International Day of the Girl in Essaouira

PCV Olivia fills us in about her work for International Day of the Girl Child. More information about Olivia's service is available on her blog. More resources on tackling issues around girls and education can be found on the GAD Resources page

The UN declared October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child two years ago in order to “recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.” Days dedicated to certain populations, causes, or movements serve as reminders to get informed and act but should not be left at that. Girls should be recognized, celebrated, and empowered everyday. 

Unfortunately, making gender equality a reality can be daunting. Challenges laced within societies and culture can seem impossible to overcome. Whole communities, men, women, boys and girls need to have the same mindset when it comes to empowering a gender who has been oppressed for so long and still struggles to gain footing in places all over the world. Often times “gender work” is labeled as a separate entity–relating only to women–but really gender work is present in all levels of development and without it, true development can never be achieved.

There is an abundant number of gender related resources worth utilizing and Girl Rising is one of them. Girl Rising is a global movement for girls’ education based primarily around a 2013 film that featured 9 girls and their stories of overcoming gender-based adversity in order to go to school. I unknowingly set out to do a Girl Rising screening the same week of the Day of the Girl and even more coincidentally, the week after the Nobel Peace Prize winner was announced.

Malala Yousafzai, is a Pakistani activist who was shot by the Taliban amidst her fight for female education and she is the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Malala’s photo and one of her quotes was projected on the large screen and as the first few girls entered the room, I overheard girls who came early to the event say how “Zwin”, beautiful, her quote was. Someone to admire, someone not all too different from them–a strong, young, muslim, a girl.

The event took shape after sharing the idea of doing a simple Girl Rising screening at Dar Souiri, a popular cultural center in Essaouira. After speaking with a counterpart, we set out make it an event rather than just a screening in the hopes that it would be the start to a deeper dialogue and further action. He expressed that many people would be on board with this and that involving as many people and associations as possible, the better.

Close to 200 women, girls, men, and boys came to the event. Aside from the film, girls from Essaouira were the vocal point of the event. Bnat Haddyate Sourite, a group of young female Sufi musicians performed at the start of the event and a short play and song on the importance of educating girls done by Essaouira’s English ACCESS program. The event ended with a forum discussion including three female students (two high school and one approaching her first year in university), one physical education teacher, the director of Association Bayti Essaouira, and president of Association Argania.

Seeing girls of Essaouira, many of them girls I have grown close with, on stage performing and/or speaking in front of a large audience was something special. Siham Alahyane was a huge help the entire night–her English is phenomenal and she translated for me the entire night (stress and trying to speak Darija don’t mix well). It will be hard to forget one girl, Siham Lajila, who sat on the panel for the discussion portion of the event. Earlier in the night she came to me worried and nervous wanting to opt out. However, not only did she decide to stick with it but she was an absolute rockstar. She spoke with fire, the utmost confidence and conviction. After one panelist spoke, she confidently pulled the microphone in front of her expressing how angry she was that a conversation like this even has to exist. She spoke on how important education is and why it should not be a struggle for girls. She said she was sick of hearing “Hshuma”, shame on you, when the boy next to her never had to hear it.

During the discussion between the audience and the panelists many points came up including lack of support from parents encouraging their daughters to be well educated, boys harassing girls on school grounds and the lack of respect given to girls opinions inside the classroom. Of course it was made aware that not all parents, teachers and boys are the same and that many of them are empowering the girls of Essaouira to not only stay in school but to continue onto university and the job market.

Once the event concluded, three teachers approached me insisting the Girl Rising film and discussion be shown in schools. The staff suggested we coordinate monthly conversations in Dar Souiri. Each girl on the panel and several in the audience who spoke wished for more discussion and events like this in the future.

The feedback for more events and discussions like this really shows that people of Essaouira want what is best for everyone in their community not just half the population. The support of people from multiple networks and fields is important considering, especially, that gender equality is across all people from all backgrounds and  in every community. We are committed to celebrating and fighting for the rights of girls everyday.