Medium: 5 Reasons I’m Optimistic About the Future of Our Girls
Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

“On International Day of the Girl, we recognize the unique challenges millions of girls face. And we celebrate the ways in which girls change the world when they overcome these challenges. I’m feeling especially celebratory this year because I believe the future for girls is brighter than ever. Here are five reasons why. 1. World Leaders Are Listening … 2. We’re Closing the Gender Data Gap … 3. We’re Investing in Adolescents … 4. Girls Are Helping Girls … 5. Girls Are Becoming Heroes and Role Models … The more energy and idealism I see from young people around the world, and the more world leaders I see putting women and girls at the heart of everything they do, the more convinced I am that women and girls will transform all of our futures” (10/11).