October 11 is the first ever International Day of the Girl declared by the United Nations to recognize girls rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.
The Day of the Girl is about "highlighting, celebrating, discussing, and advancing girls lives and opportunities across the globe. When girls come together to talk about what really matters to us, we can teach other people–grownups, boys, girls all across the world–a new way of thinking about issues like gender stereotypes, discrimination, and opportunity."
Girls in Canada have amazing opportunities but, still fall behind boys in many areas. At the recent 2012 BC Summer Games 43% of the athletes were girls and only 35% of the head coaches and officials. The numbers at the 2012 BC Winter Games were more encouraging with girls making up 62% of athletes, 44% of the head coaches and 56% of the officials.
The BC Games Society celebrates the achievements of girls and women who make the BC Games a pinacle success in their lives. One shining example is the winner of the W.R. Bennett Award for Athletic Excellence from the 2012 BC Summer Games. Channel Botsis won three gold medals and set a new Games record in javelin.
The mother and daughter team of Deborah and Alyssah Carter made an impression at the BC Summer Games. Deborah coaches the Special Olympics Athletics team and Alyssah usually assists but she was chosen to represent Fraser River Delta in Rugby. The two have an extrordinary bond as Alyssah was adopted from Haiti when she was three years old. They call themselves "Team Zebra". Read their story here.
The Abbotsford-Mission Times recently interviewed 16 year old identical twins Chelsea and Mackenzie Fowler about their gold medal performance in Rugby at the BC Summer Games. Read the article here.
These amazing girls and women are worth celebrating on International Day of the Girl.