My voice and equal future: The theme of International Girl Child Day was proved in true sense by the energetic Youth Advocates of Girls Advocacy Alliance in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana State of India.
The international Girl Child Day was observed across two States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana State under the leadership of our young and energetic Youth Advocates across two states. Around 240 Youth Advocates(180 girls and 60 boys) observed the day in collaboration with many civil society organisations, Government Officers and with guidance from the Girls Advocacy Alliance Project team.
One of the significant actions of the day was the recognition of our Youth Advocates by the Government Departments of Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh.
Under the aegis of the district magistrates all the departments invited GAA Youth Advocates in the age group of 11 to 16 to become the head of the departments for a day.
The positions offered by the Government are the District Magistrate and the deputy, Project Director for Women Development and Child Welfare,Child Development Project Officers,Project Director District Rural Development Authority,Municipality Commissioners and many more. The district collector had a video conference with these young officers and later the district administration circulated among all Government departments, the pictures of these girls on the chair as a gesture of honour to them.The Youth Advocates made decisions and passed orders during their day long position for the benefit of and the best interest of the girl child. Some of the decisions made by these youth advocates are to provide compensation by the perpetrators to a girl survivor of trafficking.
“One day I will be the full time director of the department”, says Santoshini, the one day project director of the Women development and child welfare department.
Besides the above, Government Authorities including the District Collectors in other districts of both states as well as a minister in one of the districts met with our youth advocates, honoured them with flower bouquets, prizes and mementos for their noble job for the society. Some youth advocates planted saplings of trees as a sign of their advocacy action and promised to continue their action along with the growth of these trees towards sustainability.
Children of India Foundation with support from Terre des Hommes Netherlands continuously builds the capacities of these youth advocates by equipping them with knowledge and skill on advocacy for the empowerment of girls children.
