Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam empowers girls to take the lead

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October 11 was marked as the International Day off the Girl Child by the United Nations (UN) in 2012. This day aims at promoting girl's empowerment and the fulfillment of their rights.

To celebrate it, Plan International, a leading girl's right organization that had spent great effort in advocating UN to realize that date, since then has run the Girls Takeover series globally. 

In Vietnam, around 520 girls across the country have take over the roles of leaders of their communities since 2016 through Girls Takeover series.

This year, Plan International Vietnam is joined by the Swedish Embassy in the journey of encouraging and empowering girls to take the lead.

Phuong Anh, 20 years old, a student form Hanoi National University of Education had a chance to take over the role of the Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam from Ambassador Ann Mawe.

By this role play, Phuong Anh had an opportunity to experience how a day of an ambassador was like, as well as listen to the ambassador's story from a normal Swedish girl to become the ambassador of a country.

Through the discussion with the Ambassador, Phuong Anh shared her opinion about girls and women in leadership: "I do believe that girls and women have the abilities to be leader, we just need more role models to learn from, as well as the encouragement from family and friends to be brave and speak up."

"Today, I am thrilled and inspired to be with Phuong Anh, a Vietnamese strong girl, and be part of Girls Takeover, which is happening in Vietnam and globally this month to challenge gender stereotype and tear down barriers of discrimination that hold girls back. Let's join hands to take action so that all Vietnamese girls can get the chance to learn, lead, decide and thrive", said Ambassador Mawe. 

She also stressed that Sweden is the world's first country to launch a feminist foreign policy to promote gender equality and all women's and girl's full enjoyment of human right.

In the afternoon, the Swedish ambassador and Phuong Anh together visited Van Noi high school in Dong Anh district, where they participated in the discussion session of Champion of Change Club. 

Through the activity, the Ambassador gained more insights about gender equality in Vietnam, especially through the lens of young generation. 

As the first Embassy in Vietnam that participates in Girls Takeover series, Sweden had shown their commitment to promote gender equality and girl's right movement.