We're looking for a few good bloggers!

Attention attention! Bloggers, listen up! We're looking for a few good honorary Goal Girls (or Boys!) to join us as guest bloggers over the next few months. We want to hear what you hear about what's happening with girls empowerment around the world. Want to tell us about your amazing summer job, or your hopes and dreams? Or comment or report on some news in the sector? Now's your chance for your voice to be heard!

Send submissions to goal.info@sc.com and we'll be picking entries to post all summer. What are you waiting for? Get blogging!

Photos from Nigeria

Things in Nigeria are taking off and over 1,000 girls are part of the programme already. YEF is doing an amazing job. Check out a few great photos from Abuja and Lagos.

We made the Beyond Sport Shortlist!

We're so thrilled to have been shortlisted for Corporation of the Year at this year's Beyond Sport Awards.

See you in Chicago!

World Environment Day celebrations!

To mark World Environment Day, activities were organised throughout our Goal camps in India.

Chennai
At the Chennai camp, 18 girls from the Saidapet communities were taught the importance of conserving water. Our programme coordinators explained that boiling water before you drink it will stop diseases spreading and keep you healthy. The girls were also surprised that there was a specific way to brush your teeth and wash your hands using steps that are easy to follow and remember. The girls promised to show their friends and families what they had learned.

Delhi

Some of our staff volunteered to help educate 48 girls on how to protect the environment. The girls and our volunteers planted four trees in their school grounds and even named them! They promised to take good care of the trees. The day ended with a visit to the beautiful Lodhi Gardens.

Mumbai

About 30 Goal girls joined 300 of our staff in cleaning up Juhu beach for the day. The girls were reminded of their duties and responsibilities of taking care of their local environment.

Goal girl's grooming session

On 24 April, a session on the importance of grooming was organised at Asha Sadan in Mumbai.


Deepavali Rao, Associate Director at Standard Chartered facilitated the session where 45 Goal girls attended.


Our Goal girls learned about the importance of maintaining body hygiene such as keeping clean and you wear (such as clothes and undergarments). They learned that washing yourself and your clothes will kill germs and bacteria and keep you healthy.

Rani, who is in year II, said that a well groomed body reflects one's personality. Deepavali explained how everyone must care for each part of their body. This was Deepavali's first Goal session and she said: "Little did I know that this was a call which was going to bring me to one of the best experiences I have ever had in life!

The smiles on the faces of these girls brought me a sense of happiness and satisfaction that I've never known before. I would love to volunteer in the future for Goal and I am thankful to my organisation for giving me the opportunity to pay back some of the rent to be living!"

As the end of the session, all participants were given a groooming kit containing a comb, toothbrush, toothpaste, nail cutter, soap and powder.

Celebrating World Earth Day

An event was held at our Goal campus in Asha Sadan to celebrate Worl Earth Day on 22 April.

Over 45 girls were divided into groups and assigned areas of the campus to clean!

After this, the girls were told why it is so important to take care of our planet. The girls talked about how they, as individuals, can make a difference in saving our earth. The girls spoke of the simple things they can do. Shama said that everytime she bathes, she fills her bucket and turns off the water tap rather than letter the water overflow. Rohida stressed the importance of switching off lights and fans when they are not in use and Jyoti spoke about noise pollution.

The day ended in a drawing competition on the theme 'Our planet today and efforts to save it from destruction'. The top 5 drawings were chosen by Ms Jayalakshmy, Superintendent, Asha Sadan.