Because I am a Girl: I'll take it from here

Da jeg ikke kan være med direkte på den Internationale Pigedag får i nogle indlæg fra sidste år igen, så i kan mindes hvilken success det var!

Watch this innovative stop-motion film on the plight and power of girls around the world.

Shot in Malawi with the participation of children and young people in the community, it shows how education can give girls the chance to move from poverty to oppportunity.

75 million girls around the world are out of school. Plan's Because I am a Girl campaign aims to support millions of girls to get the education, skills and support they need to transform their lives and the world around them.

In pictures: World glows pink for girls campaign launch

Da jeg ikke kan være med direkte på den Internationale Pigedag får i nogle indlæg fra sidste år igen, så i kan mindes hvilken success det var!

Landmarks across the world are being lit up bright pink to celebrate the global launch of Plan's Because I am a Girl campaign today - the first ever international Day of the Girl.

Globally, 1 in 3 girls is denied an education. Plan's Because I am a Girl campaign aims to support millions of girls to get the education, skills and support they need to transform their lives and the world around them.

FNs Internationale Pigedag

Da jeg ikke kan være med direkte på den Internationale Pigedag får i nogle indlæg fra sidste år igen, så i kan mindes hvilken success det var!

"Vi har længe talt ned og set frem til i dag: FNs og verdens første Internationale Pigedag. I dag går Plans globale kampagne 'Because I Am a Girl' for alvor i gang.

Verden over er berømte monumenter badet i pink lys: Empire State Building, London Eye, Real Madrids stadion, Pyramiderne, Niagara Falls og ikke mindst Den lille Havfrue på Langelinie.

Plan har siden 2009 været en af de primære drivkræfter i arbejdet for at sikre pigerne deres egen mærkedag. Vi glæder os over, at den i dag er en realitet og håber, det øger engagementet for pigers rettigheder verden over."

Marcia Cross: Help change the world

Actress and Plan Ambassador Marcia Cross recently visited India to see how Plan is helping to strengthen communities through programmes that focus on empowering girls.

As a mother of 2 young girls herself, Marcia strongly believes that everyone has the right to a good education and that by empowering girls we can change the world.

In October, Marcia helped light the Empire State Building in New York bright pink to kick off the global launch of Plan's Because I am a Girl campaign on the first ever international Day of the Girl.

Se videon her!

African musicians launch Because I am a Girl song

African musicians have released a pop song to celebrate and promote the global launch of Plan’s Because I am a Girl campaign.

The musicians, South Africa’s Yvonne Chaka Chaka – dubbed the ‘Princess of Africa’; African music legend Oliver Mtukudzi of Zimbabwe and the ‘Tracy Chapman of Africa’, Suzanna Owiyo from Kenya (pictured above), attended the official pan-Africa Because I am a Girl launch in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 11 October 2012 - the first ever international Day of the Girl.

Through the song, the musicians hope to send a message to all generations that educating girls should be a top priority, as well as ensuring that girls are respected and protected.

Listen to the Because I am a Girl song

Child marriage flash mob takes over Copenhagen station

A flash mob took over the central train station in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 11 October to mark the first ever international Day of the Girl and global launch of Plan's Because I am a Girl campaign.

A young bride and groom waltzed around the concourse while the rest of the 'mob' comprising of members from Plan Denmark's youth board spread campaign messages.

The slogans on their T-shirts read: 'Every third second a girl is forced into marriage'.

Some 10 million girls across the world are married before the age of 18 each year - and all too often they are forced out of education and get pregnant, which can have a devastating effect on their health.

Vores flash mob er blevet verdenskendt!

Se videoen her!

Queen Rania: When girls prosper, everyone benefits

Queen Rania of Jordan describes the ugly reality for 900 million girls worldwide and tells how education can make all the difference. "When girls prosper, everyone benefits" is her key message as Plan launches its global Because I am a Girl campaign.

If you agree with Queen Rania, show your support for girls: Raise your hand NOW for girls

In pictures: World glows pink for girls campaign launch

Landmarks across the world are being lit up bright pink to celebrate the global launch of Plan's Because I am a Girl campaign today - the first ever international Day of the Girl.

Globally, 1 in 3 girls is denied an education. Plan's Because I am a Girl campaign aims to support millions of girls to get the education, skills and support they need to transform their lives and the world around them.

