25 TRUE STORIESDive into these pages to celebrate the girls’ and their heroes—and see how you might follow their examples
in your own life!
Scan the QR code below to find exciting interactive
activities and learn more about these girls
and their journeys.

roomtoread.org

rebelgirls.com

2 5 STO R I E S O F C O U R AG E O U S YO U N G WOM E N A N D T H E I R H E RO E SThis collection features 12 incredible tales of girls from
Room to Read’s Girls’ Education Program, who have createdpositive change in their lives and the lives of others.
In the program, these girls learned to believe in themselves,
persist through difficulties, and support one anotheras they defy gender stereotypes to improve theircircumstances and their communities. They have createdsustainability apps, challenged early enforced marriage,
grown award-winning gardens, and earned money
for their families as YouTube sensations. The girls’ stories are
paired with 12 tales of their heroes, women from across theglobe in whom they’ve found inspiration and strength.

REBEL GIRLS SHE CREATES CHANGE

CHANGEMAKERSFROM AROUND THE WORLDSHESE
C R E AT
CCHHAANNGGEE
25 STORIESCOURAGEOUS YOUNG WOMENTHEIR HEROES

presents
in partnership
with

SHE
S
E
C R E ATCHANGE
25 STORIESCOURAGEOUS YOUNG WOMENTHEIR HEROESCONTENTS
Copyright © 2023 by Rebel Girls, Inc.

FOREWORD

4

This non-commercial book is a collaboration between Room to Read and Rebel Girls, Inc. GoodD E V I N A ● Girls’ Education Program Graduate
D E V I N A ’ S H E R O : G L O R I A A L L R E D ● Feminist Lawyer

68

D E W M I N I ● Girls’ Education Program Student
D E W M I N I ’ S H E R O : O TA R A D E L G U N E WA R D E N E ●10Night Stories for Rebel Girls and Rebel Girls are registered trademarks. For more information
about these organizations and our partnership, see pages 70–72.

and Animal Rights Activist

Fashion Icon

12

D I K S H A ● Girls’ Education Program Student
D I K S H A ’ S H E R O : S A P A N A M A L L A P R A D H A N ● Supreme Court Judge

14
16

events and accomplishments of their lives.

K E Y A ● Girls’ Education Program Student
K E Y A ’ S H E R O : B E G U M R O K E Y A ● Feminist Author and Activist

18
20

For more information about obtaining copies of this book, contact info@roomtoread.org.

L A Y T H O N G ● Girls’ Education Program Graduate
L A Y T H O N G ’ S H E R O : P L E U M J I T T H I N K A O W ● Volleyball Player

2224

M E N G H O R N G ● Girls’ Education Program Student
M E N G H O R N G ’ S H E R O : R I T H S O V A N D A L I N ● App Designer

26This is a work of creative nonfiction. It is a collection of heartwarming and thought-provoking
stories inspired by the life and adventures of 25 women. It is not an encyclopedic account of theand Data Scientst

www.roomtoread.org

www.rebelgirls.com

Created by Francesca Cavallo and Elena Favilli
Art direction by Janet Pagliuca
Editorial direction by Alisha Niehaus Berger
Copy editing and fact-checking by Jamie Leigh Real and Joe Rhatigan
Cover illustration by Annalisa Ventura
Graphic design by Melanie Doherty
Project management by Erica Cuellar, Shannon Hesel, Matthew Chilcott,Lucina DiMeco, and Julie Sims
Printed in Canada, January 2023
ISBN (noncommercial print): 9798400000416
ISBN (noncommercial e-book): 9798400000430

28

NEO
Environmentalist
N E O ’ S H E R O : C O N N I E F E R G U S O N ● Actor and Film Producer

30
32

S A P A N A ● Girls’ Education Program Graduate
S A P A N A ’ S H E R O : F L O R E N C E N I G H T I N G A L E ● Nurse

