Photo by RET

“Girls are our future. The more we protect their rights, the more we protect ourselves and our future.”

Article by Ali Selim Kara, Communications Officer for RET in Türkiye

AKSARAY, TÜRKIYE – On the International Day of the Girl Child, RET International brought women together at the community center in Aksaray, Türkiye, for a special session. Using the Turkish Language speaking club as a platform, participants engaged in meaningful discussions about the challenges that girls face—such as access to education, forced marriage, and violence—while also improving their Turkish language skills.

International Day of the Girl: A Global Call for Action

The International Day of the Girl Child, observed on October 11th, is a reminder of the ongoing struggles faced by girls worldwide, from lack of access to education to child marriage and gender-based violence. Currently, 119.3 million girls remain out of school globally, and 1 in 4 adolescent girls experience intimate partner violence before turning 19. Moreover, an alarming 9 million girls are expected to be married as children by 2030 if current trends continue.

RET has been committed to addressing these pressing issues in Türkiye through programs that focus on language education, vocational training, and social integration. The Turkish Language Course, which supports refugees in improving their communication skills, has been a powerful tool for helping women become more active participants in their communities and advocates for their own and their daughters’ rights.

You can support girls in Türkiye by making a donation to RET today.

Photos by RET.

Supporting Women and Girls

RET’s work in Türkiye centers around empowering women by offering practical skills and creating safe spaces for discussion. The Turkish Language speaking club provides a platform for refugee women to learn and express themselves, with last week’s session focusing on the specific challenges girls face. The discussion covered education, nutrition, legal rights, and the prevention of forced marriages, topics deeply relevant to their lives as both mothers and women.

By encouraging participants to share their insights in Turkish, the session not only enhanced their language skills but also fostered a sense of solidarity among the women as they reflected on the importance of advocating for girls’ rights.

Discussing Key Issues: Access to Education, Violence, and Early Marriage

In their discussions, the women shared their thoughts on how girls are often denied opportunities, especially in education. In some areas, societal norms continue to limit girls’ access to school, with 119.3 million girls still not attending globally according to UN Women. The conversation also touched on violence, as 1 in 4 adolescent girls worldwide face abuse, and how early marriage robs girls of their childhoods​. One of the participants said: “Girls are our future. The more we protect their rights, the more we protect ourselves and our future.”

“The women were eager to express their concerns about the future of girls in their communities,” shared the facilitator, who is a Turkish Language Trainer. “They discussed how girls often lack the same opportunities as boys and how this inequality starts at a very young age.”

Photo by RET.

Addressing Discrimination Through Creative Activities

The role-playing exercise during the session was particularly impactful, allowing participants to act out scenarios of discrimination against girls compared to boys. This creative approach sparked conversations about how these experiences were mirrored in their own lives. Many participants spoke about the girls in their community and the societal pressures they face, particularly regarding early marriage.

Through this exercise, the women explored ways to challenge these norms, gaining confidence not only in their language skills but also in their ability to advocate for change.These activities held by RET International are crucial in building confidence among refugee women, empowering them to become advocates for girls in their communities. The participants left with a stronger resolve to speak up about the challenges girls face and to work towards a more equitable future for the next generation.

Help us continue supporting girls in Türkiye and around the world by making a donation to RET today. For U.S. residents, your donation may be tax-deductible.