Usually, when I wake up in the morning, I grumble about having to go to school. I grumble about the homework, the papers, the plethora of after school activities—I’m sure most high schoolers identify with me.
I grumble—but only because I’ve grown immune to living in a town where opportunity meets me at every corner. However, this is not the case across the world, and being part of GirlUp has made me acutely aware of the strides that must be taken for gender equality across oceans as well as right here at home.
GirlUp is a United Nations Foundation (think sister to UNICEF) dedicated to giving to adolescent girls. The campaign began for girls in America, but has quickly moved into developing countries, giving women everywhere the chance for education, health, safety, and social and economic opportunities. Currently, the organization is focusing on issues in Guatemala, Ethiopia, Liberia, Malawi, India, and Uganda.
This organization does incredible things, from rescuing young girls from child marriages in India to saving them from being sold on the streets in Liberia. Other initiatives, like SchoolCycle, have given girls in Malawi and Guatemala access to their own bikes, thereby giving them the means to pursue their own education. GirlUp is also increasing the accessibility of STEM professions to girls in third-world countries through their WiSci camps.
This UN organization is creating female adolescent leaders everywhere, in the hopes that these empowered young women will be able to drive further change. Considering that there are 600 million adolescent women worldwide, there’s no shortage of leaders—but there’s no shortage of girls in need either.
When you donate to GirlUp, you’re not just investing in a girl—you’re also investing in her ability to impact her community, country, and world. You’re investing in her empowerment, and you’re investing in all the incredible things she can do to make this world a better place, after she is given rights to safety, education, and opportunity.
Here in Mountain Lakes, we have our own chapter of GirlUp, meaning every Laker has the ability to help fund and support all this great work. Our next meeting will be Thursday, January 18, 2018 at 3:00 P.M. in Room 212. Come to learn more about how you can help and what our goals are for this year!
To learn more about GirlUp and all they do click here and here!
Editor’s Note: Please contact Ishani Mehta or Joy Xie if you have any questions, comments, or concerns about GirlUp.
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