The United Nations (UN), which launched International Day ten years ago, says: “Girls are ready for a decade of acceleration. It is time for all of us to take responsibility – with and for girls – and invest in a future that believes in their agency, leadership and potential.”
The Festival of the Girl helps achieve this goal with a one-day event where girls get the chance to join other girls and teens in workshops ranging from aerospace engineering to activism.
It will also address topics such as the body, mind, opportunity, feminism, and world issues, with the aim of encouraging girls to “realize that being a girl won’t stop them because being a girl is their superpower”.
Read below how you can participate in the Festival of the Girl.
What is International Girl’s Day?
The UN declared October 11 as International Girl Child Day in 2011, and it was first celebrated in 2012.
The day was established to “recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face worldwide”.
International Day of the Girl Child “also draws attention to the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and respect for their human rights.”
The UN says: “Empowering women and girls and promoting gender equality is crucial to accelerate sustainable development.
“Ending all forms of discrimination against women and girls is not only a fundamental human right, but also has a multiplier effect on all other areas of development.”
What is the Girl Festival?
The Festival of the Girl offers activities and workshops on a variety of topics, including aerospace engineering, gaming, surgery, Paralympic sports, choreography, activism, mental health, mechanics, football and magic.
The organizers said: “At this year’s festival we want to show girls what the future holds for them, let them try something new, have fun and leave with a boost of confidence.
“Be sure to join us so we can make sure all the girls realize their full potential!”
This year’s theme is Future Girl Pledge, which encourages both children and adults to pledge what they will do to change the world for the girls of the future. Participants can share their pledges on social media using the hashtag #FutureGirlPledge.
Where and when is the Girl Festival?
The festival takes place on Sunday 9 October at the Business Design Center in Islington, London.
The morning session starts at 10am and ends at 1pm and the afternoon session begins at 1:30pm and ends at 4:30pm.
How much do tickets cost and where do you buy them?
Tickets for the separate morning and afternoon sessions cost £5 for adults, £8.50 for children aged five to 15 and £5 for children aged three to four. Children up to and including two years old can enter for free.
A family ticket for two adults and three children costs €27. Please note that the tickets also have a 12 percent booking fee.
Tickets for the Festival of the Girl for sale online through Ticketsource.