34
36

S E N G H O N G ● Girls’ Education Program Student
S E N G H O N G ’ S H E R O : S E N G G E C H L Y ● Bestselling Author

38
40

S H I R I N ● Girls’ Education Program Student
S H I R I N ’ S H E R O : S U F I A K A M A L ● Poet and Political Activist

42
44

T R A N G ● Girls’ Education Program Graduate
T R A N G ’ S H E R O : H ’ H E N N I E ● Miss Universe Vietnam

46
48

Y A S H I K A ● Girls’ Education Program Graduate
Y A S H I K A ’ S H E R O : A R U N I M A S I N H A ● Mountaineer

50
52

S O C I A L M O B I L I Z E R S ● Room to Read Mentors

54

WRITE YOUR STORY A ND DR AW YOUR POR TR A IT

56

ROOM TO READ’S KEY LIFE SKILLS

58●

WHO’ S YOUR HERO?

62

POWERFUL QUOTES64

IDEAS FOR CHANGE

66

T H E AU T H O R S A N D I L L U S T R AT O R S

69

ABOUT ROOM TO READ

70

ABOUT REBEL GIRLS

71

ROOM TO R E A D A ND R E B E L GIR L S PA R TNE R S HIP72

F O R E WO R D
Hello, Changemakers!
Over the last two decades, my life has been enriched by witnessing girls

like you across 20+ countries acquire skills and achieve their dreams.

and women take control of their destinies by pursuing life trajectories

For the women in my family, the transformation from child bride to CEOof their choosing. I am even more gratiﬁed and hopeful when I see theirhappened in a single generation.

families and communities celebrate and support them. In this collection,
I am proud to share a selection of stories showcasing some of these
inspiring changemakers, participants in Room to Read’s Girls’ Education
Program. These young women have used life skills such as perseverance,
critical thinking, self-conﬁdence, empathy, and communication to
overcome a range of obstacles, design better futures for themselves
and their families, and strengthen their communities. We all walk in thefootsteps of the changemakers who came before us. So, you’ll also ﬁndstories of these young women’s heroes—strong women who came before
them to help pave the way.
Just like the individuals featured in this book, it is my hope that you will

Magic happens when young people like you can become lifelong learners
and make their own choices. Each of you has the power to shape yourstory. As you recognize your own strength, develop new life skills, acquire
knowledge, and form trusted relationships with peers, mentors, androle models, you will create a world of possibility for yourself and others.
My hope is that you ﬁnd nuggets of wisdom throughout this collection
and that, as you read the stories, you see the potential to overcome
any challenges that may stand in your way. I dedicate this book to yourpower, your dreams, and your chosen destiny!
Warmly,set and achieve goals of your choosing and that you will ﬁnd fulﬁllment
by staying in school, continuing to learn, and creating positive change insociety. My mother is an example of this transformation, and she is myhero. She knew how important it was for a girl to be educated. She grew
up in India and refused to be married at a young age, even though childmarriage was common in her community. She was ostracized when she

Dr. Geetha Murali
CEO, Room to Read®

left home seeking higher education, but eventually earned a doctorate
degree. Her choices created choices for me and led me to my position as
CEO of Room to Read, where I have the privilege of helping young people

45DEVINAD“I H A D H O P E F O R T H E F U T U R E .
I AM HERE TODAY BECAUSE

GIRLS’ EDUCATION PROGRAM GRADUATEI HAD HOPE.”		—DEVINA

evina was no more than six years old, working alone in a fieldof maize, when she sensed danger. Heart pounding, she picked

