I cannot contain my excitement for Use Your Voice 2016. Over the weekend of the 10 - 11 September, I plan to immerse myself in some of the most important world issues, from climate change to Female Genital Mutilation; learn more about how to tackle these issues through activism and journalism and to walk away from the event re-energised and re-motivated to do just this.
But I’m not just excited for how much everyone going will love this event; I’m excited for what this kind of event, which is specifically for girls’ means. An event devoted to amplifying girls’ voices and encouraging girls to speak out; that is magical. This signifies an era where we’re encouraging girls to see themselves as the future decision makers and not being shocked when they end up there (as some journalists were, having used the pronouns ‘he’ and ‘him’ to describe our future Prime Minister before the rise of Theresa May…) An era where we’re breaking down the barriers and smashing the glass ceilings of male-dominated fields and showing girls that the limit of their potential does not exist.
I’m proud that Girlguiding LaSER is at the forefront of these game-changing attitudes and this is something that I cannot miss being a part of. It’s history in the making. We are trying to reverse the fact that Girlguiding’s Girls’ Attitudes Survey showed that, in 2015, 55% of young women are aware that the media talks about a woman’s appearance before her achievements or her job. We should all grow up knowing that we can be and do anything that we want to in life, without fearing backlash from the media. This event is an opportunity to think about how we use our voices to speak out against this or a completely different issue that is important to you. That’s the beauty of Use Your Voice 2016 – you choose the sessions that are relevant to you and use that information in your own way to make the change you want to see.
So, if you’re up for some new experiences (like sleeping at HMS Belfast, I mean who else can say they’ve done that), learning loads and hearing from some incredibly inspiring speakers then this event is for you. If you’re hesitating, please don’t regret not getting a ticket because the things you hear at this event could change your whole perspective on the power and strength of your voice. The deadline is this Monday 22 August, so what are you waiting for?
Book your place at Use Your Voice 2016 here!
Larissa Kennedy
Girlguiding LaSER Champion