Showing posts with label photos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photos. Show all posts

14 November 2012

Right to Education: Bibliophilia!

#girlwithabook

Following up with the Malala initiative, here we have girls reading in Spain and in Slovakia.


And some of this seems to be a clear dedication to Naomi Wolf's Promiscuities: The Secret Struggle for Womanhood (or a Secret History of Female Desire) (1998).

Keep reading!

29 October 2012

World Summit Youth Award for I ♥ Being a Girl!

As announced earlier and much earlier on our Twitters, I ♥ Being a Girl just received one of the World Summit Youth Awards 2012 in the category Power to Women.

This video explains the award and showcases all the amazingness:

All this took us to Montréal to meet other people and show what we've got...


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 +  I ♥ Being a Girl even managed a media mention, yes! Thank you, Montréal Gazette.

15 August 2012

AIDS 2012: When the party's over...

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I Defend Sexual Rights! - Do You?
Yes, the International AIDS Conference is long over.
And we are still getting our laundry and after-conference reporting done...

While we get together everything, draw the lessons learned and such, at least the pictures are online. You can find the @YSAFE at IAC'12 photo-set here!

27 July 2012

AIDS 2012 THGS12 I [heart] Being a Girl Tea Party

Here you see few pictures taken after today's session (the second one, yes) where we were joined by Anzaira from IPPF MA in Philippines and Shubha from Y-PEER on talking about gender, the importance of positive focuses and such.
Presentations and more stories from the session coming soon, we promise!

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Yes, we can!

20 July 2012

AIDS 2012 Youth-Pre, Day 2

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Starting the Session on the labyrinths of Social Media and SRHR messaging using them!
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The presentation they used in this Session is coming soon!
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And, talking about the local I [heart] Being a Girl Tea Parties, ...
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Trying to breathe (which does not always come easy).
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Maya working on her 1st Day report to be found here!
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And you just do not mess with people then!

19 July 2012

AIDS 2012 Youth-Pre, Day 1

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Maya participating in the opening panel Turning the Tide: Where do we go from here with the global HIV/AIDS response? and insisting on the crucial importance of comprehensive sexuality education. Everybody on the panel agreed, off course.
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Annaïs during her session Sexual and Reproductive Health Education: What is Comprehensive?
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Luize co-facilitating the session on best peer education practices around the world. Talking about the importance of keeping gender in mind when doing peer education. You can find the presentation on the topic below!

23 November 2011

Resilience!



Unbreakable is a very power art project that portrays rape survivors' strength after sexual abuse, aimed to break the silense surrounding rape and to shed light on the issue, and to remind to those whose innocence was stolen that they are never alone.There are "photo days" in US and Grace absolutely accepts submissions!

26 July 2011

I ♥ Being a Girl Tea party !!!

Dear friends,

Because we had such a blast at our own I♥BG tea party at the Regional Council, we would like to invite you to organize your own. So here it is, our official invitation:

We, YSAFE, would like to invite you to participate in the “I ♥ being a girl” and to encourage you to organize your own IHBG Tea parties where you could spark positive discussion around a gender transformative approach, girl empowerment, as well as a broad range of SRHR related discussion topics to help lead the discussions, including discussion on sex and pregnancy.

Before the Tea party, please see the „I ♥ Being a Girl movie", our Youtube fanpage, and explore the blog. We are sure it will give you some good ideas or raise a good discussion.

If you want to organise your own event, please contact me, Renata, at this email address renata.daunoraviciute@gmail.com . I will send you everything you need to know about organising your own tea-party and I can answer any questions you may have.

We would be grateful if you could let us know who will be contact person for your I ♥ Being a Girl Tea party, and when are you planning to make it. Special surprises are waiting for those who decides to support the project and get involved.

Hope to hear from you very soon!

Renata


13 January 2011

I ♥ Being a Girl (summer memories!)

