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Portsmouth High School girls take part in World Wide Walk for Plan-UK
Over 400 girls from Portsmouth High School took part in Plan-UK’s 10km World Wide Walk on Tuesday 22 March 2016.
The World Wide Walk is a moment for girls across the UK to walk together in solidarity and raise vital funds to support Plan’s work, supporting girls to achieve their full potential and lift themselves out of poverty. Plan’s 76-year history has shown us that worldwide, no-one bears the brunt of poverty more than girls. Yet, in the right environment, girls can break the cycle of poverty. With education, protection and support, girls can transform their lives and their communities, becoming a powerful force for change.
Currently there are 66 million girls out of education globally. Girls across the UK will join together to walk ‘around the world’ (40,075km) and raise money to support girls in some of the world’s poorest countries. This year the campaign is focusing on assisting girls living in the world’s poorest communities who are denied the chance to go to school due to poverty, violence and discrimination. 47% of girls said they do not feel safe on their way to school because of the threat or fear of physical, verbal or sexual abuse on the journey.
Portsmouth High School girls walked across Southsea Common and along the seafront, completing 10km each, joining other GDST (Girls’ Day School Trust) schools in supporting the campaign.
The walk was officially started by the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Councillor Frank Jonas.
‘We take for granted the education that we receive in this country. The girls from Portsmouth High School are highlighting, and raising vital funds, for what is happening across the world and I applaud them for that.’
Headmistress, Mrs Jane Prescott, said: ‘We are walking today because we believe that all girls, wherever they live, deserve the opportunity to go to school, live a life free from violence and have their voices heard. The girls appreciate the education that they get at Portsmouth High School and have a very strong sense of social responsibility. I think it is very important for them to realise how fortunate they are.’
Anna Mackay, 18, Head Girl, said:
‘We are all so fortunate to receive an education and this is an act of solidarity with other schools to show that we care and we are supporting girls across the globe who aren’t as fortunate as we are.’
