By: Peggy Belanger, RC of Kennebunk/Portside
Immediate Past District Governor, D7780/2020 - 2021
RI D7780 Membership Co-Director
Zone 32 Empowering Girls Ambassador
The Empowering Girls Initiative is one of three Presidential Initiatives for Rotary year 2021-2022 as we Serve to Change Lives.
The initiative is focused on club-level projects through which Rotary clubs can create positive change in the lives of girls.
Specifically, the initiative challenges clubs to:
- Engage in a project or projects of their choice that empowers girls.
- Address the needs and inequities that girls throughout the world face on a daily basis.
- Implement a project, then monitor and measure the impact of the project.
- Disseminate and create awareness of Rotary resources and subject matter experts, including but not limited to: Rotary Action Groups, Rotary Foundation cadre and Peace Fellows.
- Tell the stories of successful projects and their impact to the general public, using a variety of media channels.
- Share the stories of success and their impact across their region and post them on Rotary Showcase, as well as on social media channels.
District 7780, it is my honor to represent our District as well as 5 other Districts in Zone 32 as a newly appointed “Empowering Girls Champion”, to address one of the three RI President Shekhar’s Initiatives.
In the coming weeks and months, I will share with you about what I have learned/am learning, engage clubs/districts in projects, inform and educate, and create awareness.
I will host several Focus Groups to discuss how clubs can look at local and international projects currently being done to Enhance Safety, Health, Education & Well-Being of girls. This initiative has proven to be a means to break the cycle of poverty and strengthen economies.
In the words of President Shakhar, “Everything we do should have a lens for empowering girls.”