A YOUNG Southsider has been featured in an award winning photo exhibition opened by Cherie Blair and Laura Whitmore.
Megan Davenport (17), from Rathfarnham, was the centre of attention when her image featured in the exhibition that was opened in Dublin by Cherie Blair and MTV presenter Laura .
Entitled
‘Her Story’ it was staged by children’s development NGO Plan Ireland.
It featured images of 36 girls ranging in ages from a few months to 18, from diverse communities across both Ireland and Sierra Leone.
The idea was to show that girls in both countries share similar hopes and have comparable objectives. However, they also convey the stark inequality and disparity of opportunity which exists between them.
The exhibition aims to raise awareness of Plan’s work, and to increase understanding of the importance of gender equality.
Megan was one of the 16 Irish girls chosen to be photographed for the exhibition.
She said it was really exciting to be part of the project and associated with role models like Cherie Blair and Laura Whitmore.
“I was so enthusiastic about getting involved because I know that tragically, there are millions of girls around the globe, who unlike me, were not given a good education and aren’t part of a loving family,
? she said.
“I know all about the work of Plan Ireland and I am fully aware of the real impact Plan and their Because I am a Girl campaign is having on thousands of girls around the world.
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Plan Ireland CEO David Dalton said that globally, some of the statistics surrounding girls are startling.
“Sixty-six million girls of primary school age do not have any access to education,
? he said.
“Everyday more than 2,500 girls under 18 are married as child brides. Pregnancy remains the leading cause of death for girls between 15 and 19 in developing countries while 90 per cent of child domestic workers are girls between 12 and 17 years old.
“Plan Ireland’s Because I am a Girl campaign aims to support millions of girls like these to get the education, skills and support they need to transform their lives and the world around them.
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The exhibition runs for two weeks and will then be toured around the country.
To view the photos and to contribute to Plan’s work in helping girls throughout the world go to www.becauseiamagirl.ie.
?¢ Megan’s Sierra Leone
“counterpart
? Fatmata from Freetown