International Day of The Girl Child 2025 – SIGBI

Breaking Barriers to Education Through Menstrual Health

SI Colombo, Sri Lanka
SI Colombo is helping residential school children stay in class by providing menstrual hygiene education and sanitary napkins, so periods don’t disrupt their learning.

SI Mid-Eastern Jamaica
Club volunteers visited four primary schools to speak with Grade 6 girls heading to high school. The conversation covered why periods happen, how to use and dispose of pads properly and how to maintain hygiene during menstruation.

SI Barbados
SI Barbados made sanitary items readily available at schools, improving the lives of many girls. This support also eases the tough choices some mothers face between buying food or sanitary supplies, decisions no parent should have to make.

Members of SI Colombo with sanitary products.

From Classrooms to Books: Delivering Educational Support Worldwide

SI East Grinstead – Ghana
For 25 years, SI East Grinstead has been supporting girls aged 11 to 17 in Ghana through computer classes and new classrooms. A boarding house is currently under construction to provide safe accommodation, ensuring these girls can continue their education without disruption.

SI Kathmandu – Nepal
In Nepal, SI Kathmandu is helping young, marginalised girls gain access to formal education. Many of these girls have limited resources and little say in household or community decisions. With the Club’s support, 10 girls from Bal Uddhar Secondary School receive school uniforms, fees, stationery, extra books, snacks and school bags, enabling them to continue their education.

SI Couva – Trinidad and Tobago
SI Couva has, for the fourth consecutive year, provided 100 schoolbags filled with stationery to students across 10 schools in the Couva area, five primary and five secondary. This signature annual project addresses the needs of students from low-income families who might otherwise struggle to attend school due to a lack of supplies.

SI Cannock & District – Midland Chase, UK
Over a two-week campaign, the Club collected 4,116 pre-loved children’s books from local schools, libraries and community members to donate to the Rotary Books4Home charity. These books are given to children who might not otherwise have access to their own books. The Club has now collected a total of 49,044 books and continues to receive donations, helping children learn while promoting recycling and reuse.

Girls in one of the computer classes in Ghana.

School children in Kathmandu.

Empowering Children Through Education and Mental Well-Being

SI Dhanmondi

SI Dhanmondi, in collaboration with teachers from PSD Literacy Centre, recently hosted an interactive session for Class Three and Four students, highlighting the power of literacy and education in empowering individuals and communities.

Club leaders, including President Dr. Naseem Chowdhury, President-Elect Ms. Sultana Sadeque Poly, and Programme Action Officer Ms. Ajkary Abdullah Rainy, shared insights on how education fosters personal growth and societal development. Students participated in a drawing activity, illustrating their dreams and each received drawing books and a full set of art materials.

To further enrich learning, Ms. Rainy donated 24 children’s books to the centre’s library. Communications and Website Officer and Friendship Link Coordinator Ms. Farzana Mahmud contributed chocolates, while the club provided snacks, making the day both joyful and inspiring.

SI Colombo

Meanwhile, in Sri Lanka, SI Colombo undertook a project to sponsor extracurricular activities for children living in homes without parental care. After extensive consultations with the Sri Lankadhara organisation’s board and recommendations from child psychological experts, the club focused on initiatives designed to support the children’s mental health and overall well-being.