I ♥ Being a Girl being in present in the demonstration during the International AIDS Conference 2010 in Vienna

16 December 2010

♥ Mothers (Maya)


"Every young person aspires to break away and find hers or his own place in the world. However, we always feel connected to that magical place called home. It is not a building, nor a city, nor a country...it is the place where you are accepted the way you are, where you feel that special type of warmth, embracing and protecting you.

And though home can be defined by many descriptions, mothers are irreplaceable and crucial part of it. It is no wonder that they are called the fireplace of the house. Though often connected to gender roles and stereotypes, this term actually holds so much more to it. And I am really proud to call my mom the fire in our house. And no, she is not a housewife. She is well educated, working woman, who managed to take good care for her two daughters and her husband for more than 20 years. Though I admire her for all her strength and her achievements, what makes my mom so special is the unconditional love and support she has given me throughout all my life.

And is no wonder that while packing my suitcase this autumn, preparing to go so study abroad, miles away from home, the item that was at the top of my list was a cardigan. And it is a very special cardigan. Have you guessed? It is my mom’s old cardigan. For all I know it could be as old as me. I remember her wearing it when I was a little girl. I can still picture her in it, the perfume she wore, the soft touch while cuddling in her. It reminds me of home, all the moments I spent with my mom and all the lessons she taught me. Once gifted to me, I still wear it and it serves me well. It keeps me physically and emotionally warm. Mom, thank you for all the love and affection."
Maya

08 December 2010

♥ Mothers (Luīze)

"The day after my 20th birthday I realized that, although I was over 18, semi-independent and living in a foreign country, my mum is still the person I turn to when something goes wrong. And the one I call to express my joy about a new pan I've got.

I have no doubt about her role in letting me become what I am now. She's brilliant and I do feel really lucky for having this extremely open, honest and supporting relationship with her.

Her example has shown me many things I believe to be true about what being a
woman human should be about: doing with your life what you feel like doing, being serious about your education and your job, taking the responsibility, knowing that it's not really about physical appearances and that the real strength comes from inside."
Luīze

06 December 2010

♥ Mothers (Tove)

"It's interesting how you, without really noticing it, become just as your mum. It's slowly coming to you the older you get and I guess you can't avoid it. Once, I stood and waited for a train and it struck me that I was standing just as my mom often stands. Another time, when I was talking, it struck me that I used the same expressions as she does. When I have friends for dinner, I almost force them to eat a lot and take more food, just as my mom does. Though, I don't know if I really mind, it's quite amusing when I think of it. I guess that I also got a lot more from her that I don't notice so specific, e.g. her kindness, her consideration and her strength."
Tove

04 December 2010

Dorota T ♥ Being a Girl


"I love being a girl, because it means being myself.

Generally, I do not perceive people as "men and women", instead trying to see individuals. That is why it saddens me to talk to girls who do not feel comfortable or are bullied just because they are not "girly". They prefer baggy clothes and short hair, and playing football. They feel like girls inside, and accept their sex, but they are not accepted by others.

Want to know what I tell them? I'll share my secret with you.

What is truly admirable, is the courage to stay true to yourself. To maintain your individuality. "Being a girl" is not about "looking girly". People - both women and men! - are different, of every possible kind. You all have the full right to be who you feel you want to be - it is your life, not anyone else's. If people only followed those around them, would we have Maria Skłodowska-Curie, who was a brilliant scientist when it was extremely difficult for women to get university education? Would we have Agatha Christie, who wrote mystery books instead of romances and "slice of life" novels? Many women broke the stereotypes of their eras, staying true to themselves - and that is what we all should admire.

"Being a girl" is to be proud of who you are and not be afraid to admit it, whether you wear dresses and make-up or baggy trousers and shirts. It is to have strength to do the things you love doing, and to be beautiful and special in your own, unique way. Always have this pride, and remember - the only person who can limit you in any way is yourself. If you are brave enough to admit who you are in your mind, it means that you are also brave and strong enough to fight for it. Always strive for self-development and improvement. However, never let the world forcibly change you. Instead, you change the world and prove them all wrong!"
Dorota T

+ as a soundtrack suggestion: True Colors by Cyndi Lauper

06 November 2010

Dorota W ♥ Being a Girl


"I like being a girl because I can dress nicely and put on some make-up. What's more, I can change my look whenever I want - according to my mood. I like to look nice. What I detest is that some guys (especially those you can meet at the disco) think they can treat girls like an object only because they’re good looking. Just imagine me/you/any girl spanking some nice fellow as he passes... Ups, sorry man that was an accident [puppy eyes]. You want to buy me a drink? No way!

