How can we connect girls and inspire their futures? Blog for International Women’s Day 2012

This year, Gender Across Borders and CARE will host the Third Annual Blog for International Women’s Day, a day where bloggers, writers, and humanitarian organizations are asked to write about the International Women’s Day theme on March 8. This year’s theme is “Connecting Girls, Inspiring Futures” and we are asking bloggers to address one or both of the following points:

• How can we, as a culture and as members of the global community, involve, educate, and inspire girls in a positive way?
• Describe a particular organization, person, group or moment in history that helped to inspire a positive future and impact the minds and aspirations for girls.

This event, which will be held on March 8 at http://genderacrossborders.com, aims to expand awareness of the issues that girls around the world face today. Of the 101 million illiterate youth in the world, more than half are girls (source). Providing girls with education not only lifts individuals out of poverty, but communities and countries as well (source). The investment in educating girls may go further than any other spending in global development (source). We see Blog for International Women’s Day as a platform for people to come to together to discuss ways to inspire and educate girls around the world.

Throughout the day of March 8, Gender Across Borders will have an ongoing live blog of what you have to say about “Connecting Girls, Inspiring Futures.” To sign up for this event, go to: http://genderacrossborders.com/blogforiwd. We will also feature articles from our staff writers about issues that girls around the world face today.

In addition to the blogging event on March 8, Gender Across Borders will co-host SheParty, a weekly virtual happy hour hosted by the Women’s Media Center. On Wednesday, March 7 from 3-5pm EST, we will discuss the theme of “Connecting Girls, Inspiring Futures.” Log on to Twitter and search the #sheparty hashtag to join the conversation with @womensmediacntr, @GABspeaks, and others!

Can’t wait until March 8 for Blog for International Women’s Day?  Follow the event’s progress through our mailing list, blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr. If you’d like more information about this event, please contact Emily Heroy at emily@genderacrossborders.com.