Read more on the launch activities taking place across the world.

Show your support for girls' education: Raise your hand NOW for girls

View our gallery of pink landmarks - and check back as we add more throughout the day.

Slumdog star Freida Pinto launches girls’ day

Hollywood star Freida Pinto took to the skies above London to help launch the first-ever UN Day of the Girl.The Slumdog Millionaire and Planet of the Apes actress was on the EDF Energy London Eye – which will host an all-female takeover today 11 October on the first ever UN International Day of the Girl.

Led by Southbank Centre and Plan UK, the takeover marks the launch of WOW Girls, a day of activities to help highlight girls’ inequality around the world. “I grew up in Mumbai and have seen the inequality faced by girls,” says Freida. “I was blessed but millions aren’t. They face being pulled out of school, married early and having children before they’re ready - and, in some cases, not being born at all since girls are unfortunately considered to be worthless.”

“Girls across the world should have the right to decide their own futures. That’s why on the first-ever UN Day of the Girl, I’m supporting Plan’s call to make girls’ education a priority.  Raise your hand if you believe the same.”

Læs mere her!

Because I am a Girl: I'll take it from here

Watch this innovative stop-motion film on the plight and power of girls around the world.

Shot in Malawi with the participation of children and young people in the community, it shows how education can give girls the chance to move from poverty to oppportunity.

75 million girls around the world are out of school. Plan's Because I am a Girl campaign aims to support millions of girls to get the education, skills and support they need to transform their lives and the world around them.

Please Raise Your Hand to support girls' right to quality education at raiseyourhandNOW.com

On the Day of the Girl: The importance of learning for life

Today is the first ever International Day of the Girl, a day to recognize the unique challenges that girls face around the world, as well as celebrating their power and potential.

This year, we are marking the Day of the Girl by releasing a report, Learning for Life. The report focuses on girls’ education, especially the importance of education for girls when they reach adolescence.

This report finds that universal access to, and completion of, at least nine years of quality education is fundamental to girls gaining the necessary skills and knowledge they need to fulfil their potential, and to break the cycle of poverty in their lives and for generations to come.

Læs mere og se hele Learning for Life her!

FNs Internationale Pigedag

Vi har længe talt ned og set frem til i dag: FNs og verdens første Internationale Pigedag. I dag går Plans globale kampagne 'Because I Am a Girl' for alvor i gang.

Verden over er berømte monumenter badet i pink lys: Empire State Building, London Eye, Real Madrids stadion, Pyramiderne, Niagara Falls og ikke mindst Den lille Havfrue på Langelinie.

Plan har siden 2009 været en af de primære drivkræfter i arbejdet for at sikre pigerne deres egen mærkedag. Vi glæder os over, at den i dag er en realitet og håber, det øger engagementet for pigers rettigheder verden over.

Alle Plan-lande markerer dagen med forskellige events, heriblandt oplysningen af de verdensberømte monumenter. Følg med i Plan Danmarks aktiviteter på Pigernes Dag her: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Plan-Danmark/354883793883

Be a part of the Day of the Girl!

After a successful campaign led by Plan Canada’s Because I am a Girl initiative, October 11 was declared the International Day of the Girl Child by the United Nations! This day will help us advocate and recognize girls’ rights globally.

In celebration of the first Day of the Girl, we are focusing on the importance of girls’ education. Because we know that educated girls marry later, have children later, and are more able to pull themselves and their communities out of poverty.

Sadly, millions of children don’t go to school just because they are girls.

Over the next five years, we are going to help 4 million girls get an education. We know they will use this education to change their own lives, and the lives of their community members.

Girls campaign goes global

Join us for the global launch of Plan’s Because I am a Girl campaign on 11 October – the first ever international Day of the Girl.

Events will be taking place in more than 60 countries across the world - from a rock concert in India to a radio blitz in Ireland.

The celebrations will culminate in a global event in New York, which will be attended by UN Women executive director Michelle Bachelet, actress Marcia Cross, journalist Mariane Pearl and Plan-supported girl ambassadors from around the world, who will be sharing their experiences with policy makers.

The Empire State Building and London Eye are among a number of landmarks that will be lit up bright pink to mark the occasion.

Raise Your Hand and spread the word right now at raiseyourhandNOW.com

For all the campaign launch action, please follow us on twitter.com/planglobal andfacebook.com/planinternational

Because I am a Girl: invest in me!

