At Valuing Children Initiative (VCI), we had the honour of attending an inspiring panel discussion for International Women’s Day. The conversation centred on how girls thrive in a world that continues to challenge and shape them in unique ways.
Our participation allowed us to reflect on personal experiences—growing up in a single-parent family, being the first woman in our family to attend university, and navigating the challenges of sexual harassment in the workplace. These moments are pivotal in shaping who we are, but the road hasn’t always been easy.
Supporting women and girls means providing space for them to strategise and share their lived experiences. It's equally crucial to ask girls how they envision thriving, as their answers often lie somewhere in the intersection of our challenges and dreams.
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to The Humanities Inclusion & Belonging Committee at Curtin University for organising this impactful event. A special thank you to Madeleine Dobson for her unwavering support, our amazing facilitator Caitlin Maling, and our fellow panelists Sandra Di Girolamo, Qian Gong, and Elizabeth Baca for their thought-provoking contributions.
