Home Girls Unite (HGU) said the day would be a day to honour and celebrate the often ‘parentified’ eldest daughter.

The HGU website says it offers support with the “unique challenges” faced by eldest daughters of immigrant families, such as taking on the role of parent to younger siblings.

Co-founder Yasin Bojang said she wanted the eldest daughters, wherever they came from, to “have a connection with each other.”

The 30-year-old founded HGU together with a friend after they realized in a conversation that they faced similar challenges as the eldest daughters of immigrant parents.

Ms Bojang said she felt like she was treated like a third parent during her childhood.

“I couldn’t go to the after-school clubs because I had to go home to look after my brother.

“I also had to learn to cook quickly at the age of 11 because I had to prepare dinner when my parents worked long hours.”

“The role can be quite lonely,” she added.

This “parentification of eldest daughters” is not limited to immigrant families, Ms. Bojang said, “but it may not be as intense as among daughters from immigrant families,” she added.

For Ms Bojang, a special “Eldest Daughter Day” would be a recognition of the contribution that eldest daughters make to their families.

“I think one of the challenges that eldest daughters face is that it is so difficult to get their role recognized at home,” she said.

This year, HGU will be marking the day with a potluck picnic on Bank Holiday, August 26. So far, 70 women of all ages and backgrounds from across London have confirmed their attendance.

“Hopefully we won’t have to tell people about Eldest Daughter’s Day in the next few years,” Ms Bojang said.

“Our goal is to make it just like Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.”

Wumni Fagbemi, 32, of Edmonton said she supports the idea.

“Unless you are the eldest daughter, you will not understand,” she said.

“Being an eldest sister is a joy and a source of pride, but we put so much into our families and extended families and we should be recognized for that.”

Ms Fagbemi said that as the eldest of four siblings, she often had to take on a maternal role.

“From an early age, I was changing diapers, making bottles and helping my mom feed,” she said.

“It’s almost like I don’t remember being able to do my own thing as a kid.”

She added: “My personality was shaped by having so many younger siblings and having to adapt to accommodate them.”

Aaliyah Patel, 24, from Stratford, said that as the eldest daughter she had to take on many unspoken responsibilities within her family.

“It’s in the unsaid, the unspoken, like the things my brother or sister could get away with but I couldn’t,” she said.

“There were always certain expectations placed on me, especially on my younger siblings.”

When asked if a dedicated eldest daughter day was necessary, Ms Patel said: “We need a day to raise awareness of their experiences, to encourage society to celebrate them and to give eldest daughters the space to celebrate themselves.”

“Having a designated day normalizes the opportunity for eldest daughters to use the day as they see fit, whether it’s for rest or for activities that bring them joy.”