up a stick and looked around. Monkeys inched closer—in all directions.
The chase was on!
Devina had to think fast. A daring escape followed. She was the youngestof nine kids and money was tight in her family. Unfortunately, many morecrises lay ahead, but one thing was for certain: when things got tough,Devina kept her cool.
One day, a woman in Devina’s village was robbed of her land. She hadpurchased a plot with her life’s savings, only to have it sold out from under
her. Devina was troubled by the injustice. She wanted to better understandthe law and how to protect those most vulnerable, but didn’t know how.
She had never known a lawyer, but she’d read about one in a book. But,
university was expensive, and she would need money for that. So she returned
to harvesting and worked night and day in the fields for weeks on end. Withher earnings, she applied to Moshi Co-operative University, to study law.
On graduation day, Devina celebrated more than her law degree. “I realized
many poor people are taken advantage of,” she said. “I am not rich. I am
poor, but I have a place in society.”
While attending university, she managed to send money to her family,
to help grow rice and eventually buy a plot of land to build a new home.
Proud of all that she has achieved, Devina chuckles and grins, “My younger
self would tell me: congratulations, you have gotten out of the chase with

Devina’s Hero:
GLORIA
ALLREDthe monkeys.”

See next page.

BORN 1998
TANZANIA

6ILLUSTRATION BY
NICOLE KAMBIGLORIA ALLRED

O

FEMINIST LAWYER“[ . . . S O M E P E O P L E ] S T I L L F E E L
THREATENED BY STRONG WOMEN.

ILLUSTRATION BY
ELENIA BERETTA

THAT ’S THEIR PROBLEM. IT ’S NOT MINE.”—GLORIA ALLRED

ne summer day in 1941, a girl named Gloria was born in
Philadelphia, U.S.A., a place nicknamed the City of Brotherly

Love. She was the only child in her Jewish, working-class family.
When she was a young woman, Gloria was sexually assaulted. She did
not report the rape, fearing nobody would believe her. Yet she never forgot
what she went through. Gloria became a lawyer, and a fearless defender ofwomen’s rights. “I have been the victim of many of the injustices [my clients
have experienced],” Gloria said. “. . . I understand how this is impacting theirlives—economically, psychologically, often physically.”
Gloria fights for justice for women. In one case, actor Hunter Tylo was firedby television mogul Aaron Spelling because she was pregnant. Gloria’s work
was important in establishing the rights of pregnant actors. She also
advocated for a law to end time limits on sexual assault cases in the State ofCalifornia. Now, when a Californian is ready to prosecute their attacker, they
can’t be told it’s been too long since the original incident.
Some people attack Gloria’s work, but she remains persistent andunstoppable. In fact, she has been inducted into the National Women’s Hallof Fame in the United States. When asked what her biggest fears are, shebluntly responds, “I can’t say that I really have fears. But I guess if I had toname one, it would be not living long enough to do everything that I want
to do.” Gloria wants to keep fighting injustice, because “when one woman isdenied her rights, we’re all being denied our rights.” Maybe her hometown,
Philadelphia, should now be known as the City of Sisterly Love?

“WH AT WE S E E K I S H A R M O N Y
A M O N G N AT I O N S. T H AT WA S
A N D R E M A I N S T H E G R E AT E S T G O A L

B O R N J U LY 3 , 1 9 4 1
UNITED STATES8O F E U R O P E A N U N I T Y.”– ANGELA MERKELILLUSTRATION BY
ANDINA SUBARJADEWMINIOILLUSTRATION BY
KATHERINE AHMED

ILLUSTRATION BY
ELENIA BERETTA

GIRLS’ EDUCATION PROGRAM STUDENT

nce upon a time, there was a girl who dreamed of growing amagical garden filled with mangoes, brightly colored flowers,

and a babbling stream with singing fish. Dreaming of this paradise gave
her strength to deal with the problems she faced in her everyday life.
Dewmini was born in a poor area of Sri Lanka where severe droughts
caused by climate change made life very difficult. Some days there was
no water to drink, and she had to go to school without breakfast. One day,Dewmini’s father decided the only option was to send her to a wealthy
house in the city to work as a servant. Dewmini was angry and refused togo. She was desperate to stay with her family.
At school, Dewmini learned about agriculture and decided to grow agarden. She began by planting eggplants. Then she added lemons. Thenbetel nuts. Then okra. Her teachers and parents were astonished by her
determination as her garden bore vegetables in no time at all.
Dewmini and her father soon began to sell her vegetables to people inthe village, and she surprised everyone—including herself—when she won
third place for the most bountiful garden in the entire district! “It was myhappiest day,” she beamed. “I feel quite accomplished to do that at such

