls all around the world can celebrate
who they are and where we can have the spotlight on the notion
of women's rights and girl rights on the planet
I think is just so wonderful and special and I know there's International Women's Day
but what I love about international girls days is it's
planting the seed when they're very young you know and we can go into schools and
it's literally something to celebrate I'm really excited about the
International day of the girl.
International day of the girl is extremely important to me
being a new mom I would love to see daughters all around the world have the
same opportunity
that my daughter will. I think it's a great way to raise awareness about
issues that are affecting girls all over the world and on a global level.
The International Day of the girl is important to me because I think it
should be 365 days a year
and one day is a great start. Putting focus on girls
and what they can do to grow into women to grow into leaders to grow into
mothers to grow into nation builders
this can all start with one girl and it will start with one day