Victoria’s first Afghan Girl Guides are among hundreds of women and girls who will benefit from a suite of grassroots projects to boost gender equality and help prevent family violence.
The Afghan Guiding Project brings together Girl Guides Victoria and the Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre to give Afghan girls the support, confidence and leadership skills to drive and promote gender equality.
The project is one of 17 family violence and gender equality projects funded as part of the Andrews Labor Government’s new $16 million Capacity Building and Participation Program announced in August.
Other projects include:
- Building financial literacy programs for migrant and refugee women
- Educating and empowering communities to address cultural perceptions of family violence
- Leadership and self-confidence training for multicultural women
- Better health and welfare support for sex workers from multicultural backgrounds
- Helping refugee women escape forced marriage and know their legal rights.
The announcement of the projects also coincides with the United Nations International Day of the Girl Child, which aims to bring global attention to the rights of girls around the world.
The Labor Government’s Capacity Building and Participation Program is designed to encourage greater participation and inclusiveness within culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
The program provides small and medium grants to support multicultural communities, young people, women, seniors, refugees and asylum seekers to participate in all aspects of life in Victoria.
Almost 500 applications were submitted for the Capacity Building and Participation Program. Of the 62 medium grants awarded, 17 were for gender equality and family violence programs.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Women and the Prevention of Family Violence Fiona Richardson
“International Day of the Girl Child shines a spotlight on why supporting our young girls is so critical to breaking the cycle of disadvantage. When we support girls to reach their full potential, we see community-wide benefits.”
“These grants recognise that there is no community that is immune from family violence, and prevention is best achieved through targeted approaches driven by the communities themselves.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Multicultural Affairs Robin Scott
“Our diversity is our strength. We are proud to be supporting Victoria’s first group of Afghan Girl Guides. It’s grassroots projects like this one that will help us to create a more inclusive and equal society.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020