I recently did something I’ve never done before and swore I would never do: I took my kids out of school for a week to go on a trip. A lot of people think it’s no big deal to miss a few days of school and I’m sure in the big picture it isn’t, however, it is a big deal for me. I don’t even schedule doctor’s appointments in the middle of the day if I can help it.
However, summoning all the parental instincts I’ve honed over the years, I decided that this trip would be worth it. I’ve been lucky enough to be involved with the G(irls) 20 Summit. In a nutshell, the summit mirrors the G20 but with a twist. It brings together girls from all the G20 countries (and Africa) to discuss issues that affect the advancement of girls and women around the world. At the end of the summit, a Communiqué is written for the G20 leaders to summarize these important issues. The girls range in age from 18-20. I don’t know about you but when I was 18 I certainly wasn’t trying to change the world. This type of opportunity would not have even found its way onto my radar (said radar was being used to sneak into bars and stay out late). I figured perhaps these girls would be better role models for my kids (especially my daughter) than me! All joking aside, I do feel it’s part of my job as a parent to create “citizens of the world”. I want my children to see all the possibilities that are out there. I decided that my kids, while under 10 years old, were still old enough to understand the importance of this trip. This type of “in context” learning, I rationalized, is very important.
Looking back, I think the trip was a success. My kids loved the Louvre and seeing all the paintings. They of course loved climbing the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe and seeing all the palaces of old French royalty. They understood how old Paris was in contrast to where we live. They also were amazed at the culture: everyone smokes! everyone walks! restaurants don’t open for dinner until 8pm!
What I am most proud of, however, is how my daughter absorbed so much of the G(irls) 20 Summit. She was in awe of all the delegates she met. She had personal, one and one conversations with the delegates from South Africa, India, Saudi Arabia, Canada and Australia. She learned why this summit is important because it helps girls around the world have a voice. Both my children seemed to really take away the right facts: some girls have no chance to go to school. Some girls get married when they are 10 years old to a stranger. Some of the facts were hard for them to grasp. It’s difficult to really know how much was internalized but I feel confident they understand that they can make a difference. Who knows what my kids will do with this information in the future. The important thing is that they are on their way to becoming citizens of the world.
