Sejal, 16, United States

Basic need(s):

Education

Project:

"Girls Helping Girls"

The mission of Sejal's international nonprofit organization, "Girls Helping Girls," (“GHG”) is to unite girls around the world to identify and confront universal issues, igniting a global revolution that changes the way girls are perceived and democratizing the quest for peace worldwide. “GHG” empowers all girls to transform their world by mobilizing them through a series of initiatives to Eradicate Poverty, Increase Access to Education, Improve Health and Promote Peace. To accomplish this mission, Sejal partners middle and high school girls in the United States with those in developing countries, allowing them to discuss social issues and develop service projects through “GHG’s” first initiative, the “Empower-a-Girl” program. She believes that girl empowerment is vital to world peace because it ensures that a society is equal and emotionally healthy. “GHG’s” second initiative, “Sisters4Peace,” is a social-change portal that provides guidance, toolkits and a support network to aspiring girl change-makers around the world who are working independently to launch their own projects. "GHG" has served as a beneficial mentoring and scholarship program, engaging over 500 school-age girls from more than 10 countries in North America, Africa and Asia and raising over $20,000 to support their education and basic needs. Sejal hopes that "Girls Helping Girls" will transform not only how society views girls, but also how girls view themselves. For more information, please visit www.empoweragirl.org.

Photo: Benjamin Quinto