There are 600 million girls living in the developing world and approximately one-quarter are not in school.
Quesnel’s Rotary Interact Club was looking for a fundraiser to support The Girl Effect, an organization devoted to educating women and young girls in developing countries.
Correlieu Grade 12 Interact member Erin Thompson said if The Girl Effect educates women in third world countries what better fundraiser could they chose than educational seminars for women in their own community.
The first set of three seminars is slated for May 15 at Quesnel Community Campus, 12:45 – 4:45 p.m.
The subjects include self-defense, auto mechanics and aesthetics.
Future seminars are still in the planning stages.
Women attend all three seminars and all money raised goes to The Girl Effect project.
Thompson provided statistics on the value of educating women in developing countries.
“When women and girls earn income, they reinvest 90 per cent of it into their families, as compared to only 30 to 40 per cent for a man,” she said.
This is according to the Girl Effect website.
It also says an extra year of primary school boosts girls’ eventual wages by 10 – 20 per cent and an extra year of secondary school, 15 – 25 per cent.
“These seminars are supporting a great cause,” Thompson said.
She added the Correlieu Interact Club is looking to extend their profile to the community and these seminars are just one way to do that.
“We’re reaching out to the community and demonstrating our commitment to the cause,” she said.
“We’ve already fundraised for Seasons House and we volunteer at various community events such as Quesnel Community Foundation’s 10th anniversary and Quesnel Winter Carnival.
As with its parent organization Rotary International, this youth arm is dedicated to service to the community, country and worldwide.
With the first set of seminars, Interact members expect to attract women of all ages in the community.
The cost is $25 a ticket at Caryall Books, Arts and Recreation Centre and the Information Centre.
Refreshments will be served.
