How to Get Involved This International Day of the Girl 2023

Updated: Jan 9

Madison Keatings

The International Day of the Girl aims to promote the empowerment of girls worldwide and create awareness of the incredible challenges they face, marking its eleventh anniversary on October 11, 2023. Each year Plan Canada calls for collective action, uniquely honoring this special day in various ways. In 2022, for the 10th anniversary of the International Day of the Girl, Plan International brought together over 35 partners in a 24-hour forum. The young women-led event both addressed ongoing challenges in the achievement of rights for girls and commemorated the progress that has already been made—uniting people across 130 countries! This year, Plan International Canada, in collaboration with Twitch Women’s Guild, is hosting a three-day event from October 11th-13th to raise awareness and money to “Beat the Clock”. The clock represents the 131 years that, according to the World Economic Forum, it will take to reach gender equality. Click here to learn more about previous initiatives held by Plan Canada on the International Day of the Girl.

In addition to the “Beat The Clock” event, there are various ways to get involved in this year's International Day of the Girl. Plan International offers a range of donation options including one-time donations, sponsoring a child, legacy gifts, and gifts of hope. For more information about donation methods, click here. Additionally, Champions of Change is now accepting orders for our Krispy Kreme Fundraiser. All proceeds will purchase “Send a Girl to School” gifts of hope, equipping girls in need with the tools to achieve an education.

Plan International’s Girls Belong Here Program aims to amplify marginalized voices and advocate for their rights by fostering connections between youth and leaders across various sectors. The Girls Belong Here Program occurs two times a year around International Girls Day in the fall and International Women’s Day in the spring. If you or someone you know is a youth between the ages of 14 and 24 seeking a leadership opportunity to advocate for the rights of girls, visit Plan’s website to apply!

Additional ways to get involved this International Day of the Girl include grabbing a copy of Plan’s “Because I am a Girl” book and joining the conversation on social media. Share what a #BrighterFuture for girls means to you, or participate in Plan’s Message to My Older/Younger Self Campaign– a digital campaign creating awareness for the International Day of the Girl and inspiring youth to see themselves as leaders. To take part, share a photo of yourself alongside a message to your older or younger self using the hashtag #EqualPowerNow. See below and check out our Instagram to see our executives’ take on the campaign!