Girls World Forum 2012
We departed Rarotonga to fly off to Auckland, New Zealand on the 10th of July, 2012.
We arrived on the 11th July 2012. A day in Auckland with not enough rest, back at the airport in the afternoon at 4.00pm to catch our next flight to San Francisco which was at 19.15pm which had taken us 12+ hours into the air as we went on our long journey to the States. Got to the San Francisco airport at 12pm then made run for our last flight to Chicago. We got to Chicago at 9pm, 11th of July, 2012. Although, our journey from home was long and with the headaches that occurred, it was worth to go on this trip. We were accommodated at the Marriott Hotel in Chicago, Illinois.
The event was the Girls World Forum, and the goal/purpose for this forum was to discuss and identify solutions on an issue that pertains each of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG) which focused on; poverty, gender equality and environmental sustainability. The theme was, “Girls worldwide say-we can change the world.”There were over 82 countries from all around the world that took part in this event with over 500 delegates including the chaperones that participated in the event as well.
Our daily sessions was taken in patrols to work over the three Millennium Development Goals, however we were all split into these patrols (groups) there were over 40 patrols with 4-8 individual from different country and state in them. We had to stay in these patrols for the week as each session went. The daily sessions and activities that took place in this forum were the Take Action Toolkit Session, Plenary session speakers, discussing on the three issues in the MDG; poverty, environmental sustainability and gender equality, Night on the town, Brookfield Zoo, International Night and Leadership Session.
Our opening and closing keynote speakers Sejal Hathi and Dr. Tererai Trent. Sejal Hathi a junior at Yale University who studies biotechnology and global health. However, she founded the international organization Girls Helping Girls at the age of 15 and as CEO she has trained and mentored thousands of girls worldwide to incubate entrepreneurial projects addressing global issues. Though she has served as a US ambassador, she is known in many industries and organizations throughout the world and that she is recognized in what she has been doing.
On the other hand our closing keynote speaker who has inspired us all and has touched the hearts of many at the closing ceremony with her story, Dr. Tererai Trent an inspirational speaker and founder of the Tinogona Evaluation & Research Consulting organizations. A woman who married young and was a mother to three by the age of 18, as a child growing up in rural Zimbabwe, she dreamed of getting an education however she was bound to a husband who beat her when she expressed her desire to learn. Therefore, her life changed as she confided her dreams to Jo Luck, a woman in her village who worked for the organization Heifer International. Dr. Trent’s words, “If you desire your dreams they are achievable”, with the help of this women she became her own dream keeper and broke down the vicious cycle of poverty in her life. As Dr. Trent ended her strong speech in the forum she was applauded heavily from us all the girls within the forum, a woman so strong who has reached millions with her powerful message of never giving up on your goals and the importance of education and women’s empowerment. I AM POWERFUL!
The highlights that had happened throughout this trip would be rushing to catch our last flight to Chicago, Pizza Night out, Scavenger Hunt (persuading the security at the mall to allow us to go through), etc.
On behalf of myself, Loretta Brown (Ranger, Nikao Girl Guides Company), Karliean Mataroa (Ranger, Arorangi Girl Guides Company) and our chaperone Aunty Ngara Katuke (National Commissioner/Chaperone), we would like to acknowledge our leaders and Girl Guide Association for allowing us to take part of this Girls World Forum that was held in Chicago. A big meitaki maata to you all, not forgetting our guide companies, parents, families and friends that supported us too. Meitaki Ngao. - Loretta Brown

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