October 11th is the first-ever International Day of the Girl Child – a day dedicated to recognizing girls’ rights and advancing their lives and access to opportunities.
In honor of this day, I encourage you to participate in your own way. Educate yourself about girls’ issues. (I highly recommend the powerful book, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, written by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn.) Support a nonprofit organization of your choosing. Visit the Participate tab for more ways to get involved, or search GuideStar – a directory of charities and nonprofits.
To inspire you, I’ve included a collage of pictures of girls and young women that I have met during my travels from Cambodia to South Africa.
“The world is not interested in what we do for a living. What they are interested in is what we have to offer freely – hope, strength, love and the power to make a difference!”
Sasha Azevedo
“How wonderful that no one need wait a single moment to improve the world.”
Anne Frank
“We must become the change we want to see in the world.”
Gandhi
“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refused to do something that I can do.”
Helen Keller
“Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.”
Margaret Mead
“It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
Robert F. Kennedy
“Go out into the world and do good until there is too much good in the world.”
Larry H. Miller
“To him who is determined it remains only to act.”
Italian Proverb
“We have it in our power to change the world over.”
Thomas Paine
“I feel that the greatest reward for doing is the opportunity to do more.”
Dr. Jonas Salk
“Your thoughts, words and deeds are painting the world around you.”
Jewel Diamond Taylor
“It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little – do what you can.”
Sydney Smith
“We can do no great things – only small things with great love.”
Mother Teresa
“The mind has exactly the same power as the hands: not merely to grasp the world, but to change it.”
Colin Wilson
“If it is up to be, it is up to me.”
Unknown
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Since you get more joy out of giving to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give.”
Eleanor Roosevelt
What girls or young women have inspired you close to your home or during your travels? Please also share your ideas for making the world a better place!
Travels With Tricia 
Very nice tribute to this new special day :)
I hope the new day will encourage others to get involved, Bashar. As always, it’s so nice to hear from you and get your feedback!
Very nice article and beautiful pictures of these girls from around the world.
Suzanne & Pierre, mille fois merci for your kind comment. I’m very fortunate to have seen so many corners of the world, and think it’s only fitting that I help to spread the word about causes that deserve our attention. Bonne journée!
Beautiful pictures and quotes. I’ve learnt so much reading your post today!
Carole, how flattering to learn that you took away some knowledge as a result of this post. :) This past spring, I learned a great deal from reading the book I recommended above, Half the Sky. I found that the book’s accounts got me really fired up to help. Thank you so much for taking time to share how the post affected you. Wishing you a pleasant coming weekend too.
Beautiful tribute to girls the world over. We have a long way to go in improving health, education and welfare of women throughout the world. I wonder how many countries will fulfill their United Nation’s Millennium Goals? These are beautiful and inspiring pictures, Tricia.
An important question, Lynne. Let’s hope that such commemorative days will help raise awareness and apply pressure on governments throughout the world. I’m so happy to hear you found the photographs inspiring; thank you.
Didn’t know of such a celebration. Great way of letting the world know about it through your amazing photos!
Antoinette, I’ve just also recently learned of this new day. Having been inspired by the special young women I’ve met around the world and the book, Half the Sky, I was pleased to put this post together. On a side note, when do you leave for your travels? I’m off to explore your site now, but wanted to say thank you for your generous comment. :)
I thought provoking post Tricia. V.
It makes my day to hear that the post was a success, Virginia.Here’s hoping that it will be a source of inspiration for those who might not have had the great fortune to interact with such wonderful young women.
This is so beautiful. Gorgeous images from around the world and very carefully chosen quotations. Inspirational. In answer to your question, I suppose in recent years my focus has been in trying to raise my own girl to be a strong, independent woman who is, above all else, kind. That is my main message to her, always to be kind. I often tell her that if everyone was kind the world would be improved beyond measure.
Rachael, thank you for your very kind words. I hope that others will draw inspiration not only from the reblog, but also from the words of wisdom you’ve shared here regarding how you’re raising your daughter. Your last line is particularly heartwarming and poignant. Thank you again.
Reblogged this on Focused Moments and commented:
I don’t often reblog but every now and then I feel compelled to share a special post by a fellow blogger. Please enjoy this beautiful and inspirational post from Tricia. Normal service resumes tomorrow. Rachael
Rachael, I’m so flattered and happy that you reblogged this post, and in doing so, helped to spread the word about this important new day. Thank you!
Your photos are lovely. I especially like the one of the school girl in Cambodia. The light and shade is so evocative. It’s very gratifying to be the mother of two beautiful daughters who are leading fulfilling, happy lives and doing what they love. I wish every girl had these opportunities.
