CDS Student Speaks Out for International #DayOfTheGirl
For the past few years, Anna Croxon ’20 has been involved with Plan International Canada, a not-for-profit that strives to advance children’s rights and gender equality. Through her involvement, last summer she received an invitation to apply for a seat share with Plan Canada’s Girls Belong Here initiative; an exciting lead up to the October 11th International Day of the Girl. Girls Belong Here encourages young women from around the country to apply for different opportunities to spend a day alongside CEOs, Presidents, business leaders and senior leadership.
Anna submitted her application right away, and in short order learned that she had been selected and matched with Caroline Riseboro, the President and CEO of Plan International Canada – a group she is passionate about.
On September 9, Anna spent the day in Toronto at the Plan International Canada headquarters with Ms. Riseboro. She had shared access to Ms. Riseboro’s Twitter and Instagram accounts, engaged with other Plan International staff, offered her perspective while attending meetings, and even sat in on a CanWaCH (Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health) Board meeting.
Ms. Riseboro posted these impressions on Instagram the next day, “Reflecting on an incredible day yesterday with Anna as part of @plancanada’s Girls Belong Here initiative. There is no better reminder of why our work is so important than to share my seat with a young person who is passionate about our movement. It illustrates the incredible power within every girl and young woman, and reminds me that when we break down the barriers to leadership that many young women face, the possibilities are endless.”
Not only was the day personally rewarding for Anna, but she has received quite a few follow up requests since, including an invitation to participate in a BMO Day of the Girl Roundtable (watch the video here), an interview on “The Great Canadian Woman” podcast with Sarah Swain [https://greatcanadianwomanpodcast.libsyn.com/international-day-of-the-girl-with-grade-12-youth-ambassador-anna-croxon], and an October 10 interview with Plan International about International Day of the Girl on CP24.
According to Anna, the significance of International Day of the Girl, which the Canadian government led the United Nations to officially declare as October 11 eight years ago, is twofold. “It’s so important to recognize how far we’ve come, both globally and nationally we’ve made great strides for gender equality. But it’s just as important to realize there is much work still to do. There are many hidden gender discrepancies that we aren’t even aware of or don’t see here in Canada. Many countries aren’t even close to achieving gender equality.”
Now in its fourth year, Girls Belong Here is about empowering young women to believe in and unleash their true leadership potential. According to Plan International’s website, “between September 10 and October 10, more than 30 seat shares took place in the GTA, Vancouver, Montreal, Chicago and London, at companies including BMO Financial Group, Ikea Canada, Loblaws, Lululemon, and Manulife.”
Join Plan International Canada’s International Day of the Girl conversations online at #DayoftheGirl.
Land Acknowledgment
The Country Day School wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. Our nearest Indigenous Nations are now the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Chippewas of Georgina Island. The Dish with One Spoon Wampum covenant is often cited as an example of the shared responsibility for caring for these lands among the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples who would call these their traditional territories. CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection to this land can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for the land and waters for future generations.
School Information
Junior, Middle and Senior Schools
13415 Dufferin Street, King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
13415 Dufferin Street, King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