“THERE’S NO GAIN

a young age.”
Dewmini has big plans for the future. She lobbied her town’s leaders
to build wells. And “one day, after I get my degree, I will build an agricultural
hub for my community, educating farmers and giving jobs to many.
There will be plenty of food and drinking water, and lots of trees to giveeveryone shade.”

WITHOUT COURAGE
AND DETERMINATION.”—DEWMINI“WH AT WE S E E K I S H A R M O N Y
A M O N G N AT I O N S. T H AT WA S
A N D R E M A I N S T H E G R E AT E S T G O A L

BORN 2008

O F E U R O P E A N U N I T Y.”

SRI LANKA– ANGELA MERKEL

10

Dewmini’s Hero:OTARA DEL
GUNEWARDENE
See next page.

“ L E T Y O U R D E T O U R S

O TA R A D E L G U N E WA R D E N E

NLEAD YOU TO YOUR
DREAM.”FASHION ICON AND
ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST— O T A R A D E L
GUNEWARDENE

ot so long ago, a compassionate girl grew up on the tropicalisland of Sri Lanka, playing with squirrels and birds and dreamingof ways to help animals and the environment. It surprised no one that sheplanned to become a veterinarian.
But when she started college, Otara discovered that she loved fashion, too.
She began to model, inspired by colorful local designs and eye-catchingpatterns. Eventually, she got the idea to gather surplus clothing fromfactories and sell it out of her blue station wagon. To start the business, sheborrowed a small sum from her brother and mother. Soon, Otara created thefirst retail store of a clothing brand that combined her first two names: Odel!
Because of Otara’s hard work, Odel became one of the biggest fashion
empires in Sri Lanka. Yet, being a successful entrepreneur wasn’t enough.
Otara had never forgotten her passion for animals, and designed a line ofT-shirts to help protect Sri Lanka’s wildlife. She helped plant trees and clean
up beaches. And then, Otara met Niko.
Niko was a rescue puppy. As she nursed him to recovery, Otara learned
firsthand the suffering of street dogs. She started a new brand to support
them, and even brought puppies onto the fashion runway! The brand’s
success convinced Otara to sell Odel and devote her energy back to helping
neglected animals.
Today, Otara envisions a world of “respect and care for all living beings.”
She focuses her time and money on the connections between business andenvironmental preservation. She aspires to help Sri Lanka become a true
paradise: a safe, healthy home for animals and people.

BORN AUGUST 30, 1964
SRI LANKA

12

ILLUSTRATION BY
MONTSE GALBANYDIKSHAO

GIRLS’ EDUCATION PROGRAM STUDENT

nce there was a girl who learned she was as beautiful as aflower. Diksha’s skin was a darker shade than the people inher village. Everyone saw her as different. Kids teased her. Her motherpressured her to use whitening cream. Diksha would look into themirror and ask herself, “How can I feel so beautiful on the inside, but notsee it on the outside?”
Diksha’s older sister was angered by the discrimination in her family.
She took Diksha to a field of flowers. “Look,” she said. “You are just anothercolor in the midst of all these blossoms.” In that moment, Diksha understoodthat she was beautiful, inside and out.
One day, Diksha noticed her friend, Sita, was not at school. Sita’s family
believed in a tradition that prohibited girls from going to school when they
were menstruating, and forced Sita to sleep in the animal shed when she
had her period. Diksha knew no girl should ever be made to feel ashamedof her body, so she took her life skills notebook and went to visit Sita’s
grandmother. It was unusual for a young person to confront an elder, but
Diksha knew it was the right thing to do.
Sita’s grandmother listened to Diksha and was convinced to let her
granddaughter out of the shed. Together, the girls skipped through theforest. “That forest never meant much until the day Diksha rescued me,”Sita shared. “Then it was like paradise.”“YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE FEARFUL .
YOU HAVE TO BE FEARLESS .”—DIKSHA

Diksha plans to work for girls’ equality when she is older. “I want to be oneof those people who signs official papers and makes big decisions.”

