In 2021, District Governor Jeremy Wright in D9675, made the appointment of an Ambassador for Empowering Women and Girls. This was in direct response to the call to action from our Rotary International President Shekar Mehta, whose passion is to empower women and girls. This is specifically in countries where the rights of women and girls are not clearly acknowledged and where war and violence, frighten families and women and children, every day. This also includes trauma close to our communities, where women and children flee domestic violence, where refugees and asylum seekers need assistance with resettlement, where women coming out of prison or surviving the suicide of their partner also need support to take that next step, to be empowered to re-enter the work force or enter for the first time.

 

Empowering girls means, not only supporting them, to ensure that their basic needs are met, but also working to transform the structures and institutions, that reinforce and perpetuate gender discrimination and inequality.

 

This award will recognise clubs which aim to support strategies that nurture girl’s and women’s developing self-confidence and empower them to make their voices heard and realise their full potential. It will recognise strategies that support women and girls, irrespective of beliefs, culture, or historical prejudice.

 

 

Participating in the Empowering Women and Girls Award enables us to support two of Rotary’s  Area of Focus: Maternal and Child Health and Basic Education and Literacy.