5 Ways To Celebrate International Day Of The Girl
On October 11, people around the world will come together with the goal to better girls’ lives.
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
Photos by Collin Hughes of the GGRF Athletic Scholars in Bekoji, Ethiopia.
“One of the soundest investments we can make is in girls—in educating them, empowering them and keeping them healthy.”
–Ban Ki Moon
This Tuesday, Oct. 11, marks the sixth year that people all around the world will come together to celebrate International Day of the Girl.
What is this day all about? In 2011, The United Nations declared the day “to help galvanize worldwide enthusiasm for goals to better girls’ lives, providing an opportunity for them to show leadership and reach their full potential.” It’s a day when groups come together under the same goal to highlight, discuss and take action to advance rights and opportunities for girls everywhere.
As runners, we are motivated and motivate through fitness. So this year, let’s celebrate International Day of the Girl together!
Here’s how:
- Come out for the International Day of the Girl Run in Harlem on Oct 11.
If you are in New York City—or close enough to travel to it—join me as I cohost a special event celebrating International Day of the Girl and benefiting Girls Gotta Run Foundation. Meet at 7 p.m. at Streetbird (2149 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York, NY 10027). RSVP by donating $25 to Girls Gotta Run.
- Host your own IDG 5K run in your ‘hood Oct 8-11 and share your run on social media using #IDG5K.
- Provide Athletic Scholarships for girls in Ethiopia by contributing to the GGRF IDG Campaign.
Girls Gotta Run Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that invests in girls who use running and education to empower themselves and their communities. GGRF is the only non-profit organization in Ethiopia using the national sport of running as an innovative approach to creating safe spaces, ending child marriage and expanding access to secondary school for vulnerable girls.
- Share what or who you #runfor on the International Day of the Girl and join the conversation on what inspires women and girls to invest in themselves through running.
- Join the global movement in support of girls. Learn more about the challenges girls face and the opportunities available to invest in the power of girls to build a better future for themselves and their communities.
“The evidence is very clear: when we invest in girls’ education, and we embrace women in our workforce, that doesn’t just benefit them, it benefits all of us.”
– Michelle Obama
So, how will you spend International Day of the Girl? Be sure to use #IDG5K and #RunFor and tag @girlsgottarun so we can follow along your celebration!