The G(irls)20 Summit Organizers are pleased to announce the delegates for the first-ever G(irls)20 Summit. The selected girls will represent their countries at the Summit to be held in Toronto from June 15th to 18th at the University of Toronto just before the leaders of the world’s most powerful nations gather in the city for the G20 meetings.

Modelled after the G20, the G(irls)20 Summit will bring together one girl from each of the 20 countries to discuss how girls and women can help solve some of the world’s greatest challenges. A seat has also been allocated for a girl representing the African Union. While in Toronto, the delegates will work together to develop tangible solutions to these challenges and will participate in various workshops addressing financial literacy, media relations, problem solving, and how to utilize social media and technology to communicate globally.

The delegates were selected from among hundreds of applicants and were chosen based on their responses to questions that focussed on leadership, personal triumph and analytical skills.

“The G(irls) 20 Summit Ambassadors are remarkable young women who are each capable of being catalysts for change,” said Belinda Stronach, founder of The Belinda Stronach Foundation, the organization spearheading the Summit. “This is a unique opportunity for 21 girls to bring forward the views of millions of their peers and collectively come up with solutions that will change minds, change lives and quite literally, change the world.”

G(irls)20 Delegates

“I’m honoured to be chosen to represent Canada at the first-ever G(irls)20 Summit,” said Leah Stuart-Sheppard. “I hope to gain a better appreciation of the lives of girls and women outside my country, and the challenges they face. I look forward to sharing our ideas and developing practical and concrete suggestions on how to move forward.”

Information about the delegates is available on the website at www.girlsandwomen.com.

A coalition of more than 23 national and international organizations is working with The Belinda Stronach Foundation on this worthy initiative. G(irls)20 is also generously supported by more than a dozen private sector partners including Aeroplan, Dove, Veritas Communications, MacroBlu and Google. Aeroplan will be donating thousands of Aeroplan Miles to fly the girls to the Summit in Toronto.

"Aeroplan is pleased to help bring together these young delegates from around the world to address such important issues as education, health and poverty," said Vince Timpano, President and Chief Executive Officer, Aeroplan. "We are proud to support this inspiring initiative that recognizes the powerful contribution women play in global economic development and productivity."

“Dove has a strong belief that when girls have confidence in themselves, they have the opportunity to reach their full personal potential in life. The G(irls)20 Summit aligns strongly with this philosophy and offers the ideal platform for the creation of actionable ideas that will allow girls and women to reach that potential,” says Sharon MacLeod, Dove Director. “We look forward to building this partnership and meeting the girls.”

About 3.3 Billion Ways and What’s Your Number

The G(irls)20 Summit is part of an international campaign called “3.3 Billion Ways” which is based on the premise that there are 3.3 Billion Girls and Women in the World and therefore there are 3.3 Billion Ways to Change the World.

This campaign includes a global online discussion to solicit ideas around the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that impact girls and women as well as a viral campaign called “What’s Your Number?” which encourages girls from around the globe to sign up and claim their number to show their support for girls and women everywhere, and then spread the message to their own networks. In celebration of the upcoming Summit, media from across Canada have been asked to sport Tu Ly designed G(irls)20 t-shirts on June 1st to show their support and to show off their own unique number.

It’s not too late to get involved. Log on to www.girlsandwomen.com to get your number and to order a Tu Ly designed t-shirt.

For more information please visit:

• www.facebook.com/Girls20Summit
• http://twitter.com/Girls20Summit