A Logical Place to Begin...

The best way to start this journey is, I suppose, to look at the way the world around me currently is and how girls currently act with regards to each other, the stresses of daily life, and the world.

In my immediate world, I see many places where girls interact with each other. Often, these environments are casual and girls seem to act without undue restraint. When a group of girls gets together, there is an initial awkwardness until the members of the group know one another. After this awkward phase is past, however,  girls seem more open to friendships and discussions. It has been my experience in large groups that girls who are close friends tend to stick together, ignoring the fact that they are part of a group. When boys are around, the interactions change slightly. I have found it interesting that when boys and girls work together on a project, the interaction is not all that different, but the work tends to be more focused, although it usually tends to a larger proportion of arguments.

When I broaden my view to girls around the world, I find myself wishing for a prettier picture. Across the world women are denied rights that men in their communities are automatically granted. They are controlled by the stereotypes that society has placed upon them. Many do not know that they could hope for more. So, my first wish for women around the world is that they be given the opportunity to envision their own life. If women could look at what their life is and be able to say that they want something different, that would be a major step towards change. Women's rights organizations can do a lot, but until the women are ready to take the step forward and help themselves, little can be done. Of course, wishing is not enough to create a positive change in our world, seeing that there is a problem does not mean that it is fixed. Therefore, my next wish for women around the world is that they have the power to change the circumstances of their lives. Ideally, this power would come from their own communities. This way social change could be brought about on a more comprehensive scale - not just at the rate one organization can promote change.

It goes without saying that such a change would be exceedingly difficult to create. The answer, I believe, lies in each  and every individual, in each and every community. Change may be gradual and it may take longer than anyone hopes, but it is possible. One community at a time, one girl at a time, we can make a difference. Around the world there are millions of girls calling out in need. We can't help every single girl, but maybe, just maybe we can help a few. We can help the girls in our life find their own courage to choose their lives. We can help support those organizations that are so diligently trying to bring this message to the attention of girls worldwide.

In a perfect world, girls would be free to envision their own perfect world. They would no longer be bound by stereotypes or financial and traditional barriers. They would be able to see their world and have the courage to change it for the better.