Inspirational? Well, that would be Malala

I can’t quite remember what I did for my 16^th birthday?  I do, however, feel that whatever it was, it was nowhere near as inspiring as what Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai did for hers this year. 

Malala made headlines last year when the Taliban tried to assassinate her as she rode the bus to school, in Pakistan. She was targeted because of her fight for the right of all girls to an education.  To celebrate her birthday this year she delivered a passionate speech to the United Nations General Assembly calling on world leaders and governments to ensure free and compulsory education globally for every child, and to support the expansion of education opportunities for girls in the developing world.

There are still 57 million children out of primary school worldwide. Many live in countries embroiled in conflict. More than 120 million young people between the ages of 15 and 24 lack basic reading and writing skills, and the majority of them are young women. In short, too many young people leave school without the skills to earn a living.

Education is crucial, it is the most effective method of challenging poverty and harmful traditions such as gender-based discrimination and violence. Gender equality in education is a vital and important issue because providing education for girls helps to establish well-balanced communities and nations.

 "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world," said Nelson Mandela, and educating girls guaranties education for generations.

Malala firmly believes that we can work together to make a better future through education for all. She is an example to modern societies, where education has lost its essence and is neglected by teens. Malala's efforts remind us that education is the way to save lives, to build peace and to empower people to build a better world.

Happy Birthday, Malala.

Because I am a Girl

My motivation to create GIRLart began a few years ago when I would get terribly wound up and angry reading, or seeing on TV or the internet, stories of violence and abuse suffered by women and girls on a daily basis all over the world. I was frustrated because I personally don't understand why people would be persecuted because of gender - I truly believe we are all created equal!  I also didn't know how I could possibly change anything from my cosy home here in Australia.  So I searched the internet for answers (as you do) and that’s when I discovered Plan's “Because I am a Girl” campaign (BIAAG).

I was relieved to find a campaign that was already focused on the health and well being of girls and young women. They promote the rights of girls and fight gender inequality in places that seem devoid of any sympathy towards the female gender. With no political or religious agenda, Plan work at the grass roots level to transform the world for children. I was eager to sign up and show my support through a regular monthly payment – but it just didn't feel like it was enough.

So, I thought to myself - as a Visual Artist, if there are two things I know how to do in this life, its paint a picture, and put on an exhibition.  

I set about creating the first GIRLart exhibition with a passion. As well as promoting the amazing work of BIAAG, I decided I also wanted an exhibition that showcased female artists work in particular. Women are so under-represented in the art world, which is unusual because a majority of fine art students are women. What is happening to these women once they leave University? Where are they now? What are they doing?

During my time as a Visual Artist I have observed that male artists generally tend to be more willing to “put-themselves-out-there”, certainly more so than females.  I believe that most men have no problem putting what they love doing ahead of other things, whereas women tend to “sacrifice” what they love doing for the better of others (or their perception of others expectations). I don’t know if this ‘sacrificing’ belief comes from the environments we grow up in, our natural disposition as nurturing mothers (even potentially), or whether it’s the darn patriarchal world we live in ... whatever it is, it made me want to provide a platform for women to explore and create things that related specifically to being female.

Lani Masuku (Plan) & Steph Hall (GIRLart) 2012

GIRLart also carries the tagline "caring, creating, engaging". Caring about our world and the most vulnerable within it. Creating work that explores what it is to be female. Engaging the individual, community, a nation and the world in a creative way to highlight the daily struggles of young girls, and to provide an environment for everyone to learn and grow. 

And it's not just about the girls! BIAAG recognizes that boys are the key to ensuring a positive future for girls by valuing the roles they take on within a community, and helping to create safer environments. I have read some very inspiring and wonderful stories of boys standing up against arranged marriages, and a girls right to go to school. None of Plan's BIAAG initiatives would be possible without the boys.

I will be posting a regular blog here about the “BecauseI am a Girl’ campaign and all things GIRLart. I hope you will come along for the journey?

Steph

GIRLart Founder & Coordinator