The WOW Foundation has announced its plans to celebrate 2021's International Day of the Girl, including a WOW Sounds line-up, the return of WOW's speed mentoring London Eye event and more!

Since 2012, 11th October has been marked as International Day of the Girl to highlight and address the needs and challenges girls face, whilst also promoting girls' achievements and the fulfilment of their human rights. WOW has marked the day with celebrations and mentoring since the beginning.

First up, WOW will release the next edition of the Young Leaders Directory. The directory will include over 40 girl and non-binary activists aged 11-19 who are known for their work - both in their home countries and globally - in areas including climate justice, period poverty, girls education, sexual violence, disability, race, health and more.

Presented once again in partnership with Purposeful, WOW will hold two private virtual convenings to bring together these activists to connect, share ideas and learn from one another to help establish a new network. The global online directory will be available on this website to explore.

WOW’s other activity around International Day of the Girl includes the return of our annual speed mentoring session on the lastminute.comLondon Eye on 8th October! This year 150 girls aged between 14-18 years old will be joined by 150 mentors to take to the sky for 15 minute sessions to explore their dreams and aspirations.

Previous mentors have included: Gillian Anderson, Justine Greening, Natascha McElhone, Riz Lateef, Dianne Abbot, Siân Berry and Clara Amfo.

WOW will also present the previously announced WOWsers: A Creative Explosion, an exhibition supported by BBC Children In Need’s impact programme focused on children’s mental health, A Million & Me.

Over the past 10 months, more than 70 girls and non-binary people aged 10-16 years old from across the UK have worked with WOW and more than 20 artists and experts. The project encouraged participants to explore activism and gender equality in a fun and accessible way. Meeting monthly online to discuss the issues that matter most to them, they have created artworks as a result, spanning photography, film, spoken word, poster making and drawing. The exhibition will launch on 11 October to celebrate International Day of the Girl, and will be available to the public to explore on WOW’s website.

Collaborators who have worked with the girls as part of the project include: poet Amina Atiq, musician Miss Jacqui, director Emily Aboud, artist Ditty, Young Leaders Directory activist Theresa Rose Sebastian, artist Greer Pester, writer Amanda Amaeshi, and broadcaster Gemma Cairney.

As part of their International Day of the Girl celebrations, WOW will also release a new series of amazing WOW Sounds performances by girl fronted bands. Read the story and line-up in full here.

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