“Education is neither eastern nor western. Education is education and it’s the right of every human being.”
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International Day of the Girl Child is a day we cherish now more than ever. We know that many girls and young women are still not able to develop the skills they need to enter and advance in their future careers. When a young woman comes to us and says that she is happy to be able to join an all-girl program because she doesn’t feel comfortable in being in a room full of boys at her school, is the evidence we need that enforces the concept of why these days are needed. It is important for girls and young women to see themselves as the leaders of tomorrow.
The International Day of the Girl Child reinforces that our programs, workshops, and events such as our annual Canadian Women in STEM Conference, are much needed to help girls and young women highlight the idea that they are capable of great things.
Last year, around this time, when we run our conference it was only because we wanted to raise awareness on the amazing talent pool of women in Canada and towards some amazing women who were behind the curtains of their jobs and never seen for the impact they made to our society. It started with the numerous questions asked by diverse students and community stakeholders: Who out there is in STEM that looks like me or has achieved success despite challenges? What are the many opportunities in STEM that everyone talks about and why would I care to learn more about STEM? It is questions like these that drive us to create change in a meaningful way, to create opportunities for inclusion for the diverse communities that exist in this community of ours called Canada.
We are honoured to celebrate this day with pride, not only on October 11 but throughout the year by ensuring that we provide more opportunities for girls and young women to become the best version of themselves and proud participants in the future workforce.