Children’s charity launches #GirlsAllowed campaign with heartfelt messages from women to girls

Jody Coffey

What an incredibly beautiful and important campaign.

Children’s charity, Girls Friendly Society (GFS), will mark International Day of the Girl, which falls on October 11th, with a campaign called #GirlsAllowed.

This campaign is asking women to reflect on what they wish they had been allowed to do or be and it has already received hundreds of heartfelt entries that give a glimpse into the everyday struggles and enduring impact that gender stereotyping can have on females.

As well as this, it is encouraging women to pen empowering messages for the girls of today as part of their International Day of the Girl celebrations.

Women are asked to leave messages of hope, love, encouragement, and empowerment, as well as advice they wished they had been given, all in the hopes of creating a better future for females.

“I wish someone had told me to stand up for myself when I felt I was being treated unfairly, reach for your inner confidence and don’t let others bring you down – Mel H.”

“I wish I was allowed to be myself, weirdness and all. Instead of feeling like I needed to behave and look a certain way to be liked or fit in. Kate.”

“I wish I were allowed to be bossy. Growing up, I was always told to stop being “bossy”- it was rude. I think my bossiness could have been cultivated into leadership skills that would have served me later on. Katya”

Heartfelt messages of advice are being handwritten into origami hearts and given to girls that are part of GFS groups.

So far, women have flocked to the online message board with messages of love, encouragement, and empowerment for girls.

GFS are also urging more women to join in and add messages to the virtual message board in the hopes that every girl who is part of GFS will receive their own personal message.

Below are some of the beautiful examples of empowering and important words and advice that women have written for the girls of GFS:

“If you get the opportunity, travel wide and far. Seize every chance to see the world – Sarah Lloyd.”

“Be mighty and fearless. Find the joy in your heart. Trust your dreams, whatever they are – they are yours – Dawn.”

“Trust that little voice inside you what warns you when something is wrong or confirms when something is right. That voice knows you pretty well and can be a good guide.” – Lizzie B.

“Find one thing, every night, or every morning to thank your body for. This bewildering, complicated skin that you inhabitat, that has got you this far, that has given you shape and form, and substance and thought. That has let you touch and feel and taste. This star dust, this sky air and earth water that makes up the unique and beautiful being that is you. Rest your hands on your body right now. It never stops working for you, it is for you. Be kind to it, listen to it and love it if you can – Katie Roberts.”

“That voice telling you that you are an ‘imposter’ is just that, a voice. You are amazing and you can do anything you set your mind to. So go show everyone who you really are! – Mel Brain.”

Laura Sercombe, GFS’s CEO, hopes these message will positively impact the young girls.

“Girls as young as six are telling us that they are unable to be themselves. This impacts their relationships, harms their well-being, damages their confidence and limits their access to opportunities.

“At GFS we give girls the skills and experiences they need to overcome these barriers and grow up confident, happy and able to follow whatever path they choose.”

Have a message you’d like to share to a GFS girl? Or some sage advice? Perhaps there’s is something that, as a woman looking back, you wish you has known as a young girl? Please share on the GFS message board here.