International Day of the Girl Child – ICN supports the empowering of young women through its Girl Child Education Fund

Today is the International Day of the Girl Child! This day aims to highlight and address the needs and challenges girls face, while promoting girls' empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights.

At ICN we believe in the need to support Girl Child education and have set up the Girl Child Education Fund (GCEF) together with our Foundation, the Florence Nightingale International Foundation (FNIF). This programme helps the primary and secondary schooling of girls under the age of 18 in developing countries whose nurse parent or parents have died. Since the beginning of the programme, over 350 girls have been enrolled in the GCEF. Currently, there are 72 girls from across four countries.

ICN President Annette Kennedy said: “Today is the International Day of the Girl Child. We at the International Council of Nurses support this day as we believe that young women should be empowered by educating them. Through our Girl Child Education Fund, we support the schooling of girls in developing countries via our national nurses’ associations who provide nurse mentors to follow their progress at school and at home. Educated girls are healthier girls with brighter futures that will help the advancement of their countries and people. Their education is an important step on the road to equality and economic growth. I have had the pleasure to meet some of the girls and they are truly inspiring.”

Contribute to the GCEF and donate here

Watch the stories of some girls supported by the GCEF here