ILLUSTRATION BY
KATHERINE AHMEDBORN 2005
NEPAL

14

Diksha’s Hero:SAPANA MALLA
PRADHANSee next page.

S A PA N A M A L L A P R A D H A NOSUPREME COURT JUDGE

nce upon a time, a girl named Sapana was born in a small village
surrounded by steep mountains and rushing rivers. Growing up,

she realized that women in Nepal had fewer rights than men. Women could
not initiate a divorce and weren’t allowed to hold many jobs. These injustices
seemed as enduring as the sheer peaks of the Himalayas, but Sapana wasundaunted. She wanted those laws changed.
And for the power to change a law, Sapana knew, you had to become alawyer. So she did exactly that.

ILLUSTRATION BY
NABILA ADANIIn her first big case, Sapana joined hands with two other women lawyers
to fight a case for women to inherit property. She knew that being
considered a full person under the law would have ripple effects on girls’
lives, empowering them to make decisions different from so many of
Sapana’s peers in her own village. It took Sapana seven years to win thecase, but at last, she and her colleagues were able to ensure that daughters
had the same property rights as sons.
After their victory, some people blamed Sapana and her fellow womenlawyers for destroying Nepali society. They received terrible threats ofphysical violence. There were many times when they felt hopeless. But with

“YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE IN POWER

the support of the legal community she had built and her purpose, she

AND AUTHORITY TO BRING CHANGE.”

found strength to persist. Sapana is now a judge in Nepal’s supreme court.
She continues to advocate for women’s rights, including women’s sexualand reproductive rights, in and outside of the courtroom.
Passion for justice continues to keep Sapana—and many of her fellow
Nepalese women—going strong.

BORN NOVEMBER 15, 1963
NEPAL

16

—SAPANA MALLA PRADHANK E YAK“MY MOST PRIZEDPOSSESSIONS ARE MY
KNOWLEDGE AND MY PEN.

GIRLS’ EDUCATION PROGRAM STUDENTWITHOUT THEM,I HAVE NOTHING.”—KEYA

eya loved to read the news. Her father was a barber, and each night
she’d wait for him to bring home the newspapers from his shop.

Keya poured over the pages, dreaming of becoming a great politician.
When Keya became a teenager, her father decided it was no longer
appropriate for his daughter to read the news and stopped bringing home
the papers. Keya was very upset. Reading was her connection to a world of
possibility, and she would not give that up. Determined, she begancollecting the newspapers street vendors used to wrap food. “He couldn’t
stop me,” she recalls. “I would read them and tell my mother what wasgoing on in the world.”
One day, Keya and her friends were walking home from school when agroup of boys started harassing them. She told the boys to stop, but they
became belligerent. Keya asked her parents for help, but they were worried
and told her to keep her head down. Keya went to her teachers. They did nothave a solution.
Years went by and the situation worsened. Keya knew she had to dosomething. This time, she mustered up the courage to speak directly to thetown leaders. “If you can feel the pain of others, then you will feel the needto help us,” she told them. “This must stop.” Keya made history that day. The
leaders listened to her and filed formal charges against the harassers.
Looking back, Keya is proud that she stood up and spoke out. “I did it for
all girls. Not just myself and not just my friends, but all girls.”
Now, the story of Keya the changemaker appears in the newspapers that
she was once forbidden to read. This time, her father beams with pride.

BORN 2006
BANGLADESH

18

ILLUSTRATION BY
HANNAH PECK AND
BONNIE TAYLOR FORSYTH

Keya’s Hero:
BEGUM ROKEYA
See next page.

