The Day Of The Girl

It was International Day of the Girl on October 11th. I didn't write anything about it here. I thought about it. I had half-composed blog posts in my mind full of facts and statistics and calls to action that were just waiting to be typed.


But I was busy that day with my own girl...

Sitting together, heads close, reading a science book.

Reciting times tables.

Laying side by side on the bed, legs entwined in the air, matching socks touching, as we wrote morning pages.

Reading news articles together, and praying for Malala Yousafzai.

Watching Katarina take this quiz, and talking to her about child marriage.

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That is what I did on International Day of the Girl...

Because the hard realities in life are still reality.

Because teaching our children about injustice is the first step in preparing them to go out and do something about it one day.

Because my daughter is 9 years old.

Because I can't look at this picture without crying.

Image Credit: CARE Facebook Page

Because 25,000 girls become child brides every single day.

Because one in nine girls, or 15 MILLION, has been forced into marriage between the ages of 10 and 14.

Because if things don't change, 100 million girls will marry as children in the next decade.

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Did you talk about International Day of the Girl with your kids?

For more information about child marriage, and how education is the key to freedom, visit CARE's International Day of the Girl page...because ending child marriage and advocating education for girls is something that needs to happy every day.