The Write Discoveries: The Girl Effect

Imagine being a 12-year-old girl. You are on the path of becoming a young woman right? You're in middle school, your body is changing, and things like romance, hanging out with friends and the future (as in high school and possibly what you want to be when you grow up) are constantly on your mind. That's all a 12-year-old girl should have to worry about. Everything else will fall into place as time goes on and you continue with school and learning the lessons of life. 

For example, 12-year-old me. Boys were always on my mind. I was in 7th grade. I was a smart kid so I was in the smart classes. I hung out with my friends in the pizzeria that was two doors away from me. I was always safe and even though I knew kids that experimented with things like smoking, drugs, liquor and sex, I wasn't doing that at 12. School kept me busy and I had adults in my life who were able to provide for my basic needs. Because I had something so simple, I was able to go on to do other things in my life. 

By 13, I was writing poetry. In high school, I was in an honors program, in the National Honors Society, and graduated 19th in my class. I went on to get an Associates in Music Production, usually being one of three or four girls in a classroom full of guys. After that, I got a Bachelors in Journalism. While finishing up school, I have been developing this blog and the website. My poetry has been published in literary magazines and websites. Whatever hardships I am going through now as an adult, I at least have an education and small accomplishments to back me up. No kids (not yet at least), in a normal, healthy relationship, and I am disease free. I'm about to turn 25.

But what if I had been a 12-year-old girl in another country and culture? What if I didn't have a family that could support my basic needs nor afford to send me to school? How would my life have turned out? Below is a video from the website, The Girl Effect. In this video, they give you a little insight on what can happen to a 12-year-old girl. Watch it, I promise it is definitely worth the three minutes.

As someone living in a country in a city or town where your 12-year-old girls are treated like 12-year-old girls, can you imagine that? But look at what can happen if you invest in her. I know that results of that shows in the United States everyday, where girls are given that chance to grow into healthy and productive women. SO imagine in a place where your every breath is a fight for survival. It means their whole lifetime. It means the lifetime of their children and the next generation after that.  Check out this video that lists some more stats on investing in a girl. 

And then I DARE YOU to look at this fact sheet from The Girl Effect.

Does some of that scare you? I know it scares me. Imagine if you were this mother and daugther in the next video.

According to the website, they do not know where she is now. Who knows what kind of life she is living as you read this. But it doesn't have to be this way. The Girl Effect helps spread awareness on how girls in other countries are living and how we can help them. There are stories from girls who made a difference in their lives, as well as their families and communities. Below are videos from Anita and Sanchita, young women who have done better for themselves and everyone else.

For the price of my cell phone bill (which I can barely afford), Sanchita got a cow which brought in extra income for her family. She became an asset. These girls became much more than what was expected of them. If you took the time to look at the videos and read the fact sheet, you see that their families and communities weren't expecting much. With a cause like The Girl Effect, girls around the world can help improve their lives and their communities. So what am I asking? Several things that lead to one thing: awareness.

Organizations like The Girl Effect cannot thrive without awareness. These girls cannot thrive without awareness. So spread awareness. Share this blog post with people on Facebook and Twitter. If you have your own blog, write your own blog post. Share the The Girl Effect (thegirleffect.org) link with anyone and everyone. Share the YouTube videos. Make a donation if you are financially able to. Hold a fundraiser or an auction. Create a group at your school about The Girl Effect. Just please do something. This is what this blog post is about. Spreading awareness and doing something. Help continue that.

I was once a 12-year-old girl. One day, I might have a 12-year-old girl. My friends will have 12-year-old girls in ten years or less. I know that we will do everything in our power for our girls. Can we please do something for someone else's 12-year-old girl?