This summer, ONE volunteers across Canada hit the streets to meet with their Members of Parliament to share a simple message: #GirlsCount. Education matters.
In May, we were thrilled that the Government of Canada announced a feminist foreign policy which positions Canada as a global leader on women’s rights. Still however, as Canadian students return to school, there are 130 million girls around the world who won’t be joining them.
We’re counting on MPs like Andrew Leslie from Orléans, Celina Cesar-Chavannes from Whitby, Randy Boissonnault from Edmonton Centre, Michel Picard from Montarville, Arnold Chan from Scarborough-Agincourt, Ken Hardie from Surrey, Bill Morneau from Toronto Centre and Harjit Sajjan from Vancouver South. Our members are their constituents. Their constituents care about global education.
Below are just a few highlights of the great work our volunteers did this summer! Watch for more over the coming weeks. This is only the beginning.
On June 20, Michel Picard proudly presented a petition delivered to him by his constituents. Merci, M. Picard! Watch here:
We applaud @MPicardLiberal for his leadership on girls education! https://t.co/bTA9WBH6P9 #poverty #sexism pic.twitter.com/veWtwtKsPN
— ONE Canada (@ONE_in_Canada) June 21, 2017
On Canada Day, our co-founder, Bono, made a surprise visit to Ottawa.
Canada’s 150th birthday party! “Hey Edge… Bono anniversaire, non?” – via @U2 #U2JoshuaTreeTour2017 #canada150 #canadaday150 pic.twitter.com/J6OsfMiNJF
— ONE Canada (@ONE_in_Canada) July 1, 2017
On June 6, our Canada Director, Stuart Hickox, met with leaders working with the Global Partnership for Education, including MP Celina Cesar-Chavannes (second from right) and former Australian PM and GPE Board Chair the Rt. Hon Julia Gillard (at far right).
In great company today at a @GPforEducation session in Ottawa. Together, lets do more for girls #education! #cdnpoli 🎓 pic.twitter.com/7Nelu7lwDG
— ONE Canada (@ONE_in_Canada) June 6, 2017
In August, Wilma Eyang, one of our volunteers, met with her MP, Andrew Leslie, in Orléans, a suburb of Ottawa, during his Canada 150 BBQ.
Thank you @AndrewLeslieMP for having us at your BBQ last week. With your support, girls EVERYWHERE can go to school! #education #OrléansON pic.twitter.com/mCTdn7UyRo
— ONE Canada (@ONE_in_Canada) August 28, 2017
In June, Scarborough-Agincourt MP Arnold Chan accepted to sponsor our House of Commons E-Petition that currently has over 6,000 signatures. Have YOU signed it yet?
Education matters! Sign this petition sponsored by @ArnoldChanLib. Lets put every. girl. in. school. https://t.co/sSx1nkocCL #canada pic.twitter.com/cL6lMW3RDX
— ONE Canada (@ONE_in_Canada) July 14, 2017
In July, our volunteer, Trina Shipanoff, met with her MP, Randy Boissonnault in Edmonton at his community BBQ during K Days.
Thanks for taking time to chat with us at your BBQ, Randy! Enjoy your summer and lets meet again soon! #kdays #yeg #imafeminist pic.twitter.com/BPOjeluz70
— ONE Canada (@ONE_in_Canada) August 3, 2017
Throughout the summer, we’ve been attending Car Free Day in Vancouver at various locations. Were you there too? Shown below is Greg Taylor, one of our best volunteers in Vancouver. Hi Greg!
We’re at @CarFreeYVR this weekend! Come learn how your VOICE can help the world’s poorest! #YVR #veryvancouver pic.twitter.com/EJxYnOr7rk
— ONE Canada (@ONE_in_Canada) June 17, 2017
We’re at Car Free Days West End! Denman St & Comox until 7pm @ONE_in_Canada @ONE_Vancouver @ONECampaign #GirlsCount #PovertyIsSexist pic.twitter.com/Juh8A02T5A
— Faria (@peaceluvmusic23) June 17, 2017
Ladies of ONE Vancouver making #GirlsCount at Car Free Day Commercial Dr! @ONE_in_Canada @ONECampaign @ONE_Vancouver pic.twitter.com/xXUWpRlCzG
— Faria (@peaceluvmusic23) July 10, 2017
In July, one of our members in Vancouver, Cheryl Materi, also met with her MP, Harjit Sajjan! Cheryl is amazing and has been actively volunteering with The ONE Campaign for a year now.
Thank you @HarjitSajjan for meeting your constituent to discuss how Canada can help 130 million girls! #education https://t.co/j8PdXeEhs8 pic.twitter.com/fvkoxSI3i5
— ONE Canada (@ONE_in_Canada) July 14, 2017
ONE member, Amanda Carrasco, brought her daughter for a meeting with their MP, Ken Hardie, in Surrey.
Thank you @KenHardie for meeting your constituents to discuss the importance of girls education! #girlscount https://t.co/j8PdXeEhs8 pic.twitter.com/SH8rlUXkhN
— ONE Canada (@ONE_in_Canada) July 13, 2017
Amanda also set up a booth at Ken Hardie’s community BBQ in August! Thanks for having us, Mr. Hardie! This was Amanda’s first event and she did an awesome job! New ONE member Elias heard about the event through an email invitation we sent and came out to share ONE’s mission with people and raise awareness about the 130 million girls who aren’t in school. Thanks, Amanda & Elias!
We’re at @KenHardie‘s community BBQ at Fleetwood Park in #SurreyBC! Come say hi and & your VOICE to support funding to girls education.❤️ pic.twitter.com/adMnJHzcf6
— ONE Canada (@ONE_in_Canada) August 12, 2017
This work is ongoing. We are thrilled that our members are doing their part in sharing the importance of education with the politicians who were elected to represent them – not just through tweets and letters but with in-person meetings. We are grateful for the encouraging words that many of MPs have shared with us and look forward to building on this momentum towards tangible results.
If YOU care about girls’ education and ending extreme poverty, here are two EASY things you can do to help!
- Sign our House of Commons E-Petition on global education.
- Sign up to volunteer with the ONE Campaign. We’ll connect you with a Parliamentary Riding Leader in your area!
