International Day of the Girl is a global movement that occurs every October 11. Created in 2011 by the United Nations to formally recognize youth efforts around the world, the day helps girls "reach for their dreams and build better lives for themselves and their communities.”

Here are 6 highlights from yesterday’s celebration of the world’s girls.

First Lady Michelle Obama Skypes with Girls from Around the World

First Lady Michelle Obama has made it one of her initiatives while in the White House to bring attention to the persisting global needs of the world’s girls.

Specifically, Obama has been on a campaign to increase globally girls’ access to and enrollment in education. She continued her efforts yesterday by Skyping with girls from around the world to further discuss how the fight for equal education can be fought.

"I want young girls to understand that and to be as hungry for their education as these girls who would give anything to get theirs. We owe it to them to make that a reality,” Obama said, according to NBC News. 

Emma Watson Speaks Out Against Child Marriage in Malawi

UN Women Goodwill Ambassador and celebrity icon Emma Watson spent the day focusing on ending the practice of child marriage yesterday, hoping to help some of the 15 million girls married before 18 every year.

She did so by addressing citizens of Malawi, a country she has recently praised for its efforts to raise the legal age of marriage to 18.

“It’s so encouraging to see how such a harmful practice can be stopped when communities work together to pass laws, and then turn those laws into reality,” said Watson, according to the Christian Science Monitor. 

Facebook Unveils Profile Picture Photo Frames

The massive international social media site that is Facebook allowed its 1.23 billion monthly active users to express their support for equality for girls with an option to use a profile picture photo frame designed specifically for the occasion.

Thanks to Facebook’s unmatched influence, this provided a unique opportunity to spread awareness about the day.

[Image via FastCocreate.com] 

Empire State Building Shines Red

Save the Children with the help of special guest Dakota Fanning called final attention to International Day of the Girl by lighting the staple that is the Empire State Building red.

The Pink Ladoo Project Gets Attention

The Pink Ladoo Project is a project created to eliminate gender bias in South Asian communities by ending the practice of handing out ladoos only in celebration of a baby boy’s birth.

“Whatever you would traditionally do for your son in your family is fine—we just want you to do the same thing for your daughter,” said Canadian director Harbir Singh to TheStar.com. 

This week, the project launched in five Canadian cities to bring a special celebration to the births of baby girls.

Gap, Inc. Expands , P.A.C.E. (Personal Advancement & Career Enhancement) Education Program

Gap Inc.’s P.A.C.E program "improves the lives of women and their families by developing women's knowledge, skills, and confidence,” said the company in a statement.

This week, Gap announced it " is expanding its community programs further to bring new educational opportunities to girls between the ages of 13 and 17” to be closer to reaching its goal of advancing the "lives of 1 million women and girls through P.A.C.E. by 2020.”

Nicole Gorman, Senior Education World Contributor

10/12/2016

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