Rootsians celebrate International Day of the Girl Child

Islamabad
The students of Government Primary School for Girls, Kothan Kalan, were invited at Roots Ivy, DHA-1, to celebrate UN International Day of the Girl Child 2015 with compassion, enthusiasm, pride and appreciation to acknowledge girls as a population that face grave challenges including gender inequality and violence, child labour, early marriage, discrimination at home and to promote girl child rights. They were greeted warmly and enthusiastically by the host students, says a press release.
Neha Omair, aged 11, a student of Roots Ivy, DHA-1, a social entrepreneur, initiated a community project titled 'Liberating the Girl Child Foundation' (LGCF) by adopting a Government Primary School for Girls, Kothan Kalan, Morgah, Rawalpindi in 2009.
She mobilised her entire school and as a result of her efforts, hundreds of young students volunteered to upgrade the school by painting the classrooms, providing colorful furniture, decorating the bulletin boards relevant to the class course content, setting up a library, construction of two rooms and establishing an ICT laboratory. The students of Roots Ivy, DHA-1 raised funds by arranging bake sales, funfairs and were able to motivate and inspire others to join in their efforts. As a result Rotary International also recognized the endeavors of these young Rootsians.
Roots students joined hands to make this day extra special by conducting special activities including heartrending speeches, national songs, fund raising, cake cutting ceremony, wearing pink accessories to support this cause, poster competitions and giving special goody bags containing bangles, clips, earrings, hair bands, jewelry and mehndi to the under-privileged girl students of Government School, Kothan Kalan, Morgah, Rawalpindi.
Rootsians that were heading other community service projects like Pink Ribbon breast cancer awareness Pakistan, 'Ehsaas Pakistan' also supported this cause. The campus echoed with national songs like "Hum maaein, hum bhehenein, hum baitiaan" as everyone sang together in perfect harmony hoping for a brighter, enlightened, educated and prosperous Pakistan.
The term "Girl Child" is commonly used to distinguish the difficult challenges faced by girls under the age 18 from those faced by women. The UN International Day of the Girl Child is celebrated to acknowledge girls as a population that faces grave challenges including gender inequality and violence. This year marks the fourth International Day of the Girl Child.
Speaking on the occasion Khadija Mushtaq said, "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. it is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. our playing a small role does not serve the world."
A special message from RSS Founder Riffat Mushtaq was also read out, "Empowering women is empowering humanity. One of the best ways to achieve all of these goals is to provide girls with the education they deserve. On this international day of the girl child, let us work together to invest in education so that girls can advance in their personal development and contribute to our common future".
The day ended with the pledge, "No girl will be left out from school. We have to invest in girls as investing in girls is investing in humanity." At the end, Khadija Mushtaq also awarded students of Roots Ivy/ DHA-1 that won the RCS Commonwealth Essay competition 2015, winners of Froebel's Model United Nations and MUNIST 15.