International Day of the Girl is celebrated annually on October 11 worldwide to celebrate girls and their inherent power. Through Girls Inc., girls are connecting to their internal sense of self, what they believe, and how they want to show up in the world by leaning into Girls Inc.’s six character elements — confidence, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, kindness, respect, and self-advocacy. This year, we asked our Brand Ambassadors to reflect on how they express these character elements, and how Girls Inc. has enabled them to make the most of the power they hold as girls. 

Denaya, a Brand Ambassador from Girls Inc. of Alameda County, reflects on how she came to exhibit confidence and channel it through different ways: “Some have a natural confidence that is gained through positive reinforcement in their formative years, some previously had confidence but lost it in some way or another, and others have never been confident or outgoing… Girls Inc. [helped me] flourish and harness [my] skills in a productive way. The many specialized Girls Inc. programs will allow you to not only learn more about a skill/subject that you are passionate about but will also connect you to peers that share your interest. Each program is a fun and welcoming environment that is void of judgement… Girls Inc. has given me opportunities to improve my public speaking skills and strengthen my resume. In Eureka! (my current Girls Inc. program focused on STEM and leadership development), I am pushed to speak up, seize every and any opportunity, and believe in myself. Although I am still working on my confidence, I have made a vast improvement from where I was just a few years ago. I can attribute most of my success in this matter to my participation in Girls Inc. programs.” 

Charita, a Brand Ambassador from Girls Inc. of the Greater Capital Region, discusses how she came to demonstrate her inherent power, by stepping up as a leader across different spaces in her life: “To me, leadership isn’t about having a title or being the loudest person in the room, it’s about recognizing a need and taking action. As class ambassador on my school’s Student Leadership Council, I noticed that our school food pantry was running low on donations. I reached out to my school administrators and worked with them to organize an event called Can Construction, where school clubs competed to collect canned goods and build creative structures with them. Together, we collected nearly 1,000 cans to donate to our school food pantry.  

“This experience showed me how the leadership skills I’ve developed can create meaningful change. Girls Inc. has taught me that leadership isn’t about doing everything yourself, but about recognizing others’ strengths, asking for support, and bringing people together around a shared goal. Our event showed me that collaboration can turn an idea into something that positively impacts an entire community.” 

Maggie, a Brand Ambassador from Girls Inc. of Sioux City, shares her journey with advocacy and confidence, and how she grew to embrace these qualities as her greatest strengths: “Girls Inc. gave me the space to grow and helped me find my greatest strengths of advocacy and leadership. Girls Inc. showed me that the rules I was handed were wrong; we deserve a voice and deserve [a seat at] the table to truly make a change. I believe that girls today inherently possess the qualities needed to lead and advocate, even though we have been told for far too long to dim our light so others can shine. Using these qualities is the greatest power we have, especially to honor the generations before us who were unable to lead or advocate with passion. Girls around the world should be proud of who they are; we are all uniquely made, and our differences deserve to be celebrated.” 

International Day of the Girl is a reminder of the importance of amplifying girls’ voices and ensuring they have the opportunities and support to reach their full potential. By supporting girls as they lead, speak up, and create change, we move closer to a future where every girl can thrive.