Help put girls at the forefront of change

Dear friends and supporters,

2017 is upon us, and thankfully our world is still intact.  Although it may have been a somewhat rocky beginning in certain aspects, progress and a demand for justice are still in the air.  We at Girl Determined are excited to see what the year will bring, and would be delighted to share with you a glimpse into the strength being harnessed by our Colorful Girls.  This particular narrative comes from a 15-year old girl who lost both her parents at a young age and has been living in a monastic school for nearly a decade.

“At first I didn’t want to join [Girl Determined’s] Colorful Girls. But after watching the girls play and hearing that I could learn new information that is not taught in school, I decided to join. It is different from school lessons. I also can share feelings. We learn about violence, menstruation, how to defense (sic) ourselves – run and use our voices - and we get a better idea about the reasons for discrimination between boys and girls.

I especially like the session on “Beyond Fear.” During this session we talked about the roots of discrimination and hatred and we learned where all of the different girls and their relatives came from. It really changed my perspective and the perspective of others about me. I do not need to be afraid of others or of our differences. It teaches me to be brave.

School is safe for us, but not the community around. It is not safe for girls. Society gives boys more favor. I think we are the same. I can do what they do. I think we all have abilities, therefore, we should be treated the same. I do not agree with what society says about natural male power. They believe that men are powerful and have an almost mystical natural power. I believe that we all have power.”

As she plainly states: girls are brave, girls have power, girls have compassion.  Are these not the qualities we want for our leaders?  With opportunities to learning practical skills, confidence, and tolerance, these girls have increasingly greater likelihoods to usher in a new wave of leaders and pave the way for a strong and free Myanmar.

Thank you for your continued generosity and support, and let’s take this steadfast and positive momentum forward, hand in hand across the world, towards equality, fairness, and togetherness.  Be brave.

#juststepsforward #girldetermined