There were more Smith's Hill High School students than usual wearing a dress last Thursday.
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That's because boys, girls and even some teachers wanted to do their bit to raise funds to support education for girls in Sierra Leone and Uganda.
Year 12 student Sarah Gowers led a group of students in organising the Do It In A Dress fundraiser for One Girl, an Australian charity that aims to provide education to girls and women in Sierra Leone and Uganda.
It does this through scholarships and training programs. Over 130 million girls worldwide do not have access to an education, with only 16 per cent of girls in Sierra Leone graduating high school.
One Girl runs the DIIAD fundraiser, in which participants sign up to spend a day wearing school dress, symbolising girls' education. They are sponsored by friends and family to put themselves in the shoes of a school girl in Sierra Leone and Uganda.
"It was amazing to see everyone in their dresses, and we've raised online so far $18,900. I think we raised just over $700 today," Sarah said.
"We had a great big school frisbee game on the oval. We had a bake sale and earring stall and a dress stall.
"The vibe was really amazing. It really was a great day and it brought the school community together, which was fantastic."
The 17-year-old was ecstatic that so many students and teachers wore a dress and supported the event.
In Australia we often think that the fight for equality is over because we live in such a great, prosperous country but it is really not until everyone gets to go to school and everyone is afforded their right to education.
- Smith's Hill High School student Sarah Gowers
"In Australia we often think that the fight for equality is over because we live in such a great, prosperous country but it is really not until everyone gets to go to school and everyone is afforded their right to education," she said.
"I think it is really important as a school community to show support. We love learning here so much and we want everyone to be able to learn."
Smith's Hill High School principal David Deitz was full of praise for his students.
"It is a credit to the students of Smith's Hill High school. They not only place a high value on education for themselves, but for every person," Mr Deitz said.
"Today we've seen compassion and global mindfulness of our students, driving them to act and make a difference for girls in countries where they are denied an education."
Visit https://www.onegirl.org.au/fundraisers/SmithsHillHighSchool/do-it-in-a-dress-2021 to support the fundraiser.
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