Who would believe that 3000 women protesting in a fish market would end a civil war? Through involving and organizing Liberia’s women, Leymah Gbowee and her supporters managed to put an end to the 14-year Liberian civil war.

After seven months of brainstorming, planning, and organizing, we hosted the first Bay Area Leadership Summit! The summit was put together by a group of my friends here at Stanford and hosted by Castilleja, an all-girls school in Palo Alto dedicated to creating women leaders.

Can you imagine leaving your home, community and family at only 12 years old? Girls on the Move: Adolescent Girls and Migration in the Developing World, the latest report in the Girls Count series, explores adolescent girls and internal migration. Released today, this is the first report to give an in-depth look at the opportunities and the challenges girls may face when they relocate in pursuit of greater opportunities.

My bond with my mother is why I was especially excited to be a part of Mom + Social to talk about the advocacy work I do for high school and college-aged women in the context of a space honoring the importance of mothers.

Mother’s Day is a day to celebrate mothers around the world, and on this day I cannot help but think about the incredible impact my mother has had on me, my life and my development into a strong, young woman.

Juana recently learned to read — her favorite book is Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree. At 31 years old, Juana is the mother of three young daughters who are also learning to read.  In the evenings, they help each other with their homework.

Anything is possible when we come together and #Chime for Change! Chime for Change, founded by GUCCI, is a new global campaign to raise funds and awareness for girls' and women's empowerment.

Do you know someone who’s got what it takes to be a Girl Up Teen Advisor? Or maybe you are the girl for the job? May 1-31, you can nominate a girl to serve a year-long commitment beginning this September as an advisor for Girl Up.

Like all of us at Girl Up, Zeenat Rahman strongly believes in the power of youth. Recognizing that half of the world is under the age of 25, Zeenat knows that global problems cannot be solved without the youth participation.

This Thursday, April 25 is World Malaria Day and we want you to help girls stay healthy and protected from malaria. It’s easy for you to get involved to save a girl’s life.

Imagine you could help solve one of the biggest problems facing the world today, and it could be solved simply by utilizing the determination and responsibility of a woman. That is exactly what Professor Muhammad Yunus, the globally recognized 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner, did.

"Before this program I was blind to the possibilities that I have as a young women. I didn't know I had rights," Karen, 17, shared with us.

This week I’ve been able to meet many inspiring girls in Girl Up supported programs. Girls who were learning to read and write in these programs are empowered to learn about their rights and become leaders.

“When I was aware of my rights, I realized that I didn’t have to accept the violence anymore,” Hilda, one of the participants of Abriendo Opportunidads in Totopicatan shared with me.

"I know now that I can be a change agent, a force of change," Vivian, one of the many passionate, empowered young women we met today told us.

Our delegation has arrived to Central America safe and sound, and I am excited for the official business to begin!

If a midwife helps deliver a boy, she will be paid more than if she helps a deliver a girl. This fact, which was shared with us by Maria Machicado of UN Women, stuck with us throughout our meetings this morning with Guatemalan government officials and UN agencies.

Since arriving in Central America, Annie and Sofia have been introduced to so many girls who have shared incredible stories -- stories of strength, perseverance and empowerment.We think everyone should hear these stories, including you!

This week, I hope to be the bridge that connects you to some of the many girls that Girl Up works to empower through supporters like you. I am fortunate to have the opportunity to travel with a fellow Teen Advisor, Annie Gersh, and a Girl Up delegation to Guatemala.

I am so excited to be joining Girl Up on their observation trip to Guatemala. There are three things I look forward to most.

As one of Mexico’s most powerful business leaders, Angelica Fuentes-Tellez is an incredibly successful Latin American woman who is breaking the glass ceiling.

Drum roll please … Meet Melissa Hillebrenner, the new director of Girl Up! We recently caught up with our awesome new director, who weighed in on the importance of empowering adolescent girls, her passion for Girl Up, and her favorite girl power song! Oh, and did we mention she is headed to Guatemala next week to see one of our Girl Up programs for the first time?

Want to develop the skills you need to drive change for girls everywhere? We’re excited to bring our second annual Girl Up Leadership Summit to Washington, D.C. from June 10-12, and you're invited!

The Women in the World Summit is certainly a star-studded event-- from Meryl Streep, Angelina Jolie, and Eva Longoria to Oprah, Susan Rice, and Hillary Clinton among many others. For me, the stars who shone brightest were the young women from all over the world who have educated themselves in order to educate their countrywomen.

On April 5, Girl Up is joining groups around the world in Momentum1000, a global digital rally to talk about the big challenges our world faces and some big solutions that have helped address them.