In ‘You Me Equal Rights’, boys and girls fight together for equal rights for girls. What can you do to improve gender equality in your community and in your country.
Through ‘You Me Equal Rights’ you will contribute to fulfilling the UN Global Goal 5. This is about achieving greater equality between girls and boys, women and men. Online and in The Globe you’ll find out more about the vulnerable situation for girls and their struggle for empowerment.
Activity: You Me Equal Rights
Hand out one of the stories about children fighting for equal rights for girls in Zimbabwe. Get the participants to read quietly, or out loud to one another in pairs/groups .
Ask the participants to
write down:
• Three similarities and three differences between the lives of girls and boys in Zimbabwe compared with their own country.
• At least three methods that children in Zimbabwe are using to improve gender equality.
Gather everyone together and get them to talk about what similarities and differences they discovered, and which methods they think are best and would help improve equality between girls and boys, women and men in your country.
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? Get the participants to discuss in pairs, groups or the whole class how greater gender equality can lead to: reduced inequalities between people (Global Goal 10) more peaceful and inclusive societies (Global Goal 16)“I made a decision to try to be fair, honest and respectful to girls and women. My behaviour can start a trend of other young men treating women in the same way. This is my personal mission. It is something in my power to do.” Quinley, 17, South Africa
Activity: The Opinion Line on gender equality
Measure the gender equality temperature like this: Mark a line on the floor/ground using paper or string, for example. Ask all the participants to stand on the line. One end represents YES. Let the participants choose where to stand on the line based on how much or how little they agree with a particular statement. The participants can, of course, change their opinion and therefore their position on the line, having listened to other people’s opinions.
Start with simple statements to help the participants understand the method, like: “Buses travel faster than bicycles”.
Move on to statements about girls and boys. For example:
• Girls and boys always help out
with the household chores.
• Girls and boys have the same amount of time to do their homework.
• Girls and boys have the same amount of time for play and sport.
• Boys have the right to decide
over girls.
• Parents treat girls and boys equally.
• Girls get to decide when they want to get married.
• Everyone can make their own decision about whether they
want to identify as a girl or a boy.
• Girls and boys have the same opportunities in our country.
Global Goal 5 is about achieving greater equality between girls and boys, women and men. Many of the stories in The Globe are about the vulnerable situation for girls and their struggle for empowerment.
Imagine if children...
...could meet local leaders and demand that they think about what’s best for children and about equal rights for girls when they make decisions....could change attitudes towards girls and boys where you live, so society becomes more equal.
Related stories
PRIZE FOUNDATION
P.O, Box 150, SE-647 24
Mariefred, Sweden
Office address: Långgatan 13,
Mariefred, Sweden
Phone: +46-159-129 00
prize@worldschildrensprize.org
© & ® 2010 World's Children's
Prize Foundation
