Every year on October 11th, it is the International Day of the Girl, also known as World Girls' Day. A day to reflect on the rights and opportunities of girls, all over the world. And you know what? That sometimes starts right at home, at the kitchen table.
Where does World Girls' Day come from?
The day originated from Plan International and their Because I Am a Girl campaign. Canada presented the proposal to the United Nations, and on December 19, 2011, the UN declared October 11th as the International Day of the Girl. The day has been celebrated every year since 2012.
Curious about what Plan is doing this year? Check out the World Girls' Day page of Plan International Netherlands.
Why this day is needed
Girls are not born with the same opportunities as boys. Just because they are girls, they more often face obstacles: in going to school, growing up healthy, being safe, and making their own choices about their lives. World Girls' Day highlights this every year. Not to make girls look like victims, but to show how much they can achieve if they are given the space.
Worldwide
- About 1 in 5 girls marries before she turns 18 (UNICEF, 2026) [1].
- Girls aged 15 to 19 are twice as likely as boys to be out of school, work, or training (UNICEF) [1].
- Only 39% of schools worldwide provide information about menstruation, and only 31% have a waste bin in the girls' restroom. That makes attending school during your period difficult for many girls (UNICEF and WHO, 2024) [2].
- More than half of girls and young women aged 15 to 25 experience online harassment. This was revealed in a global study by Plan International, in which about 1,000 Dutch girls also participated (2020) [3].
And also in the Netherlands
You would think things aren't so bad here. Yet, there is still plenty to do in the Netherlands as well:
- 13% of people who menstruate were unable to afford menstrual products at some point in the past year. Many used toilet paper or something else that does not protect well (Neighborhood Feminists and Opinium, 2024) [4].
- Almost 1 in 5 young adults (18 to 24 years old) missed school because they could not afford menstrual products [4].
- Almost half of girls feel dirty when they are on their period, and 4 in 10 have missed school or work at some point due to their menstruation (Plan International Netherlands, 2019) [5].
A period should never be the reason a girl misses a school day, training, or a party. Not in Kenya, and not in the Netherlands.
Menstruation is a part of life
We can do a lot about that ourselves. The more normally we talk about it, the more confident girls feel. At home, at school, and on the sports field.
5 ways to give your daughter a strong start
1. Talk about it early and naturally
Don't wait until her first period. Tell her what happens and why, in simple words. This way, it’s not a surprise, but something she is ready for.
2. Make sure she is prepared
Have a few period panties ready and give her a spare pair in her bag. Then she knows: I’ve got it covered, no matter what happens.
3. Let her choose for herself
Style, color, or a fun print: if she has chosen it herself, she will wear it with more confidence. Unsure what to choose? In our blog How to choose the right period underwear, you can read exactly what to look for.
4. Don't let her period hold her back
Sports, swimming lessons, a school trip, or a sleepover: everything can just go on as planned. With a good pair of panties, she has up to 10 hours of protection, and with period swimwear, she can also just get in the water.
5. Let her know she can always come to you
Every body is different, and every cycle is too. Let her know that all her questions are normal and that she can always come to you with them.
Not every girl has that choice
For many girls, good menstrual protection is not a given, even in the Netherlands. That is why Moodies donates 5% of online purchases of panties every year to girls and women living in period poverty. In June 2026, together with the Children of Kenya Foundation, we brought 140 pairs of panties to girls in Kenya.
Would you like to help a girl yourself? With a donation panty of €7.50, you give a pair to a girl up to 20 years old in the Netherlands via Fonds Kinderhulp.
Happy World Girls' Day
Let’s help girls grow up with self-confidence, without shame, and without their period holding them back. Today, and all other days of the year.
Sources
- UNICEF: International Day of the Girl 2026
- UNICEF and WHO: 10 Fast Facts, Menstrual health in schools (2024)
- Plan International: study on online harassment, via Nieuws.nl (2020)
- Neighborhood Feminists and Opinium: Code Red, period poverty in the Netherlands (2024)
- Plan International Netherlands: Bloedserieus, study on menstruation, poverty, and shame (2019)
- Plan International Netherlands: World Girls' Day
