Today is the inaugural International Day of the Girl, a movement to speak out against gender bias and advocate for girls’ rights everywhere. I am so excited that the United Nations and others have stepped up to highlight these important issues affecting our girls, and keenly aware it will take all of us to affect change.
On the Day of the Girl website they clearly lay out the challenges:
- By 2015, females will make up 64% of the world’s population who cannot read.
- Only 30% of the girls in the world are enrolled in secondary school. In America, one in four girls does not finish high school.
- One in seven girls in developing countries are married off before age 15.
- In the US, more than half (54%) of all rapes of females happen before age 18. Worldwide children as young as age 11 are forced to work as prostitutes.
- More than half (54%) of 3rd – 5th grade girls worry about their appearance.
It’s daunting, I know. Sometimes I feel like there is so much to do and so little of me. But then I remember, when we band together in passionate purpose there is NOTHING we can’t do. So let’s make up our minds, and get to work!
What can we do right now, today, to make a difference in the life of a girl?
To get really practical I asked Little Katrina – the one pictured above – to find out what was important to her. Below are her ideas for three easy things that take 5 minutes or less:
- Say nice things to me, and my friends! I like hearing that I am pretty and nice and smart. I believe you when you tell me “I can do it.” I want to be just like you.
- Tell other people! You know everybody! How come you don’t talk more about what’s wrong? I know you can do something about my friends who get hurt at home. Grown ups can do anything they want!
- Read with me! I like reading. I like it better when you hold me and read with me. I feel safe and special. I feel smart when you teach me the big words. You love me.
Sounds too simple to be true, doesn’t it? But time and time again we discover it is the small things in life that have made such a profound impact on the people we become and the things we achieve.
There are big challenges we must address – and we will. Day by day, we’ll turn the tide. Please visit dayofthegirl.org to learn more about how you can help. Our sisters, daughters, and nieces are depending on us. Will you join me?
Leave a Reply