2026 International Day of the Girl Child

On this International Day of the Girl Child, observed on 11 October, JM Education and Research Centre (JMERC) joins the global call to end child marriage and invest in girls’ rights! This year’s theme reminds us that protecting girls from early and forced marriage must go hand in hand with investing in their education, wellbeing, agency, and leadership.

At JMERC, we believe that empowering adolescent girls means equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and supportive environments they need to thrive. Through our Adolescent Resilience and Empowerment Programme (AREP), we strengthen girls’ resilience, mental wellbeing, social and emotional learning (SEL), and agency, while supporting informed sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) decisions.

Our Resilience and Social and Emotional Learning (RSEL) initiative supports young adolescent girls aged 10–14 to build resilience, strengthen their wellbeing, and develop the skills to navigate life’s challenges. Through the Resilient and Empowered Adolescents Girls through Social and Emotional Learning (REASEL) initiative, we strengthen adolescent girls’ agency, leadership, and social and emotional skills, helping them make informed decisions, stay in school, and transition successfully into adulthood.

We recognise that investing in girls goes beyond providing access to education. It means creating gender-responsive learning environments, amplifying girls’ voices, strengthening the systems that support them, and ensuring they have the confidence and agency to make decisions about their lives and futures.

On this International Day of the Girl Child, let us purpose to invest in girls’ rights, resilience, wellbeing, and potential. When girls are empowered to thrive, families, communities, and societies benefit.