To mark the 2013 United Nations International Day of the Girl, today, Oct. 11, Nova Scotia has launched the new edition of its educational resource, Guide for Girls.
The guide helps raise awareness of the rights of girls and the unique challenges they face every day.
It is part of efforts to address bullying and cyberbullying behaviour.
The guide, produced by the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women, is for girls between the ages of 12 to 15, and provides information on real-life issues and life experiences they may face in all aspects of life, including girl empowerment, healthy relationships, educational and vocational aspirations, community engagement and celebrating diversity. It is interactive so girls can explore and reflect on their own situations.
“Commemorating International Day of the Girl is an opportunity to raise awareness about the issues and initiatives that are important for girls, with girls,” said Stephanie MacInnis Langley, executive director of the Advisory Council on the Status of Women. “The guide complements the global theme of Innovating for Girls’ Education. It’s a resource that girls can relate to. It covers real issues and situations that girls face every day.”
Guide for Girls, 3rd edition, represents a major update from the 2nd edition, published in 2008. The new guide was a collaborative project, with input from over 50 government and community groups.
Mavis Suh, Information and Referral Program co-ordinator, African Diaspora Association of the Maritimes was involved with the revision of the guide and is quite happy with the result.
“As a community worker with immigrants of African descent, I really appreciated the message in the guide that diversity is the beauty that makes each of us unique. For people of different cultures, the guide is inclusive and I feel that it speaks to girls from all cultural backgrounds.”
This edition was designed with assistance from Nova Scotia Community College first-year graphic design students.
“Working on the Guide for Girls was a creative, fun, and rewarding project”, said Tara Andrews, a member of the student team. “It makes me proud to know that my work will help positively influence and encourage young girls to reach for their dreams for years to come.”
The guide also introduces its readers to some of the resources, services and programs available in communities, and highlights traditional and non-traditional careers for women.
For more information on the International Day of the Girl and to download an English copy of Guide for Girls, 3rd edition, visit www.women.gov.ns.ca/ . A French version of the guide will be available in the coming months.
Source: Release