Eternal Traveller, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. I believe that all girls can have the opportunities that your daughters have had (how lucky they are!). It just takes heightened awareness of the many struggles that girls around the world face.
I also thought the lighting was special in the shot of the Cambodian school girl; thank you for mentioning it. We had the chance to visit two classrooms while in Cambodia back in December (high school and college) and were so inspired by the male and female students’ desire to learn. Access to quality education is really the key!
Fantastic post with heart-warming photos…. a big thanks to Rachael for bringing me here.
Gunta, I’m so happy that you found my blog via the very creative and talented Rachael.
Thank you for taking the time to leave such kind feedback; I hope this post will prove inspirational for you.
Superb tribute, Great photo’s, cool quote’s, thanks Tricia.
Mark, I hope this new day will inspire others to help in some way! Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback.
Wonderful photos, wonderful thoughts, wonderful quotes. Great post. ~ Kat
Thank you so much, Kat. The topic is very important to me, so it was a pleasure putting this post together!
High time there is a day dedicated to the girl child…back in Southern India, doctors are legally forbidden from revealing the unborn child’s gender coz female foeticide was a huge issue among the rich and poor alike!!
Peri, I wish the world was filled with more passionate people like you! I had read that this was the case in India. Would you say that the situation is improving at all?
On a side note, my husband and I spent one wonderful month in India earlier this year. I’m so pleased to have found your website, packed with culinary inspiration from India. Thank you for sharing the wonderful recipes, as well as your comment about my post’s issue.
Hi Tricia, just found I’d missed this comment thread…haven’t been back to South India for almost 7 years, but I hear the stronger set of rules on the medical practitioners are certainly helping to control the matter.
Wow, so happy you managed to visit and spend time in India. Good or not, I know my native country makes an impression on all who visit…ha ha.. All your senses are alive when visiting India!
Reblogged this on Sherry's Space.
Thank you for sharing, Sherry. I hope your readers will also find inspiration from reading more about this important topic!
Your welcome Tricia, I think they will
I thought this topic was pretty interesting
Sherry, if you’re interested in learning more, do check out the Half the Sky Movement link I included in the post, or read the book, ‘Half the Sky.’
Thanks I will Tricia
Oh, the faces, the smiles (I’m sure the little one in Spain has a smile in there…) – thank you for this, Tricia. This hits home for me, and I think the message is terribly important in our country, but realize it’s probably even more important in other parts of the world – those you’ve highlighted here, for instance.
I once read that we tend to fawn over little girls’ beauty, and that we should maybe rethink that. Instead of saying,”What a pretty girl you are,” we might say,”What’s your favorite book?” or something similar, something more intellect-centered. I’ve since tried to engage the girls at our school in just such a manner. (Although I still can’t help myself and let the occasional fawning out!)
Aaaand you’ve inspired me to really get on writing a post that’s been rattling around in my head for a while – the result of a conversation I recently had with an older woman of African descent. I hope I can make it worthy of her and what she faced when younger.
There’s no better comment I can hear than that a post I’ve created has inspired someone to make a difference, in your case, write a motivational profile. I shall look forward to reading it!
You mentioned the sort of intellect-centered questions one can ask girls… Your comment reminded me of an article I recently saw, via Twitter, about building confidence in girls. Thought you might enjoy it: http://www.pbs.org/parents/experts/archive/2012/10/building-confidence-in-girls.html
Thank you, Sid & have a marvelous weekend!
Thanks for that, Tricia – I did enjoy it. It seems wherever I heard/saw that advice is one of many with that train of thought. (Our weekend’s been marvelous. :) )
Beautiful post!
Thank you, Judy. I’m fortunate to have met such wonderful locals – of all ages – while on the road.
On a side note, I’m pleased to have stumbled upon your blog – so many culinary treats there!
I am so glad I found your blog too!!
Great quotes to go with some Beautiful pictures. Wonderful post.
Thank you, Arindam; it was a pleasure piecing them all together for this important day!
This is such a great cause. Lovely photos and quotes too.
Suzanne, I’m so glad to see the message is spreading – not only about this important day, but also about girls’ rights in general. Thank you for stopping by!
Such wonderful portraits of the girl child Tricia!
We still battle discrimination, although I am proud to say I come from one of the few regions in India – apart from Kerala and Nagaland – where daughters are prized!! We follow the matriarchal system of inheritance where property is traditionally passed down from mother to daughter!
Madhu, that’s quite an interesting custom and I’m curious to learn more. Which region do you come from?
Welcome back home, by the way! You jet-set so much, I’m not certain if you’ve just returned from Petra, or another spot. :)
Petra is from 2010. Just returned from Japan :-)
We need a GPS tracking device for you, Madhu. :)