FISD girls’ national summit to mark the International day of the Girl was held on the, 20th October 2017 at the lotus hall, BMICH.
FISD Girls National campaign “Girls Change the World” is aimed at engaging young girls in creating a dignified life where they are able to grow into their fullest capacities and reach their fullest potential. While aiming to addressing “ the issues relating to” gender norms and values (stereotypes) that are affecting girls, this campaign also looks at counteracting other determining factors which hinder their lives, such as Social expectations and perceptions on marriage, education and also on the socially constructed relationships between masculinity and violence/ aggressiveness, masculinity and substance abuse etc.,
The programme ‘’ Girl Change the World Summit’’ was conducted with the participation of nearly 400 school girls and 25 teachers covering 25 schools in the western province. Students from NISD and other invited organizations were also participated.
Mr. Ravi Kandiah Director FISD welcomed the participants and Mrs. Samitha Sugathimala, the Director FISD explained the aims and objectives of the national summit. Guest speech were delivered by Deputy Minister of Policy planning and Economic Development Hon. Dr. Harsha de Silva and, Hon. Chandrani Bundara, Minister to the Ministry of the women and child affairs, while Mrs. Ashoka Alawatta, additional secretary to the ministry of women and child affairs talked about the important intervention, taken up by the ministry to empower women and girls. Dr.Samantha Kithalawaarachch, Director, Presidential task Force, alcohol and drugs prevention unit, stressed the importance of involving Girls in the drug prevention process, in his reliable speech.
Jayanthi Kuru-Utumpala is the first Sri Lankan, and first Sri Lankan woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest (8,848m/29,030ft), a double record she achieved at 5:03am on 21 May 2016. She is a professional mountaineering and a forceful advocate of women’s rights and gender equality. In addition Jayanthi holds a Master’s Degree in Gender Studies from the University of Sussex, UK. She is currently serving as the first ever Goodwill Ambassador for Women’s Rights for the Ministry of Women’s Affairs. Delivering the key note speech of “ Girls change the world summit focused on the gender base discriminations which hinder the development of girls further she emphasized that steps needs to be taken to empower girls and get their effective contribution towards their development.
Mrs. .Madani Malwatta Popular dramatist performed a short section of the drama “ Suddek Oba Amathai’’ in line with the theme of the programme . The section on “Striyak Oba Amathai” deconstruct.
From the time of ancestors the traditional art of Sri Lankan drumming is based the confinement of men and has always been out of reach of the feminine touch. “Thuryaa” the first ever women s’ drums ensemble of Sri Lanka was invited to performed on the stage of Girls Summit their performance and the motivational speech related in empowering girls to think beyond the restriction.
The girls change the world summit programme conducted 03 workshops for school girls in separate group session. The following session was conducting in workshops.
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#Political Participation and Leadership
#Alcohol and Drugs Prevention by FISD
#Girls Empowerment and Challenging Gender Stereotypes by FISD