International Day of the Girl
Youth ambassadors, including Rifa (top left) taking part in Plan International Canada’s Girls Belong Here in 2019. supplied
Celebrating voices, actions and initiatives for a more equitable future on October 11
Girls Belong Here – that’s the theme of a Plan International Canada program that places girls in leadership positions for a day during which they can learn from leaders and leaders learn from them. It is part of a global movement to amplify the voices, stories, ideas and experiences of girls.
Efforts to advance gender equality have gained in significance and urgency as impacts from the global pandemic threaten to roll back recent achievements. Fortunately, the 2020 Girls Belong Here program will proceed in a virtual format, ensuring continuing engagement among girls and their participating mentors.
‘You can change the world’
Ramandeep, a 15-year-old student from Brampton, Ontario, is excited about her upcoming day at Twitter Canada.
Her strong interest in technology was sparked in grade seven when she had a chance to hone her technological skills on projects that included working on artificial intelligence. “I like creating things from scratch,” she says. “And I realized that technological solutions can be leveraged to solve lots of different issues like climate change, for example. I’ve been thinking about two potential career paths, either becoming a software engineer or leading a technology startup where I can use technology for social good.”
Ramandeep has noticed a lack of role models in the technology industry that could discourage girls from choosing “fields where they don’t see themselves represented,” she says. “My inspiration has been Joan Clarke, who helped to crack the Enigma code and pursued her passion even at the time when there were many barriers for women in science and technology.”
A gifted mathematician, Ms. Clarke was part of the Bletchley Park team who broke the German encryption codes, giving the Allied Forces a crucial advantage in World War II. The lesson Ramandeep takes from her role model’s success is one she wants to share with other girls: “Never let anyone tell you to stop doing something just because of your gender. You can do what you want; you can change the world.”
Diversity as a workplace advantage
Ramandeep is preparing for her Girls Belong Here experience with assistance from Plan International Canada’s alumnus ambassadors like Rifa, who took part in the program last year.
“It was absolutely incredible. I had the chance to step into the role of the head of Canadian Business Banking at BMO Financial Group,” says Rifa, who was 16 and in her final year of high school at the time.
Her day included attending meetings about business banking, participating in the BMO for Women Group, a presentation about BMO’s purpose, a tour of the bank’s first Canadian location and a roundtable lunch for BMO team members from different Toronto branches (BMO is the program’s executive sponsor for a third consecutive year).
While this opened her eyes to potential opportunities in the financial industry, the most powerful and transformative moment happened when Rifa had the chance to introduce herself at the table.
“I mentioned that I’m very introverted, so speaking to a group was a new experience for me,” she recalls. “And then afterwards, two people came up to me and said, ‘Hey, we’re introverts too. Don’t worry, you’ve got this.’”
Rifa had always felt that her quiet nature would prevent her from pursuing leadership positions. “Other than a school club or small team, I didn’t see myself as a leader on a larger scale or in a corporate setting,” she explains. “But from my day at BMO, I realized how exciting and impactful such a leadership role can be – and that it is definitely not out of my boundaries.”
Her awareness about the gender gap in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields – and her passion for addressing it – was inspired by a teacher who encouraged her to start a girls’ technology club. Now at university, Rifa combines her passions for empowering girls to pursue STEM fields and exploring sustainable development opportunities through engineering.
Her goal? To show that gender equality is not just a women’s issue but one that concerns everyone. “Diversity provides a broader range of views and helps to make workplaces more successful. That’s why we need to see women and marginalized people represented in leadership positions,” she says. “I came to realize that being introverted and a girl doesn’t have to hinder me. In fact, overcoming these challenges can make me a more capable and compelling leader.”
Starting discussions, even if they seem uncomfortable
The Girls Belong Here plan for Raiha includes stepping into the role of Lindsay Glassco, CEO and president of Plan International Canada.
“I’ve been involved with Plan International Canada since the 2019 Youth Summit, where I was able to connect with like-minded youth ambassadors,” says Raiha, now an 18-year-old university student. “From learning more about advocacy, public speaking and other leadership traits, I was inspired to found the U of R Champions of Change Club, which strives to advance gender equality.”
The seeds for Raiha’s passionate engagement were planted early, since she comes from a family of activists, with both her mother and grandmother dedicated to promoting women’s rights.
“Having role models in my home inspired me to develop my own leadership qualities,” she says. “Ever since I was little, I’ve been passionate about public speaking. I have participated in speaking competitions since elementary school and recently been involved in Plan International Canada’s storyteller symposium as well as podcasts and conferences.”
For finding a career path where she can best leverage her skills for achieving systemic change, Raiha considers entering the non-profit sector, law or politics.
In the meantime, she urges everyone to spark or join conversations about gender equality at home, in schools, workplaces and communities. And Raiha doesn’t shy away from controversial topics. An example is a Champions of Change Club campaign focused on menstruation.
“People rarely discuss menstruation, and when they do, it’s often spoken of in connection to shame and disgust,” she says. “We see menstruation as a natural biological process and menstrual products as basic necessities rather than luxuries. At the same time, we believe menstruation is definitely a barrier for women, and we advocate for providing basic necessities like menstrual products in workplaces and schools.”
The topic has provoked considerable backlash, according to Raiha. “I’ve had people come up and tell me it’s a stupid thing to focus on and that, as a leader, I should spend more energy on issues they believe are more important,” she notes. “Talking to people who might not necessarily agree with me has helped me be more open to difficult conversations and try to really understand different perspectives.”
For Raiha, much of the power of Plan International Canada’s program comes from “creating connections between youth and high-profile leaders to advance intergenerational discussions about advancing gender equality in the workplace.”
She adds, “Seeing girls in leadership positions has to become an everyday reality we all need to try to achieve.”
For more stories from this feature, visit globeandmail.com