In December 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring October 11th as the International Day of the Girl Child.
The day was established to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges they face around the world. The action follows a multi-year campaign by activists in Canada and the United States. This year, USAID continues to highlight the importance of education for girls through our Let Girls Learn campaign.
Today there are over 850 million girls in the world. If you want to change the world, invest in a girl. An adolescent girl stands at the doorway of adulthood. If she stays in school, remains healthy, and gains real skills, she will marry later, have fewer and healthier children, and earn an income she will invest in her family--breaking the cycle of poverty. Seventy percent of those living in extreme poverty are women and girls. Our efforts to eliminate extreme poverty must ensure women and girls have equal opportunities.
During this International Day of the Girl, USAID, the United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID), and the Nike Foundation announced the SPRING Initiative to promote girls' economic empowerment. The project, with initial funding of $29 million, will help businesses bring products to market that enable girls to learn, earn, invest and save.
Last updated: June 03, 2015