Could you provide an overview of your project and how it relates to SDG 10?
Girl Up RISE is a club under a larger movement by the United Nations Foundation called "Girl Up". This movement was founded in 2010, and is aimed towards creating a more equitable world for children, youth, girls and women. Girl Up operates a global network of regional affiliates and serves 200,000+ girls across more than 152 countries. Being a girl-centred leadership development initiative working to advance gender justice worldwide, we believe that when girls and women are in positions of leadership, they work to create a more just and equitable world for everyone. My club is part of this huge vast network, and through initiatives like skill development workshops, leadership training, and community engagement, we aim to bridge the gap in opportunities and resources available to marginalised groups, particularly focusing on youth, children and women.
What inspired you to address issues of inequality for your project?
The inspiration to address issues of inequality for our project stems from the belief that every individual, regardless of their gender, background, or circumstances, deserves equal opportunities to thrive. Inequality is a persistent global challenge, and its effects disproportionately impact women and girls, especially in areas like education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.
Personally, my inspiration came from seeing the transformative impact of empowerment firsthand. When I visited my cousin in India, she introduced me to Girl Up and its work. I was inspired by the stories of resilience and change I encountered, particularly how collective efforts through Girl Up were creating tangible differences in the lives of girls and women.
Starting my own chapter club of Girl Up RISE in Singapore felt like a way to channel the privilege and resources we have here to drive meaningful change both locally and globally. Addressing inequality is not just about fairness; it’s about unlocking the potential of individuals and communities to create a better, more inclusive future for everyone.
What were the main objectives you aimed to achieve through your project?
The main objectives of Girl Up RISE are to empower girls and women, reduce inequalities, and foster a sense of leadership and collaboration among youth. Specifically, we aim to:
Promote Gender Equality: Advocate for equal opportunities in education, healthcare, and leadership for girls and women, aligning with the broader mission of Girl Up.
Raise Awareness: Educate our community about pressing issues such as gender-based violence, lack of access to resources, and social barriers faced by women globally.
Foster Skill Development: Equip girls and young women with skills that promote independence, confidence, and leadership, helping them become agents of change in their communities.
Encourage Collaboration: Build partnerships locally and internationally, uniting diverse voices to work towards common goals, such as our planned international collaboration with girl up feathers, and more yet to come.
Create Tangible Impact: Through initiatives like volunteering at welfare homes, organising workshops, and more, we aim to make a measurable difference in the lives of underserved communities while inspiring others to join the cause.
How did your project contribute to reducing inequality, either locally or globally?
Our project, Girl Up RISE, contributed to reducing inequality by addressing systemic barriers and providing opportunities for underserved communities to thrive, both locally and globally.
1. Locally: In Singapore, we organised initiatives like interactive storytelling for welfare homes and volunteering activities with Singapore Council of Women's Organisations to support underprivileged groups, including women and children. These efforts provided essential resources and a sense of solidarity, showcasing the importance of inclusivity in our immediate community.
2. Globally: Through international collaborations with Girl Up clubs in India, Nepal, and beyond, we engaged in projects that celebrate UN Founding Day, and supported rural women by highlighting their challenges and offering skill-development activities. We are planning more initiatives to promote international mindedness, cultural exchange, and enhance unity for our cause worldwide.
3. Awareness and Advocacy: By hosting leadership workshops and educational sessions, we raised awareness about inequalities in areas like gender, education, sports, mental health, reproductive rights, and more to come. This not only empowered individuals to take action but also inspired youth to challenge societal norms and advocate for a more equitable world.
4. Creating Platforms for Voices: We emphasised amplifying the voices of those often unheard, providing them with platforms to share their stories, experiences, and talents, such as the students of our very own school. This approach helped foster inclusivity and showcased the value of diverse perspectives in creating lasting change.
Did your project focus on a specific aspect of inequality (e.g., income, gender, disability)? If so, can you elaborate on this focus?
Yes, our project primarily focused on gender inequality, while also addressing intersecting issues such as income disparity and access to opportunities.
At the heart of Girl Up RISE’s mission is the empowerment of girls and women. We recognise that gender inequality is a pervasive issue that manifests in unequal access to education, healthcare, leadership opportunities, and financial independence. Our initiatives, such as workshops and skill-development activities, are designed to empower girls and women to overcome these barriers and become change-makers in their communities.
Many of our projects targeted economically disadvantaged groups, particularly women and families in need. For instance, our volunteering at a welfare centre for women and girls here in Singapore aimed that changing their thoughts and mindsets through an interactive storytelling session, as we believe real change comes from the thoughts of one.
By focusing on these interconnected aspects of inequality, we sought to create a holistic approach to fostering equality and empowerment, ensuring that our work had both immediate and long-term impact.
What were some of the challenges you faced while implementing your project, particularly in addressing inequality, and how did you overcome them?
Implementing our project to address inequality came with several challenges, but each provided valuable lessons and opportunities for growth. Some of the main challenges and how we overcame them were:
1. Raising Awareness:
Challenge: It was initially difficult to engage people in conversations about inequality, as many lacked awareness of its impact, especially in a developed country like Singapore where disparities are less visible.
