Invite an Expert
to Speak
We’ve created an adapted version of the toolkit so you can take action on the Girls’ Bill of Rights virtually. To access it, click here.
You can invite an expert to speak as part of a girls’ circle you’re organizing (here’s the project guide), or as a school/community-wide event for all.
Before the Event
Get tips on how to host a successful event here.
Identify a topic you would like to learn more about or bring awareness to. This can be about girls’ rights at large, or can explore more specific issues highlighted in the Girls’ Bill of Rights. What obstacles do girls face where you live? Which rights are obvious to people where you live? Which rights do people know little about?
Research experts in your community that can inform your attendees about the topic. You can find experts who can be guest speakers for your event at a local university/college, nonprofits working with girls, or amongst your peers! As you search, ask about girl activists (activists in your age group) or activists that are working towards your topic. Remember that girls with a powerful story to tell can be experts, too.
Reach out to potential experts (here’s a template we’ve created for you). Connect with them over the phone or in person to go over the event and give them a space to ask you questions. During your conversation, talk about the Girls’ Bill of Rights, event plans, and let them know details about where they will be speaking and any resources available to them (like a stage or projector). Once you’ve selected your speaker, send them a message to confirm event details and what you’ve both agreed to.
Plan out how you want to event to run. Include an introduction to the Girls’ Bill of Rights, an introduction to the expert, and an opportunity for the audience to ask questions at the end. During your planning, identify your “ask.” In other words, what action are you asking the attendees to take? This could be having them share the Girls’ Bill of Rights with at least five of their friends, introducing it to their school administration, or your own idea!
Work with your expert as they plan their part of the event to ensure it’s informative, engaging, and interactive with the audience.
During your event
Briefly introduce yourself and why you decided to host this event. Sharing your motivation can inspire passion in your attendees. Lead an overview of the Girls’ Bill of Rights. Be sure to include how it directly affects the girls living in your community.
Introduce your expert and invite them to begin their session. While they engage the audience, walk around and take photos.
When the speaker has finished, ask the audience if they have any questions about the Girls’ Bill of Rights or the topic covered by the expert.
Lead a short reflection activity with your attendees. Here are some questions to consider:
What surprised you?
What did you learn today? How do you hope to use it going forward?
What action do you hope to take to be a stronger advocate for girls?
End your event by telling them your ask and sharing how they can reach out to you if they’re interested in getting involved in the future.
Next Steps
Connect with your attendees after the event through a follow-up message via an email, Facebook or Whatsapp message, or SMS/text. Start your message with gratitude and a recap of the event. Remind them of actions they can take, and how you would like them to further the Girls’ Bill of Rights. You can find tips on how to build a community here.