SEATTLE, Oct. 11, 2013 — In honor of the third annual U.N.-sanctioned International Day of the Girl Child, World Vision encourages individuals to talk with sisters, mothers, daughters and other influential women in their lives about how strong women make a strong world.
The Numbers
- An estimated 5.5 million children are trafficked annually for forced child labor and sexual exploitation. While trafficked children are often teenagers, many are even younger.
- 67 percent of the illiterate people in the world are women and girls; many are denied access to education because of early marriage and other cultural practices. Even gathering water is often a burden that prevents girls from going to school.
- Every 90 seconds a woman dies from complications of pregnancy or childbirth – most could be prevented with access to proper nutrition and medical care.
The Fight
- World Vision programs for child protection, gender-based violence survivors and peace building & gender equality work to educate communities about women and girls’ rights. In 2012, awareness and outreach initiatives reached 75,000 people vulnerable to sexual exploitation in Bangladesh, and helped 385 survivors of sexual exploitation in Cambodia.
- Increasing the number of educated girls by 10 percent in a developing nation can increase GNP by 3 percent. Through the World Vision Gift Catalog, donating as little as $35 – the cost of your average blouse – can help provide a young woman with job training or school supplies for a year.
- The Gates Foundation-funded World Vision Alive & Thrive project in Ethiopia is just one avenue of women’s health education. After just one year, the program has seen success rates as high as 80 percent.
The Tools
- Explore donation options for girls & women through the World Vision Gift Catalog.
- Engage in fashion advocacy by gifting jewelry, scarves, T-shirts and other handcrafted accessories that fund women’s programs for birthdays or holidays.
- Visit StrongWomenStrongWorld.org to sign up to receive e-mailed news and updates and explore the projects strengthening women right now, all over the world.
- Get involved with a Women of Vision group in your area for upcoming events, film screenings, service projects and book studies.
- Listen to girls around the world share their stories of hardship, bravery and strength on the Women of Vision YouTube channel.
- Attend a screening of documentary, “Girl Rising” in your local area.
By engaging in International Day of the Girl Child, the world’s millions of vulnerable girls are empowered and equipped to become the strong women we know in our lives.
About World Vision
World Vision is a Christian relief, development, and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. For more information on their efforts, visit WorldVision.org/press or follow them on Twitter at@WorldVisionNews.
