The second grade girls at the International School of Dakar in Senegal are coming together this month to Stand Up for Girls! On October 11, 2012, we will ask the whole elementary school to wear orange and stand up at noon in solidarity with girls all over the world. To raise awareness, we will be posting signs around our school with global facts about girls, literacy, and education. In preparation for the big day, we’ve been talking to each other and other girls and women in our lives about what it means to be a powerful girl, and even writing letters to world leaders encouraging them to Stand Up with us! Read on to see what we have to say, and stay posted for photos of the big day!
Words that describe a Powerful Girl or Woman:
Proud of herself
Does not give up
Fearless, fierce, free
Brave
Happy
Excited
“I’m the super hero in town!”
Strong
“I speak up!”
Lana's Story
I Stand Up for new students at my school because I used to be one! As a new student who didn’t know any English, I felt lost and lonely in my new school. Some of my classmates were patient and welcoming, and I eventually made lots of friends. Now, I try to make friends with new students, make them feel comfortable in our school, help them learn to read and write English, and introduce them to more friends!
Maeve interviews her mom about what it means to be a Powerful Girl or Woman:
Education opens your mind and changes your future. A powerful girl is interested in learning. She asks questions and listens to people’s answers. She wants to improve the world!
Mary explains why she will Stand Up for Girls' Soccer:
Second grade girls Stand Up for girls’ soccer because we learned how to play the game last year and fell in love with it. Unfortunately, many days during recess we can’t even find a ball to play with or field space because the boys have beaten us to it. We stand up for girls who want to play sports at recess!
Letters to world leaders:
Dear President Obama,
I am standing up for girls, and I think it is very important. Some girls and women don’t even have one book, so please think about helping.
From,
Maeve
Dear President Obama,
We are standing up for girls on October 11, 2012. I want to tell you about poor women and girls. It is important because they can’t learn anything because they have a lot of things to do and they don’t have money or homes. I want to help them and give them a good life.
From,
Zeinab
Susannah is a LitWorld friend currently teaching in Dakar, Senegal. We thank her and all the girls at the International School of Dakar for sharing their special Stand Up for Girls activities and stories, and for modeling what it means to be Fierce, Fearless, and Free!