News
We’re standing up for girls’ education around the world
Today, October 11, 2017, in celebration of International Day of the Girl, the GDST will launch, in collaboration with 15 international organisations, a Pledge in support of girls’ education around the world.
What originated as a conference for girls’ school educators in February 2016 became much more significant. It signalled the start of a movement—a call to action to awaken the world to the importance of empowering girls through a single, inalienable right: access to a quality education. The GDST and partners from across the globe are eager to take the next step in making our voices heard and for educators of girls to lead this conversation.
The first-ever Global Forum on Girls’ Education® attracted nearly 1,000 attendees from 23 countries and resulted in a call to action to awaken the world to the importance of empowering girls through education.
The Pledge articulates the excitement, opportunity, and imperative to stand up—and speak up—for girls’ education around the world. The concepts conveyed in the Pledge—inspiration, confidence, collaboration, empowerment—reflect the common interests of our diverse, yet mission-aligned, partners working together on the Global Forum on Girls’ Education® II.
The Pledge will be distributed via Change.org, the world’s platform for change. This will allow supporters of the movement easy access to sign and share the Pledge regardless of geographic location.
The Pledge conveys the unified strength within the girls’ school and girls’ education communities and is intended for girls’ education advocates of all ages.
Global Forum on Girls’ Education® II : June 18-20, 2018
Founded by the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools (NCGS), the first-ever Global Forum on Girls’ Education® was held February 7-9, 2016, in New York, NY. The groundbreaking conference was conceived to address the “flattening” of our world and the increasing connectedness between countries, cultures, and individuals, and how educators play a critical role in empowering girls with tools and an informed perspective to become influential contributors to and leaders of this complex and changing world.
The Global Forum on Girls’ Education® II will bring together educators, advocates, researchers, and authors from across the globe to exchange best practices and innovative approaches for academic excellence and the healthy development of girls. In addition to internationally recognised keynote speakers, the Global Forum II will offer breakout sessions that delve into universal themes in girls’ education, including Leadership & Empowerment, Health & Wellness, Equity & Inclusion, and Innovation & STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Education, among other key topics.
