‘Girl Up’ launched in Sri Lanka

Saturday, 31 October 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association (SLGGA) in partnership with the UN Foundation’s GirlUp Campaign launched Girl Up clubs on 27 October at the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs Auditorium.

The launch was followed by a training program for the club members under the auspices of the Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Education. More than 170 girls from all over Sri Lanka participated in the launch. The ‘Stop the Violence’ campaign of SLGGA is handling the implementation of this initiative.

The main objective of launching Girl Up clubs in Sri Lanka is to empower girls to get involved in issues that matter to them. The members of these clubs will thus take action and reach their full potential to become future leaders.

Girl Up, a campaign of the UN Foundation, mobilises youth to raise awareness and funds for United Nation’s programs that provide girls around the world with life changing opportunities like the chance to go to school, to see a doctor, and to stay free from violence.

Chief Guest of the event, Prime Minister’s Office Deputy Chief of Staff Rosy Senanayake said: “I am so glad to see the UN Foundation’s Girl Up Campaign launch Girl Up clubs across Sri Lanka for the first time. In this day and age it is really important to provide the right set of leadership skills for today’s girls who will be tomorrow’s leaders.”

UN Foundation’s Girl Up Campaign Advisory Council Member Akila Somasegar, who was the Guest of Honour, said; “I am amazed at the level of enthusiasm from the Sri Lankan girls and the support from the Sri Lankan Girl Guides Association for this initiative. I am confident this is the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership to empower girls across Sri Lanka and help them realise their potential.”

They were joined by

SLGGA President Prof. Anoja Fernando and SLGGA Deputy Chief Commissioner Visakha Tillekeratne as panelists at the launching of Girl Up clubs.

Thillekeratne said: “I believe that ‘Girl Up’ will make girls competent to engage in activism and voice out their issues because it is very important for young girls to raise their many issues in a patriarchal society.”

Chamathya Fernando, Coordinator of the ‘Stop the Violence’ campaign of SLGGA, said: “It is a great opportunity and privilege for the ‘Stop the Violence’ campaign to organise this event and to continue to give their support in continuing this initiative.”