B E G U M R O K E YAO“WAKE UP SISTERS!
W A K E U P M O T H E R S !
WAKE UP DAUGHTERS!”FEMINIST AUTHOR AND ACTIVIST—BEGUM ROKEYA

ne day in 1880, a free-spirited girl named Rokeya was born in anindustrial village in Bangladesh. Her father was highly educatedand encouraged his sons to go to school—an opportunity he would notallow for Rokeya or her sister. But Rokeya knew her rights. She wouldn’t letanyone stop her from getting an education.
Though her home was Arabic-speaking, Rokeya convinced her brotherto teach her Bangla, a local language, and English—in secret! Ultimately, shewould speak five languages fluently.
When she married, her husband was supportive of her passions. Rokeya
began to write and write, advocating for education as the key to women’sequality.
Her slogan was: “Jago Go Bhogini” (Wake Up Sisters), meant to inspire
Bengali Muslim women. She knew that social norms often limit women frombeing independent and achieving their potential. So, Rokeya shared hermessage in magazines and books. One of her science-fiction novellas,
Sultana’s Dream, featured a world ruled entirely by women leaders!
Rokeya’s bravery extended beyond the page. She set up the first school for
Muslim women in her area when she was only 29, risking her life by knocking
on the doors of men, like her own father, who did not want to send theirdaughters to school.
Today, her legacy lives on as thousands of girls in Bangladesh read herworks and attend schools that she founded. Those same girls, and millions
more, also celebrate Rokeya Day every December 9th, echoing her cry for
women’s rights and justice.

DECEMBER 9, 1880–DECEMBER 9, 1932
BANGLADESH

20

ILLUSTRATION BY
SARAH SAIYARAL AY T H O N GIILLUSTRATION BY
ELENIA BERETTA

GIRLS’ EDUCATION PROGRAM GRADUATE“I MAKE MY OWN FUTURE.”
n a Laotian community close to the Chinese border, a girl named—LAYTHONG

Laythong lived in an unfinished brick house. Early in the morning, shedonned her one school uniform, said goodbye to her dear grandmother,and walked the hour to school. As she trudged, Laythong struggled toovercome her fury and loneliness. She felt like such a burden.
Laythong’s father had passed away, and her mother worked in another city.
To afford school, Laythong harvested rice and flowers on the weekends. She
learned to manage money, giving some to her grandmother, and saving forher own needs.
At school, Laythong found comfort in volleyball. She joined her school
team, and was thrilled to learn to spike, serve, and pass. She loved to support
and be supported by her teammates. Laythong was making her life work forher. But when her team lost the finals, everything seemed hopeless.
That’s when Laythong’s friends and coach helped her bounce back into

Laythong’s Hero:
PLEUMJIT
THINKAOW
See next page.

action. Practices and classes made her mentally stronger and braver. Slowly,
Laythong regained her confidence and decided to study for two different
university entrance tests. Laythong did not pass the test for her first career
choice—to become a doctor. But she did pass the test to become a sports
teacher. Now, Laythong teaches that life is not about winning or losing: whatmatters is how you cope with your experiences. “I achieved my second
dream,” she says proudly.

ILLUSTRATION BY
JOANNE DERTILI

Today, Laythong zooms to her job on a motorbike her mother gave her,head held high. Between her friends, students, and her own motivation,
Laythong has built herself a happy family of her very own.

“WH AT WE S E E K I S H A R M O N Y
A M O N G N AT I O N S. T H AT WA S
A N D R E M A I N S T H E G R E AT E S T G O A L

BORN 1997
LAOS

22

O F E U R O P E A N U N I T Y.”– ANGELA MERKELP L E U M J I T T H I N KA OWOVOLLEYBALL PLAYER“ T E A M M AT E S A R E L I K E FA M I LY. ”—PLEUMJIT THINKAOW

ne day in Thailand, Pleumjit was practicing her table tennis spins
when her sports-loving father arrived with a brand new volleyball.

