There is a crisis happening with girls in the world. As a woman who’s hoping to a be a mama someday (not to mention, just being human), I can’t help but be concerned. And I think you should be, too.
Over 600 million girls under the age of 13 are denied education, safety, health, power and choice every day and in every way. Think that doesn’t effect you? Think again. The ripple effect is not only personal, it’s local (thank you Nike)and it’s global.
Today I’m writing as part of a collaborative effort, via the inspiring Tara Mohr, to raise awareness on the growing epidemic and The Girl Effect.
The Girl Effect is defined as the powerful social and economic change brought about when girls have the opportunity to participate in their society.
Wanna know what I mean? Lookie here:
years of education, she marries four years later in life and has 2.2
fewer children.
An extra year of primary school boosts her eventual wages
by 10 to 20 percent. An extra year of secondary school:
15 to 25 percent.
of it into their families, as compared to only 30 to 40
percent for men.
Out of the world’s 130 million out-of-school youth,
70 percent are girls.
become mothers before age 18; 14 million girls aged 15 to
19 give birth in developing countries each year.
One girl in seven in developing countries marries before
age 15.
Want more facts? Check it out.
In the meantime, can you imagine having dreams of being a doctor but at age 11 you are engaged… you just don’t know it yet? This short video utterly astounds me every time.
When I was asked to write this piece I realized how proud I am to live in Portland, OR, headquarters to the Nike Foundation. The Nike Foundation and NoVo Foundation share a mission: to create opportunities for girls in the world. Thanks to Portland’s Wieden + Kennedy for the equally committed work on this totally rad video.
Worth the 3 minutes, right?
I’ve been totally absorbed in my life, lately. Admittedly so. That’s part of how life goes, right? But when I stop to watch the videos, read what my peers have to say on the matter, and educate myself even the tiniest bit, something deep inside me begins to surge. I get out of my world and into something far, far bigger than I’ll ever be. Possibility becomes present. Will I be the next UN ambassador? Nope. Likely not. But will I think twice about where I give my money this year? Will I start to take just bit more of a stand when it comes to girls’ power? Will I speak up about these sobering facts even when it’s not polite or popular to do so? Especially when? You bet. And in the end, if we all did just any bit of the above… we’d cause a massive ripple effect that would change girls lives and our global economy. Forever.
So, whatchya gonna do? Lucky for you, you’ve got some options: Read a bit. Watch a video.
Give something. Or, write your own post, add it here and join a wave that will change the world.
Big, BIG love,
regina
P.S. If you want to Tweet about this, there’ll be buzz all week, particularly given November 20th is International Children’s Day. Just use #girleffect and you’re good to go.
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