To be honest, I like when a guy takes my jacket or opens the door before me. And I don’t mind being accompanied by some decent man on my way home. Of course it doesn't mean I couldn't make it on my own. But for me it's just about showing respect as well as being polite, simply. And you know what, I absolutely adore receiving flowers! I accept my sensibility, the right to show my emotions without being judged. But sometimes people think girls use emotions to reach theirs goals. In my case it's just not true. I’m full of emotions. I’m proud of it, because I can take each moment of my life as an unique one.

In my country, especially in little villages, women are still expected to have a husband, children, to be a perfect housewife... and nothing more. Some people just don't see that every girl (just like every boy) has ambitions or skills they want to develop. And although things are getting better nowadays, some of my girlfriends are still asked about their family plans during job interviews. That’s why being ‘a city-girl’ is a kind of relief for me!

I was brought up in the community where talking about sexual life and sexuality wasn’t something usual. Still, this is very important part of every girl’s life. In my opinion everyone should decide for oneself about this aspect of life according to some personal system of values.
One of the most beautiful things about being a girl is for me the ability or rather the privilege to give a birth to a child. I’d love to show the world a new human being, to raise him or her up. That’s why I think it’s so important that this moment will come when I’m really ready for it.

Being an independent woman is what I appreciate very much. That gives me the possibility to build my future with someone who will rather be a real partner not a guardian or a protector. Of course I like to be hugged or caressed; sometimes I even wish to feel like a little girl in stronger arms, to hear that I’m nice or pretty, just to be accepted. Some girls are under much pressure, “you have to be strong, independent”! However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to be a guy. We’re different and it’s beautiful, it doesn’t make any of the sides better or worse.

In my opinion, the need of being loved and understood doesn’t exclude being independent. There are lots of girls very well known who inspire me. My biggest inspiration is my mom. She’s strong, independent and pretty. She gave me something very special: self- confidence. She rebelled when someone wanted to decided about her life.

I never wanted to be a boy. I didn’t even think about it. Maybe because I had luck to develop in the way I wanted. I’ve never been discriminated because of my sex/gender. All in all, I’m proud to be a woman!"
Dorota W

19 October 2010

Empowerment recipes (Katarína)

"What empowers me as a girl:

My independence. My skills. That I can do both „female“ and „male“ work. The ability to take care of myself. And the ability to help my close ones.

My beloved ones. The way they support me. The way they make me feel special. How they lift me up when I´m down. Just having them in my life.

My education. And intelligence. How it makes me curious. That need to look deeper, search for answers. Ability to speak about things that matter.

My body. The way it´s shaped. How it´s unique. Its little imperfections. Softness of the skin. Its abilities. And yes, the multiple orgasms."

Katarína

14 October 2010

Alicja ♥ Being a Girl


"Being a girl means being myself to me - to do things which I love and fulfilling myself in the way I want to. What empowers me the most every single day, are people who care about me. They give me huge kick to do what I love to and make my eyes smiling and my face laughing.

I really love being so complicated, because it's never boring, however sometimes irritating ;) And…what is the most important, my smile is the best and the most powerful, because it's a girly one ;) I just have to admit, that as a girl I feel quite unique when guys act like gentlemen and do some things for me. I think it is a feature of Polish boys, because for instance Japanese aren't that generous. I accepted being a girl and I enjoy it with pleasure (: "

Alicja

21 September 2010

Girls & Education (Luīze)



"I am so happy that education in my life
has never been a struggle,

a fight or an unfulfilled desire,
it has been something normal

and obvious, just one step more in my path.
I happen to be so lucky!"
(Luīze)