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    11 The World Got A Little Girl Power In 2014

    Who runs the world?

    GirlRisingOfficial
    by GirlRisingOfficial

    Community Brand Publisher

    1. Malala won the Nobel Peace Prize

    View this video on YouTube
    The Malala Fund / Via youtube.com

    As if she wasn't inspiring enough, Malala Yousafzai proved she is so much #StrongerThan the haters when she became the youngest ever winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.

    "My great hope is that this will be the last time we must fight for the education of our children. Let us solve this once and for all". Girl, we are with you all the way!

    2. We got angry (and then did something) about sexual assaults and rape culture

    Carrying the Weight Together / Via Facebook: carryingtheweighttogether

    Sexual assault and harassment gained increased attention in mainstream media thanks to the #IAmJada campaign, Emma Sulkowicz’s Carry That Weight protest, and writers like Liz Plank and Zerlina Maxwell who together led the national conversation on sexual violence with an unapologetic feminist tone.

    3. Three Irish teenage girls won the Google Science Fair (and might solve world hunger)

    Scott Stuppi / Via news.nationalgeographic.com

    Sophie Healy-Thow, Émer Hickey, and Ciara Judge found a way to speed up crop growth and let everyone know that STEM is for the sisters too.

    4. Child marriage finally got the attention of world leaders (and everyone else)

    View this video on YouTube
    CARE / Via youtube.com

    In what Kofi Annan called a “backwards step,” Bangladesh (a country where 29% of women are married by 15) considered lowering its legal marriage age to 16. The outcry from global leaders and media alike prompted a broader examination and understanding of the causes of child marriage and how best to prevent it.

    5. Some pretty powerful people pledged a lot of cash to improve girls' lives

    Getty Images Michael Loccisano / Via time.com

    Education equality became the buzz topic on the development agenda at the UN General Assembly session, while Hillary Clinton pledged $600 million dollars to ensure education for 14 million girls, and the Global Partnership for Education proudly secured $29 Billion for education at the Replenishing Pledges Conference.

    And it was all so awesome.

    6. Celebrities spoke up

    View this video on YouTube
    United Nations / Via youtube.com

    Alicia Keys’ We are Here campaign partnered with Girl Rising and 11 other organizations to promote human dignity and create a better world, while Emma Watson’s HeforShe platform urged men to take a stand and support equal rights for women.

    7. Big business got way better

    Vimeo
    View this video on Vimeo
    The Girl Effect Accelerator / Via vimeo.com

    This fall the Nike Foundation and the Unreasonable Institute teamed up to host The Girl Effect Accelerator -- a program focused on developing social enterprise start-ups that aim to improve the health and education of girls in India and across Africa.

    8. Girls in Afghanistan busted some moves

    Vimeo
    View this video on Vimeo
    Afghan Cycles / Via vimeo.com

    Between the rise of the National Women’s Football Team and the support of the Afghan Women’s National Cycling Team through AfghanCycles’ Global Solidarity Ride, Afghani girls discovered and explored new freedoms in 2014.

    9. FLOTUS made girls' education her business

    View this video on YouTube
    The White House / Via youtube.com

    Barack stepped aside as Michelle Obama delivered the Mother’s Day Presidential Address, speaking against the kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls and advocating that education is “truly a girl’s best chance for a bright future.”

    10. Gender equality rose in 142 Countries

    BBC / Via bbc.com

    142 Countries have Narrowed the Gender Gap since 2005 by allowing women to have increased access to politics and the workforce. While the Nordic states topped the list, Rwanda saw significant success, rising to #7 and becoming the highest-ranking African country.

    11. And more girls in Pakistan received the education they all deserve

    Vicki Francis/DFID / Via tribune.com.pk

    According to Plan Pakistan's "Because I am a Girl" report, the country has seen an improvement in the state of girls’ education since 2000, with more girls now attending primary school. “If given a chance, girls can excel in every walk of life.”

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