For this year’s International Day of the Girl, activists are focusing not only on how the pandemic has affected millions of girls worldwide, but also on how girls are standing up for themselves and making a difference across the globe.
One example of girls making a difference across the globe is Somaya Faruqi, a 17-year-old from Afghanistan who designed a light-weight and low-cost ventilator with a long-lasting battery life alongside her all-female robotics team.
One example of girls making a difference within the Prairie provinces is Tracie Léost, a 21-year-old from Saskatchewan who just launched her non-profit “Waanishka Movement Inc.”, aimed at supporting other Indigenous youth like herself who are looking to reclaim their heritage, share their stories, and empower one another to make positive change.
1 in 3 women worldwide have experienced sexual or physical violence, and these instances – particularly domestic violence – have risen since the beginning of COVID-19. Despite the increased challenges girls and women face, all around the globe they continue to show resilience and strive for excellence.