"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.

"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.

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.

Have you ever found yourself at a loss for fundraising ideas for an organization or cause that you are passionate about?

I recently attended a dinner to raise awareness about Girl Up. I met powerful, inspirational women who are dedicated to helping adolescent girls and closing the gender gap.

In honor of International Day of the Girl and in anticipation of 10x10 feature film, Girl Rising, advocates from all over the world spoke about their firsthand experiences unleashing the power of girls’ education. 

Yesterday I had the opportunity to represent Girl Up on a panel called “Connecting Girls Around the World” at the Social Good Summit in New York City.  It was an honor to be on the panel with such powerful and motivated women.

When I sat down to write this post about a woman role model, names of powerful women leaders came to mind. Then I thought, what about women in countries all over the world helping their communities?  I decided I would write about one of them.

Just by checking out Girl Up’s awesome website and following these blogs, you are on the path to making the world a better place for girls.

“The future is struggling to be born...we have to make room for it.” In the closing session at the Clinton Global Initiative Conference 2011, President Clinton urged the audience to take a stance and better our future.

“When you stand out in a crowd, it is only because you are being carried on the shoulders of others.” After Desmond Tutu said this at the opening session of the Clinton Global Initiative day two, it stuck with me through the day and forms the basis for my post tonight.

Why is it so vital for a teen to be attending and reporting on the Clinton Global Initiative 2011? President Clinton opened the morning today at the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting 2011.

Did you know that an average American teenage girl sends 150 text messages a day? Now imagine using one of those text messages a day towards spreading awareness about girls in developing countries.