marie claire joins speed mentoring event for Plan's International Day of the Girl

Team MC joined forces with inspirational women to speed-mentor schoolgirls on the London Eye

London Eye
London Eye
(Image credit: Gretel Ensignia/PA.)

Team MC joined forces with inspirational women to speed-mentor schoolgirls on the London Eye

Marie Claire participated in a speed-mentoring session on the London Eye this morning as part of Plan's first ever International Day of the Girl.

Myself and deputy editor Charlotte Moore took part in the event, which saw inspirational women from fields including media, sport, science, business and politics meeting 180 schoolgirls aged 11-18 for 15-minute mentoring sessions.

We were all put into groups, riding on the Eye for one hour, in which time we spoke to three girls each for 15 minutes to advise them on education prospects as well as sharing experiences.

It was a privilege to hear from the girls about their hopes and ambitions for the future, as well as helping them solve problems and queries about how to get their feet on the ladder in their chosen educational and working fields.

Today's takeover of the iconic landmark was part of the celebrations for the world’s first ever International Day of the Girl. Plan have teamed up with London's Southbank Centre to host the WOW Girls festival.

The London Eye has been turned pink and white for the day, as have the Empire State Building, Niagara Falls, the pyramids of Giza, the Charminar and the CN tower.

The International Day of the Girl hopes to draw attention to the fact that poverty and discrimination means 75 million girls are unable to go to school and receive a proper education.

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