75 million girls across the world don't go to school. Watch the clip and see how investing in girls' education helps break the cycle of poverty and benefits everyone.

Give a girl a chance to learn and she will develop skills and understand money so she can find decent and useful work - allowing her to support her family, educate her children and become self-sufficient.

An extra year of secondary education increases a girl's income by 10-20%.

Please help us show the UN that the world believes educating girls should be a priority by raising your hand right now.

Raise your hand and spread the word at raiseyourhandNOW.com

Alex and Ani, LLC and Plan Celebrate the International Day of the Girl

Plan International USA and Alex and Ani are teaming up to celebrate the first annual International Day of the Girl. Adopted by the United Nations last year, the International Day of the Girl is a day to recognize girls' rights and the unique challenges girls around the world face.

Girls in developing countries face overwhelming odds from the moment they are born. They are more likely than boys to suffer from malnutrition; be subjected to violence; be forced into early marriage; be trafficked or sold; or become infected with HIV. Often denied access to education and healthcare, girls languish behind their male counterparts.

Læs mere her!

Plan UK’s giant book highlights the importance of girls’ education

UK schoolgirls join TV presenter Cherry Healey to kickstart our week of celebrations for International Day of the Girl.

Girls from two south London schools joined TV presenter Cherry Healey to sign a giant book outside the Tower of London. The book highlights the importance of education for girls in the run up to the first International Day of the Girl.

The schoolgirls completed the opening sentence in the book ‘Because I have an education I can…’. Tilly Holmes, 14 and Hannah Davis, 15 from Graveney School in Tooting, were keen to emphasise the choices that having an education would bring them. Evie Edgar, 14 from St. Cecilia’s School in Southfields said that having an education meant she knew her rights. Her classmates Ellie Guven and Emily Craig think having an education will mean good careers and independence.

Læs mere her!

MPs support International Day of the Girl

Labour MP Graeme Morrice has launched an Early Day Motion in parliament, supporting official recognition of the International Day of the Girl.

This comes after an extensive campaign by Plan to establish a dedicated day highlighting the rights and accomplishments of girls around the world.

The motion also suggests that the House “recognises the link between girls' education and poverty; acknowledges that 70 per cent of those in poverty worldwide are female; notes that one in three girls around the world is denied an education as a result of poverty, conflict or discrimination; and supports Plan's Because I Am A Girl campaign which aims to help girls reach their full potential.”

“The Day of the Girl will make girls feel respected, recognised and their contributions valued in society,” says Lil Shira from Cameroon, member of a Plan-supported delegation of girls at the UN’s Commission on the Status of Women.

Læs mere på Plan UK's side her!

Paralympic champion Sarah Storey lights up London Eye for Plan

Britain’s greatest ever Paralympian Sarah Storey OBE is supporting Plan UK’s activities marking the first ever UN International Day of the Girl on 11th October 2012. It’s our chance to draw attention to issues faced by millions of the world’s poorest girls, as a result of poverty and discrimination.
11-time gold medal winner Sarah Storey is lighting up the London Eye in pink and white ahead of the day, when we will join forces with the Southbank to host the ‘WOW Girls’ festival, including an all-female takeover of the EDF Energy London Eye.

Læs mere det og hvilke andre steder der deltager i dette her!

Raise your hand for girls’ education!

October 11 will be the first Day of the Girl. Plan Canada’s Because I am a Girl initiative was a big part of having this day declared, in order to draw attention to obstacles girls face as they try to claim their rights.

So this year, we are using the Day of the Girl as a chance to talk about the importance of girls’ education. We’re working to educate 4 million girls through the Because I am a Girl initiative, but we need your help!

Around the world, a raised hand means “I want to participate!” Unfortunately, millions of girls around the world are not in classrooms, so they are unable to participate. We need you to raise YOUR hand if you believe every girl deserves an education, and tell the United Nations to put girls’ education at the top of the global agenda!

There are two easy ways you can do this!

• Raise your hand virtually on Facebook and share with your friends
• Or, if you don’t have Facebook, take a photo of yourself, your friends or your family with your hand raised in the air. Add your photo to our “Hands up for girls” Flickr page by emailing your photo tohandsup@becauseiamagirl.ca (photos must be in JPG file format only and file size should be less than 3MB).