She loved football, badminton, and basketball, but table tennis was her
favorite. Try playing volleyball, he said that day. I think you’ll have fun with it.
And so at fourteen years old, Pleumjit began learning the basics of volleyball.
She spent hours in practice, inspired by her father’s constant encouragement.
Pleumjit soon joined her school’s volleyball team, working intensely to
become a star player. She was so good that when a volleyball coach from
Bangkok saw her in action, he brought her to the capital to play. She joined
the national junior team, and then the national team. In Bangkok, she rose
to become one of Thailand’s best athletes.
Pleumjit and her Thai teammates were not as tall as many professional
players, so they trained to become faster and to play with more power,
improving their strategy and developing quick thinking on the court.
Pleumjit could spike at more than 9 feet in the air, and block nearly as high!
Yet as important as her own skills were her connections with her teammates.
The “instinctive connection” between her and the team’s setter impressed
audiences: “[It is] as bewildering to opponents as it is brilliant to watch.”Through amazing athleticism, an infectious smile, and fun social media
posts where she shared her everyday life with millions of fans, Pleumjit
became an inspiration to a new generation of players. She and her
teammates put Thailand’s women players on the global map of professional
volleyball—as real people, role models, and spectacular athletes.

BORN NOVEMBER 9, 1983
THAILAND

24

ILLUSTRATION BY
KRIS DURANMENGHORNG

O

GIRLS’ EDUCATION PROGRAM STUDENT

nce upon a time, a shy girl named Menghorng watched, intrigued
as her teacher typed on a computer keyboard. She was not very

familiar with computers, but she loved music. The motion looked a bit like theway a piano was played, with the same endless possibility to create.
Menghorng was fascinated. She knew she wanted to learn more about
Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
In the small Cambodian village where Menghorng was born, only boys

Menghorng’s
Hero:
RITH SOVANDALIN

were encouraged to pursue ICT. And while her parents supported her,
Menghorng found learning to program very difficult. Still, she spent hours

See next page.

tapping away at the keyboard, determined to improve her skills. And
improve she did! But Menghorng was still too nervous to share her work. To
build her self-esteem, she started to read motivational books and join school
debates. Finally, she entered a competition—and she didn’t win. By now, sheknew her weak points, and where she needed to work harder.
When Menghorng had an opportunity to create an app based onsustainability, she programmed one that helped her community understandclimate change. This time, she won! Next, Menghorng created another awardwinning app to help STEM students improve their critical thinking. Now,
Menghorng feels like she is living a fairy tale, where the intelligence andresilience of a rural girl is internationally recognized at last.
Today, at only 15 years old, Menghorng mentors other girls as theyexperiment in an ICT field that is still heavily male-dominated. Menghorng
knows that their perseverance will lead to a better future, where the world’s
difficult problems are solved by girls and boys together.

“ J U S T T R Y , N O M A T T E R

BORN 2006
CAMBODIA

26

ILLUSTRATION BY
KATHRIN HONESTAHOW HARD IT IS!”		— M E N G H O R N G

R I T H S OVA N D A L I NOAPP DESIGNER AND DATA SCIENTIST“ I W I L L A L W A Y S D O M YBEST TO INSPIRE OTHER
GIRLS AND WOMEN TO
FOLLOW THEIR DREAMS.”

