Happy First International Day of the Girl Child

Today is the first International Day of the Girl Child - a day designated by the United Nations last year. We need this day to recognize girl's rights. Why?  Because sadly:

• There are 67 million children that are not in school. More than half of these children are girls.


• In developing countries, most girls never receive a check-up or see a doctor.


• Almost 50 percent of all sexual assaults are against girls 15 or younger.


• In many developing countries, a girl may have to marry young and take care of her older husband and her own children. (girlup.org)

We need an International Day of the Girl Child because today, Malala Yousafzai, a young Pakistani activist who refused to stop going to school despite intimidation from the Taliban, campainged for the right of girls to get an education, and blogged for the BBC, was shot in the head on her way to school. She was shot in the head for going to school, for demanding access to education, for being brave.

Something awesome

Everyone should check out this website: http://www.girleffect.org/

Probably one of my favorite organizations out there. The girl effect is defined as "the unique potential of 600 million adolescent girls to end poverty for themselves and the world."

How cool is that??

If you want to know more, start with this fact sheet.

But check out the rest of their website and follow them on Facebook. 

Because they really are that great.