In my #HopeForOurDaughters issue I bring you various stories of daughters across the globe that are spreading the feeling of hope, fulfilling their dreams and passions, taking matters into their own hands and showing us how the next generation (and some that have come before) is making this world a better place for all of us. First, however, I want to share the trailer of the film every woman (and man!) should see and background on some of the women we owe our lives to (literally)!
Beautiful. Breathtaking. Disturbing. Necessary.
Mothers, if they are old enough, take your daughters to go and see this film. It’s not a “feel good” film but it is inspiring and reminds us that we can accomplish ANYTHING if we believe in it enough and that ANYTHING is possible, especially if you have your girlfriends to count on and a huge amount of courage.
One hundred years ago English suffragette Emily Davison stepped in front of the king’s horse at the Derby to draw attention to the long and difficult campaign to win the vote.
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There were so many things I did not know about the movement before I saw this film…heck, I didn’t even know there was a Suffragette movement. It’s not something we are taught in school, at least I wasn’t, and it seems like such an important part of history. I had no idea that a woman, Emily Davidson, stepped out in front of a horse to bring awareness to this campaign. Wow. This article contains a brief background for ya. Go see the film. =)
via TedYouth 2015
THIS 10 YEAR OLD GIRL FROM PUNE WAS THE YOUNGEST INDIAN SPEAKER AT TEDYOUTH 2015 IN NYC
Here at Project:Women we are a tad obsessed with Ted Talks and I just LOVE that they have a TedYouth. This girl apparently rocked it. Her actual Ted Talk from a couple of days ago is not available yet but this article from the HuffPost contains one of her first talks and some inspiring information on her and how she is…
challenging the system which thinks children are too small to make any difference.
Yes, let’s challenge that way of thinking.
via 1 million women
THIS YOUNG FEMALE SCIENTIST IS DOING AMAZING THINGS FOR HUMANITY
When I was 15 I was making Motley Crue scrapbooks…ok, maybe that was more like middle school but I definitely wasn’t inventing a probe (made out of recycled materials) that generates power and drinkable water from the ocean like Hannah Herbst. Sheesh, how great is that? She was “inspired by her 9-year-old pen pal in Ethiopia, who described to her life without reliable access to electricity.” Talk about taking matters into your own hands. I am excited to see what else this girl goes on to do.
via HuffPost
4 YEAR OLD IN REMISSION FROM CANCER GOES AS HERSELF FOR SUPERHERO DAY
What a CUTIE! I just had to share this because it made me cry a bit. Stories like truly make you look at your life, if you are healthy, and give thanks. Think about what this little girl has gone through in her 4 short years and for her to see herself as a Superhero is just awesome! “Destroying cancer one day at a time, ” There I go again…where are the tissues?! Send your love and prayers to this little one. 🙂
via Emma Watson Facebook page
Two of my favorite daughters talking, laughing and sharing and truly in awe of one another.
via Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls
Lauren Potter played Becky on the mega hit TV show, Glee, and got to work alongside the amazing Jane Lynch. This is a sweet piece from Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls where Lauren speaks about her experience and gives courage and confidence to others with disabilities…and youth in general.
Teens tell me that they now go up to people with disabilities at school and say hello! And new parents of babies with Down syndrome tell me that they are no longer afraid that their babies won’t be able to live their dreams. All because of a very special TV show that wasn’t afraid to celebrate differences, and who gave this girl with Down syndrome the chance to reach for the stars and follow her dreams!
Norman Rockwell’s famous painting “The Problem We All Live With,” which commemorated the event of Ruby entering school on her first day
This is a piece shared by A Mighty Girl recognizing the 55 year anniversary of little Ruby Bridges becoming the first African American child to desegregate an all-white elementary school in the South. Wow. What courage that must have took and how awful it is to learn that other parents were taking their children out of the school so they wouldn’t have to be taught with Ruby. The pioneering school integration effort was a success due to Ruby Bridges’ inspiring courage, perseverance, and resilience.
For a little girl six years old going into a strange school with four strange deputy marshals, a place she had never been before, she showed a lot of courage. She never cried. She didn’t whimper. She just marched along like a little soldier. We were all very proud of her.
Sweet Ruby!
via 1 million women
MORGEN CURTIS – A STORYTELLING CYCLIST ON A 6 MONTH, 10 COUNTRY CLIMATE JOURNEY
This is a story shared by one of my favorite sites, 1 Million Women, a group dedicated to building a movement of strong, inspirational women and girls acting on climate change through the way they live. This is a great story about a girl who is:
working to share stories of individuals and communities mobilizing for climate justice, in the belief that only when we talk about why we do what we do, do we get to the question at the heart of the movement: who is it we want to become?
What determination! What perseverance! How awesome!
Photo by Benedicte Desrus for Global Fund for Women
TEEN FEMINIST TEACHES NICARAGUAN PEERS ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS
Sixteen-year-old Maria Fernanda Pineda Calero is one of those teens who makes you look back on your own adolescence and think, “What was I even doing?” A self-proclaimed feminist living in Nicaragua, Calero runs a program that helps educate other girls on their sexual, reproductive and citizenship rights.
Wow.
via Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls
This girl is an incredible musician, her songs are beautiful and she is…
becoming one of Lena Dunham’s go-to musicians and friends after submitting to an open call on Dunham’s website. “She chose people from certain towns to [go on her book tour with her]. She chose me and I was surprised in a way, but I also thought, “I did this because I knew I could do it. I went for it because I thought I really did have a chance,” she said.
No big deal that she was born without legs and 6 fingers and at a year old was adopted into a large Baptist family where she never fully felt like she belonged. Did that stop her from believing in herself, finding her passion and fulfilling her dreams? Not a chance.
This was shared by Sara D’Ambrosio and Alaina Latona and I love them both for it!
Mother and daughter with green blanket art by Claudia Tremblay.
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10 FACTS EVERY WOMAN (DAUGHTER – WHEN THEY GROW UP) SHOULD KNOW:
1. Everyone has rolls when they bend over.
2. When someone tells you that you’re beautiful, believe them. They aren’t lying.
3. Sometimes we all wake up with breath that could kill a goat.
4. For every woman unhappy with her stretch marks is another woman who wishes she had them.
5. You should DEFINITELY have more confidence. And if you saw yourself the way that others see you, you would.
6. Don’t look for a man to save you. Be able to save yourself.
7. It’s okay to not love every part of your body…but you should.
8. We all have that one friend who seems to have it all together. That woman with the seemingly perfect life. Well, you might be that woman to someone else.
9. You should be a priority. Not an option, a last resort, or a backup plan.
10. You’re a woman. And that alone makes you pretty damn remarkable.
– Austin Blood
via The News and Observer
13 YEAR OLD TAKES NC TO COURT OVER CLIMATE CHANGE
My 2nd Father, Grant Godwin, shared this with me. Direct quote from his email:
Hallie Turner is from Raleigh and garnered the support to file legal challenge against the state in effort to force compliance/increased effort to reduce carbon emissions. I thought, “hey, this young lady is in Jamie’s sphere in environmental activism and inspirational women”.
My family knows me so well. Love you, Grant!
Ha! Because…why not? Enjoy!
Featured image (at top): Collage by Jamie pictures by friends!
All reviews written and opinions expressed are the author’s own. “Shared by [name]” – Refers to the person who shared the link to the original piece featured here.
