United Nations: Day of the Girl

By Kathryn Yanik, Director of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation

The International Day of the Girl Child, held on October 11 each year, celebrates the accomplishments of young women and girls worldwide as they advocate for justice in their own communities. This year, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur hosted their second-annual virtual gathering for high school students to commemorate this special day.

Notre Dame students from our schools across the country gathered to reflect on the theme: “The girl I am, the change I lead: Girls on the frontlines of crisis.” Students from Notre Dame Academy in Hingham, Massachusetts; Notre Dame Academy in Worcester, Massachusetts; Notre Dame High School in Belmont, California; Mount Notre Dame High School in Cincinnati, Ohio; and Maryvale Preparatory School in Lutherville, Maryland, prepared short presentations on how they are empowering young women to advocate for social change. As part of their presentation, they identified one Notre Dame Hallmark and one principle of Catholic Social Teaching related to their chosen topic, explaining how these values shed light on the issue and guide the necessary change.

Led by Sister Isabelle Izika, SNDdeN, the Congregational UN representative, the group reflected on the theme of leadership, prompting deeper conversation on the role of women in our schools and communities. Students also shared their personal experiences, discussing ways that their schools have supported their personal and professional growth.

The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur hope to continue  to expand this program by offering more opportunities for students to visit the United Nations and share their justice and peace priorities. By including voices from young women in our community, we can advocate for greater representation of women and girls, as well as justice for all.

This story is also featured in the Winter 2025 edition of our  Sowing Goodness magazine.