There is talk going on in the whole world about empowering girls, and most people look at the injustice for girls and women in the world – in many cases, women don’t earn as much as men who are doing the same work, and even more unjust is the fact that in some countries, women are not allowed to fulfill the same roles as men. Of course, that’s just the tip of the iceberg – many of us cannot even imagine the cruel and inhumane ordeals which are endured by girls and women who are born into certain communities and cultures. But let’s look beyond the injustice. By allowing the status quo to be maintained, we’re cutting out the talent, brain-power and earning capacity of a sizeable percentage of the world’s population – this fact alone is depriving us as a world of so many resources which could literally fast-track us on the road to being able to meet the needs of the world’s homeless and poverty-stricken; of helping those who need to be helped.

And here’s the other implication: we’re allowing the mothers of tomorrow to be deprived of an education. They’re the ones who will be the ultimate influence (in most cases) in their young children’s lives. Without education, in whatever form, what will these women teach their children? Without education, how will they teach their children the skill of communicating and the power of reasoning? And how will they as mothers recognize the value of a good education for their children. Going a step further, when their children grow up to be adults, the cycle continues.

Yes, by maintaining the status quo, we’re breeding poverty, crime, a lack of self-respect or respect for others among the future citizens of the world. At the opposite end of the spectrum is the choice to stand up and do something to empower as many girls as possible in our own communities, our cities, our respective countries, and our world. It all begins with one girl. Now is the time to prove whether these words that we speak mean anything at all – do we really want a peaceful world? Do we really care about our fellow men and women? Do we want the healthy, clean world that we talk about when convincing everyone to "go green"? The answer to each of these questions is not a simple nodding of the head or the word "yes" – it is an action. Don’t just say it; do it!