Amaya shows her social justice heart for girls worldwide
Amaya shows her social justice heart for girls worldwide
9 October 2022
Amaya Serojales (inset) made an impressive video contribution to the International Day of the Girl promotion by The Salvation Army International Social Justice Commission.
When 10-year-old Amaya Serojales heard that The Salvation Army was asking girls around the world to get creative to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the International Day of the Girl, she knew she had to take part.
Earlier this year, the Army’s International Social Justice Commission (ISJC) invited girls aged six to 25 to take part in this year’s virtual celebrations on Sunday 9 October by asking them to create a video. The video could be made up of a prayer, dance, poem, or music to display the creative passion of girls in The Salvation Army worldwide.
Amaya, who is the daughter of Sunraysia Corps Officers Majors Debbie and Rod Serojales, grew up in the Philippines when her parents were appointed there. She saw poverty and hardship with her own young eyes and knew the desperate plight of the poor, especially young girls her age.
So, Amaya put together a 50-second video on her experiences, which forms part of the ISJC virtual presentation today. Her video has been shown on the ISJC Facebook site since Tuesday.
“We are pretty proud of her work,” Amaya’s mum Debbie said. “She wrote the ‘senses’ poem based on her experiences in the Philippines and put the project together herself, using my photos.
“Due to her experiences living in the Philippines and seeing the challenges that many children and families had living on the streets, she is more than aware that there are so many who have less than she does and is open to creative ways to help where she can.”
The ISJC Facebook site stated how impressed they were with Amaya’s efforts: “Activism can seem like an impossible task, but Amaya Serojales from The Salvation Army Australia Territory knows that it starts with small, meaningful action. We are inspired by her words!”
ISJC director Colonel Wendy Swan said the official United Nations International Day of the Girl was on Tuesday 11 October, but The Salvation Army was commemorating the day today.
“We are pleased to be showcasing the voices of young Salvationist girls from around the world,” Wendy said. “Through this event, are being provided a platform to show their talents, using their voice, expressions and creativity, celebrating 10 years of girls’ activism.”
Voices on the global stage
Empowering women and girls and promoting gender equality is crucial to accelerating sustainable development, according to the ISJC.
The ISJC emphatically believes that ending all forms of discrimination against women and girls is not only a basic human right but also has a multiplier effect across all other development areas.
Its website states: “In these last 10 years, there has been increased attention on issues that matter to girls amongst governments, policymakers and the general public, and more opportunities for girls to have their voices heard on the global stage.
“Yet, investments in girls’ rights remain limited, and girls continue to confront a myriad of challenges to fulfilling their potential; made worse by concurrent crises of climate change, COVID-19 and humanitarian conflict.
“Girls around the world continue to face unprecedented challenges to their education, their physical and mental wellness, and the protections needed for a life without violence. COVID-19 has worsened existing burdens on girls around the world and worn away important gains made over the last decade.
“With adversity, however, comes resourcefulness, creativity, tenacity, and resilience. The world's 600 million adolescent girls have shown time and time again that given the skills and the opportunities, they can be the changemakers driving progress in their communities, building back stronger for all, including women, boys and men.
“Girls are ready for a decade of acceleration forward. It is time for us all to stand accountable – with and for girls – and to invest in a future that believes in their agency, leadership and potential.”
Go to the ISJC YouTube channel to view today’s virtual celebration: https://www.youtube.com/c/SalvationArmyISJC/videos
Comments
No comments yet - be the first.