Student success with Do it in a Dress

Update: the UQ college students have now raised more than $74,600 for the Do it in a Dress initiative.

University of Queensland college students have raised $55,000 to educate girls in Africa – and they aren’t stopping there.

More than 400 UQ college students are wearing school dresses daily to demonstrate their support of the Do it in a Dress initiative.

The students, from Duchesne College, Women's College, Grace College, Cromwell College, Union College, Emmanuel College and St Leo’s College, are hoping to raise $60,000 by the end of October.

The initiative, organised by non-profit One Girl, provides education opportunities to girls in Sierra Leone and Uganda, including full scholarships, rebuilding schools, providing business training and sanitary pads. 

Duchesne College organiser Imogen White said over 60 million girls worldwide were denied access to education, simply because of their gender.

“We think it's time to make a change,” Ms White said.

“Education is the key to achieving empowerment for girls and women globally, but only if they have access to it.

“This October, students from seven of the UQ colleges will be wearing school dresses to raise awareness and funds for girls’ education in Sierra Leone and Uganda.

“Together, we have already raised over $55,000, and are aiming to raise at least $60,000 in total, enough to educate 200 girls for a year.”

In an effort to further raise awareness of the cause, the students have organised a picnic on the UQ St Lucia campus.

On Thursday from 11.30am-1.30pm, up to 200 students will descend upon the Natural Amphitheatre in their school dresses.

Ms White hopes the event will spark further interest from the UQ community to assist the students in reaching their goal.

“We would be grateful for the support of the UQ community in helping us make a difference in the lives of girls and women.”

For more information about Do it in a Dress and to donate, click here.

Media: UQ Communications, communications@uq.edu.au, 07 3346 0561.