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My name is Avery McCall. I am 13 years old and I live in Winnetka, Illinois. I am in eighth grade at North Shore Country Day School.

My favorite subjects are Math, Science and French. I have a 16 year old brother and an 8 year old sister, as well as two dogs named Button and Beau.

In my free time I enjoy playing soccer and squash and spending time with my family and friends.

This summer I did a service trip to an impoverished village in the mountains of Costa Rica.

We built a basketball court and dug irrigation ditches to prevent flooding to their only classroom.

We also taught English and played with the children at the end of each day. Next summer I hope to work at a school in Namibia.

The inspiration for my interest in human rights and helping girls began when I read "Half the Sky" by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn.

I was shocked that such horrific things could happen to girls my age who live in other parts of the world. Ever since then, I have been on a mission to find some way to help.

Becoming a Teen Advisor for Girl Up is the biggest step that I have taken so far, and it will allow me to begin accomplishing many of my goals.

As a Teen Advisor I will raise awareness amongst my friends and greater community about issues that many girls face in developing countries.

I hope in some small way the work that I do will empower girls elsewhere in the world, one life at a time.