The Girl Effect

As a result of the years I've spent doing the work of helping women to feel good about being in their skin I have a reverence for the ability of women to grow through trying circumstances, cultivating their wisdom and sharing the gift of that wisdom with their community. One of the many things I'm grateful for is the opportunity to witness this commitment of spirit.

I am also grateful that my 9 yr old daughter is raised in a community of strong, positive role models whose lives represent the vast opportunity that life offers. Instilling a sense of self-confidence and self-worth in a girl is sometimes a daunting responsibility. There are many girls in the world who are not as fortunate as my daughter and will not be encouraged to find their gifts and passions to share with the world.

Some facts:

One quarter to one-half of girls in developing countries become mothers before age 18; 14 million girls aged 15-19 give birth in developing countries each year.

75% of 15-24 year olds living with HIV in Africa are female.

Medical complications from pregnancy are the leading cause of death among girls ages 15-19 worldwide.

Out of the world's 130 million out-of-school youth, 70 percent are girls.

When a girl in the developing world receives 7 or more years of education, she marries 4 years later and has 2.2 fewer children.

An extra year of primary school boosts girls' eventual wages by 10-20%. An extra year of secondary school: 15-25%.

When women and girls earn income, they reinvest 90% of it into their families, as compared to only 30-40% for a man.

There's no doubt that investing in creating a better life for the young girls of the world is creating a better life for us all.

My prayer and vision for young girls everywhere is for the world to hold them up so that their light can shine magnificently bright.

A solution: The Girl Effect (http://www.thegirleffect.org/question).