At
the International Convention held in Stockholm, Sweden, in 2000 it was
agreed that an International Inner Wheel social project should be established.
Suggestions for a suitable project were received from various countries,
and at the Convention held in Florence, Italy, in 2003 it was announced
that the chosen project would be the UNICEF Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus
programme (MNT) with the aim to eradicate maternal and neonatal tetanus.
In
2006, at the Christchurch Convention, it was agreed that the next International
Social Project would be UNICEF Girls’ Education.
Speech
given to launch the project
"Nothinghas as remarkable
an impact on children and young people as a good education. It enables
them to make genuine choices over the kind of lives that they wish to
lead and ultimately opens an infinite number of doors that otherwise
would very probably remain closed.
For more than 130 million 6-11 year old children, almost 60% of which
are girls, the doors remain firmly shut, as their fundamental human
right to education is denied. By the age of 18, girls have received
on average 4.5 years less education than boys.
Denying girls of their right to a quality education effectively denies
them of all other human rights and diminishes the chances of succeeding
generations, particularly those of their daughters, to develop to their
fullest potential.
In every region of the world, gender discrimination is pervasive and
persistent, affecting all aspects of the lives of women and girls. Its
powerful influence on a young girl’s life is evident as families
decide whether daughters should attend school - Poverty; Cultural practices
and traditions; HIV/AIDS; lack of employment opportunities; distance
from home - are all factors.
When they do make it to school they struggle with systems ill-suited
to their needs – lack of textbooks; sexual harassment; insecurity
and inappropriate facilities.
The loss of potential is not only for girls, as the social and economic
benefits of an educated female population have been documented in many
countries, as have the positive effects that accrue for all students
– boys as well as girls – when educational systems are free
of gender bias. When a society educates girls it is one of the best
investments it can make. An educated woman has the skills, information
and self-confidence she needs to be a better parent, worker and citizen.
Educating girls educates nations.
An educated woman tends to make more independent personal, economic
and political decisions; she is able to stand up for herself and make
healthy choices such as protecting herself and her children - especially
from HIV/AIDS - and she will encourage her children to be well educated.
An educated mother tends to be healthier and raise a healthier family;
she often marries later which will dramatically reduce her risk of developing
infection and dying during childbirth and her babies are more likely
to survive the first year of life. She will most probably breast feed
her children and they in turn are more likely to be immunized and be
better nourished. The family income increases as educated women are
more productive at home and better paid in the workplace. This in turn
can help eradicate poverty; promote peace; decrease social burdens on
governments and produces a larger and better prepared workforce.
So what is necessary to bridge the gender gap? The most vulnerable children
must be included; the reasons why girls are not enrolled and why they
do not succeed as well as boys must be understood. Education should
be free or low cost; there should be alternative programmes and flexible
schedules. Learning environments should be safe and parental involvement
encouraged. More female role models in education, bias-free curricular
and textbooks and a commitment to quality are all major factors.
Women have emerged as major agents of social progress – as citizens,
community leaders and mothers. Their education is critical to sustaining
this momentum. Without swift and concerted action, another generation
of girls will be left in the margins, their human rights unfulfilled.
The most urgent priority is to ensure access to, and improve the quality
of, education for girls and women, and to remove every obstacle that
hampers their active participation.
We are so fortunate to have received a good education; let us help to
ensure that it is the norm for every girl. When you return to your Clubs
please talk to your members, enthuse them and encourage them positively
to support this most important project. Now it is up to you and remember:-
Inner Wheel members make a difference!
Inner Wheel changes lives!"
Donations
(made payable to International Inner Wheel) should be sent to International
Inner Wheel Headquarters office.
