Becoming a digital ambassador for Plan UK
Earlier this year I was delighted to receive an email from Plan UK, a branch of the international children’s charity, inviting me to join them for an afternoon of networking (with tea and cake – they know me well!) to find out more about their girls’ rights campaign, ‘Because I am a Girl’.
I’ve been a supporter of Plan since I first started sponsoring a girl in India through them, well over ten years ago now.
While travelling I have met many girls and women who have been affected by some of the issues Plan are campaigning about and I’ve been involved with a few of their campaigns before so I was delighted to have the opportunity to find out more about their work.
There was just a small group of us which meant we had a chance to speak to everyone. A fascinating and very enjoyable day followed, at the end of which I was very happy to accept their invite to become a digital ambassador for Plan UK, writing about their campaigns, attending events and promoting their goals through my blog and social media networks.
I hope to learn, not just the facts and figures, but also to gain a greater understanding of the issues behind these campaigns.
Face Up: Putting girls’ rights where they can’t be ignored
Listen to Girls’ voices
Mary, 13, from Mali, was seven when she was forced to undergo FGM.“I still remember the day I was cut, and I even remember the lady who did it – she is friends with my mother. She came to my house with my grandmother and pulled me to the toilet. I was terrified. I kicked and screamed and tried to run, but I was not strong enough.Since then Plan has helped my community to learn of the serious health problems FGM causes, and now my younger sisters will not be cut. FGM will be an old story here now.”
Lamana, from Cameroon, was 15 when she was forced into a violent marriage. “Each time he wanted to have sex with me, he beat me badly. He wouldn’t allow me to leave the house, and I felt so depressed I tried to take my own life. My father was sad, but he didn’t want me to leave the marriage because of what people would think about our family.With Plan’s help, I’ve returned to school to study computer science with the support of my family. Now I’m free from the marriage and I’ve learned I have the power to take control of my life.”
The third International Day of the Girl
Friday 10th October 2014
Calling all Londoners
If you live or work in London, grab the chance to try out a Face Up photo booth, which will be placed at Waterloo Stations on Saturday.
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Great post. Plan UK are a brilliant charity. They do some really inspirational work and I too am very happy to support them. I hope lots of people FaceUp to girls’ rights! Loving seeing all the pictures of people who have offered their support already.
Thank you very much for supporting this campaign
Such a worthwhile cause – and congratulations on becoming an ambassador. I’ve been sponsoring a young Vietnamese girl for two years now which is incredibly rewarding – all due to you bringing Plan to my attention. Thank you.
Thanks Suzanne and thank you for supporting Plan 🙂
Kat-Ditto on the congrats for becoming the digital ambassador for such a great cause. I’m happy to help you raise awareness through our social media channels.
Thanks Alison, it all adds up!
Thanks for bringing my attention to this Kat, a great campaign. Plan UK do great things, we sponsor a little boy in Africa for many years now
Great campaign to be involved with Kat – I totally support these issues. I support myself through sponsoring the education of a young girl in India via a charity I’m involved with. I do believe that keeping girls in education as long as possible increases their opportunities and reduces the chances of early marriages.
We’ve been sponsoring a boy in Tanzania for about 10 years now also. Unfortunately, the original boy/family we were sponsoring just suddenly moved without trace (this happens, apparently – essentially just migration) so our sponsorship has shifted to another child now. We get occasional updates on his progress which is always good to receive.
Sounds like a great campaign they have going. I had already stumbled upon it prior to seeing this here so it sounds like it could be gathering momentum.
That’s really good to know Paul, thanks
Congratulations Kathryn on becoming a Digital Ambassador for this super important cause. I had no idea of the extent of it, and the two girls’ stories that you include in the post are extremely moving. I have already set up a few of your suggested tweets. That’s also a clever idea, to have them ready for visitors.
Thanks so much Jackie, that’s great!