Over 100 girls came together to celebrate the International Day of Girl Child on October 17 under the theme ‘My Voice, Our Equal Future’ at Faonelua Convention Centre, Nuku’alofa.

The event was organized by the Talitha Project and supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The day is officially recognized on October 11 with events held around the world.

Talitha Project founder Vanessa Heleta said this day is important because it is a reminder that girls' voices are powerful and celebrating the day enforces their humanity, their dignity, their issues and their future.

“Girls from different schools and girls with disabilities were composing poems, songs and tik tok dance related to the theme.”

“The day created a platform for them to come together and just be themselves and just be girls,” she said.

Girls heard from two guest speakers who are leaders in their fields, Sipola Halafihi, Principal of Tonga Institute of Higher Education (TIHE) and Marcellina Wolfgramm, Country Manager for BSP Bank.

Sipola said over 80% of the school are females. She encouraged girls to use social media as a tool to convey their thoughts, opinions and experiences to inspire girls around Tonga to stand up and speak for themselves.

“We need to make sure our voices are heard or else nothing will ever change,” she said.

Marcellina emphasised the need for girls to take charge of themselves financially, the importance of saving and budgeting to be financially independent.

All the girls who attended the event received Dignity Bags from Australian Humanitarian Partnership and CARE International, to help them prepare for hurricane season.

Talitha Project is an organization that aims to stop violence against women and girls, and runs development and empowerment activities.