The 9th Annual GIAD: A Global Celebration
Mark your calendars! On September 23, thousands of girls aged between 8 and 18 worldwide will participate in the 9th Annual Girls in Aviation Day (GIAD). This annual event is spearheaded by Women in Aviation International (WAI), which organizes distinctive gatherings in various local communities hosted by WAI chapters and corporate members. In addition to these events, WAI will provide many virtual resources such as instructional videos, activities, and information through the free Aviation for Girls app.
Events and Activities
More than 150 events are scheduled to take place across the U.S., Canada, Europe, Africa, and Asia. They will take place at airports, FBOs, museums, and hangars. An estimated 30,000 girls will get a glimpse into the myriad career and lifestyle opportunities available in the aviation and aerospace industry. A wealth of hands-on activities are planned, from sectional chart scavenger hunts to Moon and Mars research site explorations. Participants can learn about aircraft engines and avionics from maintenance technicians, meet female role models, and join career panels.
GIAD Activity Kits and Other Materials
WAI event hosts will provide free activity kits to participants (while supplies last). The kits enrich the Girls in Aviation Day experience. They include a Girls in Aviation Day backpack filled with the Aviation for Girls 2023 Issue 2 magazine, a propeller activity, an aviation sectional chart, a WAI sticker, a glitter tattoo, and the new WAI Career Guide titled The Sky is Unlimited. A bandana complements the kit. In addition, attendees can purchase GIAD T-shirts, keychains, and caps at a nominal cost. For those unable to attend the in-person events, the Aviation for Girls app is available for free download, enabling participation in a virtual Girls in Aviation Day.
“Thanks to the generous support of our partners, Women in Aviation International has significantly expanded this one-day event to reach girls interested in aviation and aerospace year-round through our Aviation for Girls program,” says WAI Interim CEO Stephanie Kenyon. “As a part of this comprehensive youth STEM education program, we launched a new, free Junior membership for girls and boys 18 years and younger so they can enjoy all the WAI benefits and resources, including the ability to apply for up to three WAI scholarships. We know Girls in Aviation Day has been instrumental in introducing opportunities in aviation and STEM to thousands of participants all around the world.”
The Sky is Unlimited for Girls in Aviation
WAI is excited to reveal an innovative 2023 addition – The Sky is Unlimited: Careers in Aviation and Aerospace. This insightful guide will be a part of every GIAD Activity Kit and also accessible on the Aviation for Girls app, as well as the WAI website at WAI.org/aviation-careers.
GIAD Event Locations
Locate a GIAD event in your vicinity by visiting WAI.org/find-your-local-giad-2023-event. Stay updated about the Girls in Aviation Day at WAI.org/giad.
About Girls in Aviation Day: WAI initiated the first International GIAD in 2015. This annual event has grown exponentially since its inaugural gathering of 32 events with 3,200 participants. By 2019, GIAD attracted over 20,000 attendees at 119 events across 18 countries. Despite the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, WAI launched version 1 of the Aviation for Girls app. The app offered hours of educational content to girls in over 60 countries. Last year’s GIAD registered over 16,000 participants in 19 countries, with over 120 events held globally.
2023 Partners and donors: Girls in Aviation Day has the support of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, JetBlue Foundation, PPG Foundation, SkyWest Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Sporty’s Pilot Shop, Baylor Institute for Air Science, Conoco Phillips, and the Emanual Bachmann Foundation. These organizations have been crucial in making this educational program a reality.
About Women in Aviation
Women in Aviation International, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, is committed to boosting the involvement of women in all aspects of aviation and aerospace. For further information, contact WAI at waihq@wai.org or visit www.WAI.org.