WOW Day of the Girl

Each October, WOW marks International Day of the Girl with one of the most joyful and powerful events of the year – WOW Day of the Girl. 

At its heart is WOW Speed Mentoring on the London Eye and the Brisbane Wheel: bringing hundreds of girls and non-binary young people together to meet inspiring mentors while soaring high above their cities.

These fast-paced, unique conversations offer teenagers the chance to dream big, ask bold questions, and connect with trailblazing women and non-binary people from all sectors, from scientists and CEOs to artists and activists.

Previous mentors have included models and activists Adwoa Aboah and Lily Cole, space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock, DJ and presenters Clara Amfo and Gemma Cairney, actor Gillian Anderson, activist and author Laura Bates, comedians Jo Brand and Ruby Wax, author and podcaster Elizabeth Day, Former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and musician Jessie Ware.

Alongside the mentoring, WOW Day of the Girl often features live events, talks and workshops in both London and Brisbane – plus the launch of the WOW Young Leaders Directory and creative commissions such as WOW Sounds: Girl Bands, a musical celebration of global girlhood, and WOW Athens’ Girlhood Today project.

On December 19, 2011, United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/170 to declare October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child, to recognise girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world. The International Day of the Girl Child focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights.

It’s a day full of imagination, ambition and connection – and a reminder that when girls rise, we all rise.