With 1.1 billion girls and counting, we do need to strongly keep fighting to address prominent issues young girls are facing daily, which truly stands in the way of their progress and the progress of the world. 

Every year on October 11, we celebrate our young girls and shine a light on the importance of providing opportunities for young women all over the world to be educated and have a safe and successful chance at life, like their male counterparts.  Young women across the globe are filled hopes and dreams with intelligence and talent to back it up, but due to sexual violence, lack of educational opportunities and governmental or religious hindrances, are unable to shine. 

According to UN Women, the theme for this year’s International Day of the Girl Child, “Girls’ Progress = Goals’ Progress: A Global Girl Data Movement”, is a “call for action for increased investment in collecting and analyzing girl-focused, girl-relevant and sex-disaggregated data. More efforts should be channeled into investing into the development of the young girl. Focusing on the current situation of young women across the globe and creating actual results, should be a strong aim for every government in every country. 

Violence against young women have always been a strong proponent in creating hostile environments whereby young women are unable to thrive. Even in the wake of the US elections where we are faced with discussing over and over issues such as rape culture and the views of some of our so-called leaders are raising even more concerns for the future of young girls everywhere. 

Today, celebrate the young girls in your lives by passing on a piece of inspirational quote from a strong woman, that would help them understand they are able to achieve whatever they want in this life by just finding strength within themselves to do so. 

I want to share with young girls my own personal quote:

“You have not yet begun to live, until you are able to successfully say “No” to something you do not want to do and walk away without feeling obligated to someone else.”  – Keishel A. Williams

 

Happy International Day of the Girl 2016

#GirlsTakeover #DayoftheGirl