Declared a worldwide “holiday” by the United Nations in 2011, the International Day of the Girl Child promotes girls’ empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights. You can read more about the day here or read the short verbatim paragraph below:

“Adolescent girls have the right to a safe, educated, and healthy life, not only during these critical formative years, but also as they mature into women. If effectively supported during the adolescent years, girls have the potential to change the world – both as the empowered girls of today and as tomorrow’s workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors, household heads, and political leaders. An investment in realising the power of adolescent girls upholds their rights today and promises a more equitable and prosperous future, one in which half of humanity is an equal partner in solving the problems of climate change, political conflict, economic growth, disease prevention, and global sustainability.” – United Nations

There are many things the Owl could say here, and does with some frequency on her personal channels and to her own family. Let’s summarize: support girls, encourage girls in their daily endeavors, and amplify their successes. Start locally through Girl Scouts, the Children’s Business Fair, Girls Who Code at the Weston Public Library, Girls on the Run Boston, or Girl Up or the Women’s Empowerment Club at Weston High School.

I am heading out to the Wayland-Weston Girls Soccer match-up in Wayland tonight–not to cheer for Weston over Wayland (it’s senior night there so that’s bad form)–but to cheer for young women in sports. Why? Because not long ago, and not that far away, the same opportunities that were there for boys were not there for girls–in Brazil, women were banned from playing organized soccer from 1941 to 1979. Don’t believe me? Read here. There are still countries that don’t allow women of any age to do much outside the house.

Today, celebrate the girls! Happy International Day of the Girl Child, Weston! And…go ‘cats!