Hi John - I’m the mom of two girls, ages 12 and 8. As I watch them grow into their own, I’m inspired by their leadership abilities and their willingness to speak out against injustice. They are already little activists working to make the world a better place. And I see the difference that makes in their confidence and academic performance. But my girls are lucky. Many girls throughout the world don’t have that opportunity. Girls like Sandhya*, a 13-year-old girl from India, who dropped out of school when she was just ten years old to work picking chilies with her mother. Out of school, she was vulnerable to child marriage – her mother got married at 12 or 13 years old. Thankfully, a Save the Children community worker spoke with Sandhya and her family and persuaded them to let her return to school. Sandhya is now a passionate advocate for stopping child marriage. That’s why on this International Day of the Girl, I’m asking you to join me in urging your senators to be cosponsors of the Girls LEAD Act. The Girls LEAD (Leadership, Engagement, Agency and Development) Act is bipartisan legislation that promotes girls’ leadership and participation in civic and political processes through U.S. foreign assistance. It aims to improve the effectiveness of U.S.-led democracy and governance initiatives. This bill will also help increase girls’ ability to engage in decision-making processes affecting their lives and their communities, ultimately fostering new generations of empowered women leaders. The difference this makes in the lives of the girls themselves is easy to see, but there is a huge ripple effect beyond that. Research suggests that gender balance in the political sphere promotes gender balance in the workforce, which could double global GDP growth by 2025. When girls are at the decision-making table they can ensure their needs are represented on issues like preventing child marriage, gender-based violence and child labor. Help girls find and amplify their voices. Ask your senators to be cosponsors of the Girls Lead Act. Thank you for being a voice for kids, | 
