I have some exciting news! Last week, after returning from Laos I was contacted by the International Affairs Specialist from the Garden of Hope Foundation based in Taiwan. I was asked if I would be interested in writing and editing some fact sheets for the Asian Girl Campaign – “a region-wide movement to promote the UN International Day of the Girl Child around Asia”. Of course, being right up my alley, I said yes. I will now be writing three factsheets to be distributed as part of an action kit to smaller organisations in the Asian region in order to promote and advocate for girls’ rights (“Empower girls – Empower the world”). I will be writing about child labour, early/forced marriage, and education rights.
Photo courtesy of the Asian Girl Campaign
As stated on the Asian Girl Campaign website:
In Asia, girls are largely neglected and devalued. Selective sex abortions and infanticide are still problems in developing Asian nations, while in more developed areas of the region, girls are under constant pressure to look good and conform to unrealistic ideals, which damages their self esteem.
That’s why we want to use the Asian Girl Human Rights Campaign to:
- Raise awareness of the problems facing Asian girls
- Empower and invest in Asian girls
- Challenge the Asian stereotypes about girls
- Help Asian girls join decision-making processes
- Help Asian girls escape violence and discrimination
- Help parents, guardians, families … and boys value Asian girls
(C) Elise Stephenson
I’m really excited to be working with the Garden of Hope Foundation and the Asian Girl Campaign. This is exactly the kind of work that I want to do in the future – so I am really grateful to have the opportunity to do this work now. Keep your eyes out, and in the coming weeks you should see what I’ve produced for the organisation. Oh, and don’t forget to go and like their Facebook page – this is an important cause and they need all the support they can get!
(C) Elise Stephenson
