TORONTO- Plan Canada’s initiative Because I Am a Girl offers support to families wanting to raise money for girls in need through Pink LemonAid stands.
Plan’s global initiative created Pink LemonAid in 2010 as a simple way for families to get involved and inspire children to give back.
“Plan Canada is an international development children’s charity,” said Sarah Muir, a Plan Canada representative. “And Because I Am A Girl is plan’s global initiative to end gender inequality, promote girls rights and lift millions of girls and everyone around them out of poverty.”
Stephanie Ashton-Smith has hosted numerous Pink LemonAid stands throughout the past two summers with her three children.
“I want them to know there are kids around the world that don’t eat everyday and that it’s particularly bad for girls,” Ashton-Smith said. “I want them to feel that it is not right. I want them to feel that there is something that we can do to try to improve that around the world and you know just every little bit helps.”
Pink LemonAid donations support projects focusing on access to education, food, clean water, and protection.
“I think a little goes a long way,” said Maria Torres-Hives, a customer of the LemonAid stand. “If every little girl created a little lemonade stand, we could really make a difference.”
In the poorest regions of the world, some girls face discrimination and barriers to survival and development.
“Small actions do drive big change because it’s when you take all those small actions and you combine them together, that’s when the big change happens.” Muir said.
Pink LemonAid stands not only help girls in other countries but also help educate individuals living in North America about what is happening overseas.
“For my little girl, I think she is starting to realize that she is lucky to be in Canada and to have the opportunities that she has and to know that there are little girls her age that have a very, very different life.”
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