Plan Canada Celebrates International Women's Day

Recognizing Canadian women who are working to empower the next generation of women and girls

CANADA, March 6, 2013 /CNW/ - Friday March 8 is International Women's Day, a day to recognize and celebrate women around the world. This year, Plan Canada is applauding the achievements of Canadian women who give their time and expertise to help inspire women in Canada and globally through philanthropic initiatives.

International Women's Day is an opportunity to focus on the importance of the world's girls and women. Canadian women recognize that many girls and women around the world face significant challenges and barriers, such as barriers to education or employment, simply because of their gender. Supporting girls and women around the world is key to transforming lives. Plan Canada recognizes that by investing in girls we can support a generation of empowered women, mothers, workers and leaders. These women will improve the lives of everyone around them and in turn lift families, communities and entire nations out of poverty.

"We need to continue to address barriers and discrimination that women face," says Rosemary McCarney, President and CEO of Plan Canada. "There are many Canadian women who understand this need and give selflessly to help spread the message about the power of girls and women, and help to make real change. On this International Women's Day we celebrate these Canadian women."

Plan Canada Recognizes Canadian Women and their Philanthropic Initiatives

Inspiring Canadian women have spearheaded innovative and high-impact initiatives in their communities and on a national scale to benefit girls and women around the globe and here in Canada. Some of these activities include:

• Establishing trendy clothing and makeup lines, proceeds of which go to providing clean water, food security, health care and education to girls in developing countries.
  
  
• Encouraging and supporting women from around the world to tell their stories of abuse and loss through film and theatre.
  
  
• Helping girls grow into educated women by supporting the development of schools and maternal health programs in Rwanda and Tanzania.
  
  
• Writing books that empower and support women to take control of their lives at any age and pursue their rights.
  
  
• Organizing philanthropic activities and community events to raise thousands of dollars for girls in developing countries, providing them with the tools and resources to raise themselves and their families out of poverty.

Other Ways Plan Canada is Marking International Women's Day

On March 7, Plan Canada's Because I am a Girl initiative and the Toronto District School Board's Young Women on the Move will host a one-day interactive conference with more than 300 girls, aged 12-16. During the conference the young girls will hear from a number of inspiring guest speakers and mentors, including Olympic wrestler Ohenewa Akuffo, and will explore and discuss issues facing girls today. Through social media, participating students will have the unique opportunity to interact with other students living across Canada and around the world and hear how they identify with being a girl, what barriers they face and how they work to break through them.

The United Nations theme of this year's International Women's Day is, "A Promise is a Promise: Time for Action to End Violence Against Women," and in lead up to that day, Plan Canada is also encouraging all Canadians to participate in a letter- writing campaign in support of a national action plan to end school-related gender-based violence. Canadians who wish to participate in this effort can do so by visiting: http://becauseiamagirl.ca/Support-the-right-of-girls-to-learn-without-fear

Editor's Note: Please contact us if you want to speak to some inspiring women and learn firsthand what they are doing to help women in Canada and around the world.

SOURCE: Plan Canada

For media inquiries, contact:

Abigail Brown, Media and Public Relations Manager, Plan Canada
T: 416 920 1654 ext 277  |  C: 647 971 3764  |  [email protected]

Kristy Payne, Director of Strategic Communications, Plan Canada
T: 416 920 1654 ext 211  |  C: 416 568 6525  |  [email protected]