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On October 11, we celebrate the UN’s International Day of the Girl worldwide. This is a day that calls for action which promotes girls’ opportunities and development.
Through our ambitious program ‘Girls Unstoppable’, the LEGO Group, The LEGO Foundation and Save the Children help girls come together, find joy, unleash their creativity and build lasting friendships.
The program brings together innovative approaches like Girl-Led Movement Building to support girls at home and in communities to become leaders in the way they wish and define, the Girls Decide curriculum, which is a life skills curriculum that aims to empower and protect girls, combined with the underlaying pedagogy of Learning Through Play in the four key countries: China, Indonesia, Mexico and Vietnam.
As a study conducted by the LEGO Group shows, girls are under heightened pressure and met with gender-specific language, expectations and norms, which impacts their confidence, creativity and development. The LEGO Group is committed to driving systemic change by supporting girls’ ambitions through the power of play.
Billund, October 2024
The overall ambition with the global program is that girls become ‘unstoppable’. Through learning and through play, girls unleash their potential, and together they become strong advocates for their rights and are able to make their voice heard on issues that matter to them.
“Play makes me have more time to stay with my friends and our relationship will be deeper and deeper. And I also can learn from my friends during play.” Lili, 11, from China
Gabrielle Szabo, co-chair in the Girls Advocacy Working Group, Save the Children says: “The program is unique as it builds friendships and girls’ confidence while exploring how to push for the changes they want to see in their households and communities in playful and creative ways. Today, Save the Children launches its annual Global Girlhood Report, which looks at how increasing fragility around the world is affecting girls’ safety and opportunities to have fun, learn and make choices about their own lives, as well as the role their voices and experiences can play in shaping more stable futures for all”.
During the first six months of the program, we have achieved the following:
• Reached 9,627 girls and their communities
• Established 50 girls’ clubs
• Local girl-led campaigns piloted on themes like “I can be who I want to be” and “Girls Decide”
• Girls supported by youth or girl-centric partners, example: CYAN, Casa Leona and SAHR
• Summer camp, community activities and child forum held in each country
• Girls’ friendly advocacy spaces and connection to decision-makers, example: Girls in Mexico are delivering their messages to the new president.
• Adaptation of Girls Decide curriculum and integrating it with Save the Children’s approach to play
• Girls applying LEGO® bricks for problem-solving
“We have the final say in this group. We have the final say and are fully responsible. We discuss topics that interest us.” Girl from China
“I’m happy because the facilitator is so kind and friendly, and I get to know a lot of new friends.” Girl from Indonesia
“Previously, our school did not have any similar activities, groups or clubs for students. Through Girls Decide, we are encouraged to come up with ideas on how to organize activities” Girl from Vietnam
“I loved everything we did. The ‘Hey’ game was a lot of fun. I liked joining with all these girls because I feel stronger, it’s like we are one big powerful family of girls.” Girl from Mexico
• Are there stereotypical boys’ and girls’ games and toys?
• Are there stereotypical boys’ and girls’ play needs/behaviors/traits (i.e., boys are more physical)?
• How do girls/boys like to spend their free time if they are able to decide? Do they have enough time to do these kinds of activities? If not, why not?
• Are there any restrictions on girls’ and/or boys’ movements (for safety, for honor)?
• Do boys and girls have the same amount of spare time?
• Do mothers and fathers both play with their children? Or are there differences? Why?
• Play is a form of self-expression, and gendered approaches to play can be particularly challenging for children and youth with diverse gender identities. Is this something discussed in your context?
Source: Save the Children Let’s Play Guidance
Resources
• My Journal Book – Save the Children
• Ideas for games for girl’s advocacy
• Girls, Play and Power rapid gender analysis – Save the Children
• Let’s Play – Save the Children
About Girls Unstoppable: Building on our long-lasting partnership centered around the importance of learning through play, Save the Children with support from the LEGO Group and funded by The LEGO Foundation, have launched the Girls Unstoppable program. Implemented in the four key countries China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Mexico, the program aims to reach 330,000 girls indirectly throughout 2024-2026, while also raising global awareness of barriers holding girls back. Girls Unstoppable invests in the creative potential of girls by providing them with safe spaces to voice their concerns, come together and have fun while exploring their creativity. The program empowers them to become stronger advocates for their rights and unstoppable women of the future.
About the LEGO Group
The LEGO Group’s mission is to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow through the power of play. The LEGO System in Play, with its foundation in LEGO bricks, allows children and fans to build and rebuild anything they can imagine.
The LEGO Group was founded in Billund, Denmark in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen, its name derived from the two Danish words LEg GOdt, which mean “Play Well”. Today, the LEGO Group remains a family-owned company headquartered in Billund. However, its products are now sold in more than 130 countries worldwide. For more information: www.LEGO.com
About Save the Children
Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. Since our founding more than 100 years ago, we’ve changed the lives of more than 1 billion children. Around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share. For more information: www.savethechildren.net
About The LEGO Foundation
The LEGO Foundation aims to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow – a mission that it shares with the LEGO Group. The LEGO Foundation is dedicated to building a future where learning through play empowers children to become creative, engaged, lifelong learners. Its work is about re-defining play and re-imagining learning. In collaboration with thought leaders, influencers, educators and parents, The LEGO Foundation aims to equip, inspire and activate champions for play.
