BY ANNA COX Understanding and action: How Viva’s partner network in Patna is developing girls as rights advocates Every 18 months, we gather together with our colleagues from around the world to share experiences, develop strategy and build relationships. During our most recent international team meetings, I had the privilege of interviewing Devesh Lal […]
Tag: Girls
Freedom for girls in India
Thanks to Viva supporters, we raised £30,000 for our Christmas Match Appeal to bring new hope and freedom to girls who face violence, harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse because of their gender. In India, the ‘Dare to be different’ mentoring programme run by our partner networks is turning around the lives of hundreds of girls. […]
Girls make a journey of self-discovery
BY ANDREW DUBOCK “I wish I was a boy.” Akansha’s words stuck in my head, as I grappled with the question: ‘how could any girl think like this?’ Yet Akansha’s thoughts are not isolated – according to a survey by the government’s Ministry of Women and Child Development, almost half of girls in India have […]
Breaking the cycle of gender inequality
OPINION: BARONESS CAROLINE COX When inequality is ingrained in society, it becomes a self-perpetuating cycle that is difficult to break. In many countries, there is gender discrimination against girls and women through all stages of life. Before birth, girl foeticide is practised in places including China and India. This is often for financial reasons including […]
More than a dowry: India’s girls’ real value
In India, almost two-thirds more girls than boys die before their fourth birthday.* Jane Travis explains why such a low value is placed on girls’ lives there, how Viva is changing attitudes towards gender inequality and building confidence in India’s precious daughters. “It’s a girl!” Three simple words pronounced at birth that should evoke tears […]
Four tips to help girls thrive
I asked my eight year old daughter for her advice before writing this and she summed it up by saying, “Never give up!” – a good mantra for any aspiring young leader! Of course, to really influence the way your daughter sees the world, you have to be a role model. And that is […]
Breaking new ground in Indian girls’ lives
‘Abortion’ was today’s topic. As the 30 teenage girls passed around model foetuses, and listened to the teaching, I soon discovered that most had never heard about babies’ development before – and some of the group were on the verge of adulthood.