Purpose

To be able to identify and analyze similarities and differences between the lives of girls and boys where you live and in your country, compared with in another country. To reflect on how a lack of gender equality can affect societal development.

Preparations

Hand out, or let your pupils choose a story about vulnerable children who are fighting for equal rights for girls. Here we are using an example from Zimbabwe, but there are other stories that work just as well.

Do it like this

1. Let the learners read stories quietly, or out loud to one another in pairs/groups. They can also watch a video.
2. Let the learners write down:
   - Three similarities and three differences between the lives of girls and boys in the stories compared with their own community.
   - At least three methods that children in the stories are using to improve equal rights for girls.
3. Gather everyone together and get them to talk about what similarities and differences they discovered. Which methods do they think could improve girls’ equal rights where you live.
4. Ask the participants to think quietly about the question:
   Why is it important for a country’s development, for example, for girls and boys, women and men to have equal rights?