Solution: We focused on education and storytelling to make the issue relatable, sharing real-life examples and data to highlight the hidden challenges faced by marginalised communities. Hosting workshops and collaborating with local organisations helped us build credibility and attract attention.
2. Limited Resources and Funding:
Challenge: As a new club, we faced constraints in funding and access to resources to implement our ideas effectively.
Solution: We tweaked our ideas and organised initiatives that could be managed without money and proved that impact can be made with only the will and the vision. Additionally, we relied on creative, low-cost solutions such as leveraging volunteer efforts and reusing materials for our projects.
3. Global Collaboration:
Challenge: Coordinating with Girl Up clubs in different countries involved logistical and communication challenges, such as time zone differences and cultural differences in approach.
Solution: We used digital tools for seamless communication and set clear timelines for project milestones. Open dialogue and mutual understanding allowed us to adapt our strategies to align with local contexts while achieving shared goals.
Can you share any specific outcomes or impacts your project had in relation to SDG 10?
Girl Up RISE has had several meaningful outcomes directly contributing to SDG 10: Reducing Inequalities:
1. Women in Sports Workshop:
We organised a workshop featuring a live MMA demonstration, which highlighted the importance of promoting women in sports, an area where gender inequality persists. By spreading awareness about this event to our members and the local community, we encouraged conversations about breaking stereotypes and empowering women in traditionally male-dominated fields.
2. Global Leadership Summit:
Attending the summit hosted by Girl Up allowed us to connect with like-minded youth and Girl Up clubs worldwide. This networking experience laid the foundation for future international collaborations, fostering global solidarity and shared strategies to address inequalities across different contexts.
3. Volunteering at a Welfare Centre:
Our volunteering efforts received an overwhelmingly positive response from the beneficiaries, many of whom expressed gratitude and appreciation for our support. This initiative not only provided essential resources but also strengthened community bonds, showing marginalised groups that they are seen, valued, and supported.
4. Project with Girl Up Feathers:
This collaboration involved conducting a study on rural women by interviewing them to gain insights into their lives, challenges, and needs. By understanding their unique circumstances, we were able to design initiatives tailored to their empowerment, focusing on skill development, leadership, and economic independence.
Did your project involve collaboration with other individuals, organizations, or communities? If yes, how did this collaboration enhance your project's effectiveness in reducing inequality?
Our project involved key collaborations that significantly enhanced its impact on reducing inequality. Partnering with United Women Singapore helped us advance gender equality through workshops and sessions that reached a broader audience. Working with SCWO on Project Awesome empowered young girls and women through leadership workshops, providing valuable insights into addressing gender inequality.
Collaborating with Girl Up clubs globally and local student-led clubs in Singapore helped us execute impactful projects, such as studying rural women's challenges, which enriched our understanding of inequality. Our partnerships with local welfare centres ensured our volunteering efforts were directly addressing community needs, and observing with sports professionals for the Women in Sports Workshop helped break gender stereotypes in traditionally male-dominated fields.
These collaborations allowed us to tackle inequality from various angles and highlighted the importance of collective action in creating a more equitable society.
What were some key lessons you learned from working on this project related to SDG 10?
Working on this project taught us several key lessons about addressing inequality and advancing SDG 10. One of the most important takeaways was the power of awareness and education. Through initiatives like our Women in Sports Workshop, we saw how challenging stereotypes and sparking conversations can inspire meaningful change in mindsets and behaviours.
Collaboration was another critical lesson. Partnering with organisations such as United Women Singapore, SCWO, and Girl Up clubs worldwide demonstrated how teamwork and shared resources amplify impact. These partnerships allowed us to broaden our reach and tackle inequality from multiple perspectives.
We also learned the importance of understanding community needs. Our volunteering efforts and the study on rural women showed us that listening to marginalised groups and tailoring solutions to their challenges make our actions more effective and meaningful. Empowering individuals through leadership programs like Project Awesome further emphasised how equipping people with the right tools can create lasting ripple effects.
Finally, this project reinforced that small steps matter. Every action, no matter how minor it seems, contributes to reducing inequality when aligned with a greater purpose. These lessons have deepened our commitment to creating a more equitable world.
Looking ahead, how do you plan to sustain the efforts and outcomes of your project to continue contributing to the goal of reducing inequality?
Looking ahead, we recognize that our journey has just begun, as our Girl Up RISE club was only established in August 2024. Being the first edition in our school and one of the pioneering Girl Up clubs in Singapore, we are eager to build on this strong foundation.
There is still so much to explore—collaborations to undertake, impactful projects to fulfill, and awareness to spread. While Singapore is a highly developed nation, inequalities still persist, and we are committed to addressing them in meaningful ways. Beyond our local efforts, we aim to expand our global reach by fostering partnerships with other Girl Up clubs and organizations worldwide.
Our focus remains unwavering on the singular goal of reducing inequality, particularly gender inequality. No country has fully achieved gender equality, which reminds us of the vast work still required. We plan to sustain our efforts through consistent action, impactful collaborations, and empowering more individuals to join our cause, ensuring our initiatives continue to drive change.
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