By SALONEE MISTRY
It was when she understood her privilege that she decided to bring about a change.
HeForShe chairwoman Vittoria D’Angelo says she is passionate about making a change in the lives of women and young girls around the world.
“I did not care much about education until one day it hit me that so many women and girls across the globe did not even have access to education. That was the first time the extent of gender discrimination truly hit me,” Ms D’Angelo said.
The Monash chapter of HeForShe held its first Ideathon on Tuesday to tackle important issues regarding gender-based violence and finding solutions to those most affected by the issues – students.
HeForShe is a "solidarity campaign for the advancement of women initiated by UN Women and invites people around the world to stand together to create a bold, visible force for gender equality", the website states.
The thought behind the inaugural Ideathon was to involve the general student population and to come up with solutions to problems they face.
While creating awareness was the best way to go about it, there were a number of other solutions that could help the issue at hand, Ms D’Angelo said.
“We will take the solutions that the students have come up with to MONSU, who handle gender- based violence cases and we will work towards implementing them the best we can,” she said.
“The suggestions generated from the Ideathon might just work, as the solutions have come from the target audience: the university students itself.”
The event was attended by 15 people and the executive committee of HeForShe Monash.
Monash University student Rohit Kannachel, 19, was one of only four males at the Ideathon.
“Gender divide is a problem in almost all aspects of the world. I was informed about the Ideathon from my friend and I am glad that I attended,” he said.
“While I knew most of the things that we spoke about, it somehow still managed to broaden my perspective on things. We need more initiatives like this and one’s where the turnout for both the gender is high and equal.”
Started in February the HeForShe Monash chapter has conducted several activities since – the workshop on stereotypes and Run Melbourne were among their bigger events.
“Currently no Australian university is a part of HeForShe Champions and I hope for Monash to be the first,” Ms D’Angelo said.
“This ideally means that if the chapter does well the organisation will work towards implementing their morals and values within the whole institution, which is the long-term vision.”