Former tennis champion, bestselling author, commentator and Logie winner Jelena Dokic has been named the official ambassador for World Vision's 1,000 Girls Campaign, following an emotional trip to Bangladesh to witness the organisation's work helping protect girls from child marriage, violence and exploitation. The annual campaign is inviting Australians to sponsor 1,000 girls by International Day of the Girl (Sunday October 11), helping vulnerable girls access education, protection and opportunity while creating lasting change across their communities. Driven by her own lived experience of abuse, Dokic is lending her powerful voice to ensure more girls living in the world's most vulnerable communities have the chance to grow up safe, educated and empowered. In Bangladesh, Dokic saw firsthand the devastating consequences of child marriage and gender-based violence. She met girls whose childhoods had been cut short, hearing firsthand about the futures they had almost lost. Every year globally, an estimated 12 million girls are married before the age of 18. This means a young girl is forced into child marriage every three seconds. In Bangladesh, almost half of all girls marry before turning 18, rising as high as 65% in poorer and rural communities.[1] But amidst the heartbreak, she also witnessed extraordinary resilience. She met girls reclaiming their futures through self-defence classes, education and leadership programs, alongside young boys challenging harmful mindsets and cultural beliefs to help keep girls safe. After supporting last year's campaign, the trip to Bangladesh transformed Dokic's involvement from supporter to ambassador. "Growing up, no one spoke up for me," Dokic said. "I know how devastating it is to have your voice stripped away, and I refuse to let that happen to other girls. I want to be a voice for those who don't have anyone to speak up for them. "As a survivor of abuse, I know how important it is for every child to feel safe, and valued and believed in." "I was incredibly moved by the work World Vision is doing to protect girls from child marriage, violence and exploitation," Dokic shared. "Meeting these resilient, incredible young women, and seeing how child sponsorship is helping girls stay in school, remain safe and dream about their futures is something I'll never forget.
"I can't change what happened to me, but together we can change what happens to another girl. Every Australian has the opportunity to stand beside a girl and help her build a brighter future." World Vision Australia Chief Executive Officer, Grant Bayldon said Dokic's courage and authenticity make her an incredibly powerful advocate for girls around the world. "Jelena knows, through her own lived experience, how life-changing it can be when someone stands in your corner and believes in you. During her visit to Bangladesh, she saw firsthand what's possible when communities come together to protect girls." Mr Bayldon said. "That's the power of child sponsorship. Australians aren't just supporting one child - they're helping create safer communities where girls can stay in school, avoid child marriage and build brighter futures. "Over the last five years, Australians have helped protect children in almost 2,300 communities around the world. Thanks to this incredible generosity, child marriage has dropped by almost half (47%) in the areas where we work." Mr Bayldon added.[2]