nce upon a time, a 13-year-old in Cambodia learned an exciting—RITH SOVANDALIN

new language: computer coding. Sovandalin delighted in its

possibilities for communication and creativity, and knew she wanted not
only to use tech, but to make it. Her parents, however, did not see the sense
in a girl doing “boy’s work.” In fact, they were horrified.
So, Sovandlin turned to YouTube. As her skills and experience expanded,
she considered the challenges for girls in STEM. “I realized that I wasn’t the
only one who suffers from [gender stereotypes],” she remembers. But she
wouldn’t let that stop her—or anyone else.
Sovandalin gathered 30 girls online, organized them into a club, andbegan teaching them to create animated videos. Sovandalin loved seeing
a girl’s eyes light up when her code worked. “Coding is not naturally only formen,” Sovandalin said. “Women can do it, too . . . [but] it is important to be
confident with ourselves.”
Despite her parents’ unchanged minds, she earned a full scholarship to
study web and app development—and left home. Balancing her studies,
her emotions, and her club was a huge task. Sovandalin kept a detailed
to-do list. And she sought support from a mentor to talk, recruit volunteers,and create budgets. Her initiative impressed UNICEF Cambodia, and she
secured their funding. Sisters of Code now has a core team of eight!
Today, Sovandalin is one of only two girls majoring in Data Science
Engineering and Artificial Intelligence at CamTech. There are still snarky
remarks from young men, but she stays firm in her commitment to help
women share their talent in the gender-inclusive future of STEM.

BORN JANUARY 30, 2003
CAMBODIA

28

ILLUSTRATION BY
JANET PAGLIUCA

NEO

N

“ S T A N D U P F O R Y O U R S E L F

ENVIRONMENTALISTEVERY CHANCE YOU GET.”—NEO
estled in a secluded forest near the famous Kruger National Park,
Bushbuckridge in South Africa is home to the go-getter Neo.

While she watched animals in the Kruger happily roam and leap, Neo could
not do the same. She was born with a severe walking disability. She had todeal with daily stares because she was different.
Neo’s parents encouraged her to walk instead of using a wheelchair.
They believed that walking would strengthen her legs. For little Neo, thisdecision was hard and she was met with stares and sometimes laughter as
she struggled to walk to school. But as difficult as it was, Neo walked on.
Indeed, her legs got stronger—and her self-confidence and resilience, too.
With a new spring in her step, Neo walked tall and she walked proud.
She walked to church for her choir practice. Once, she walked to the mall to
do her own shopping. This was a defining moment for her. Nevermind thestares! She knew then that her body was differently built so that she could
stand out.
Today, as one of a few college students in a community struggling with

ILLUSTRATIONBY TYLA MASON

low levels of literacy, Neo is admired. Neo’s legs carry her throughout her
community, educating those around her about climate change andpreserving their beloved Kruger. Parents encourage their children to follow
in her footsteps. Her name means “gift” in Setswana, and Neo is indeed agift to her community.

BORN 1996
SOUTH AFRICA

Neo’s Hero:CONNIEFERGUSONSee next page.

30

CONNIE FERGUSONOACTOR AND FILM PRODUCER

nce upon a time, a little girl with big dreams was born in Lobatse,
Botswana. Connie grew up in a small town in Southern Africa,

but her dreams defied its borders. Soon, her parents moved the family to
Kimberley, a sleepy city in South Africa’s Northern Cape. But Connie’s bright,
confident personality needed a bigger stage! In the early 1990s, South Africa“CHOOSE SERENITY,

transitioned from apartheid to a democratic state and Connie moved to

COURAGE, AND WISDOM!”

Johannesburg—a big city where she thrived.

—CONNIE FERGUSON

In 1994, entertainment blossomed for Black South Africans. From thedusty streets of the Soweto township to rural villages, homes were flooded
with local television productions telling Black stories. One of theseproductions was Generations, a soap opera so popular it brought thecountry to a standstill every weekday as it played. Connie was the star of
the show. The bright city lights shone brighter on her. This girl was on fire!
Connie the filmmaker? You bet! A producer? Check! She became one of the
few African women who has made a successful career in filmmaking andproducing.
Connie became a businesswoman, too. Her skin care line for Black
women was the first of its kind in South Africa. Connie works hard every
day and uses her fame to actively support young people, sharing positive
messages that can help others sparkle, too.

BORN JUNE 10, 1970
BOTSWANA

32

ILLUSTRATION BY
ANOVUYO MALIS A PA N A

T

GIRLS’ EDUCATION PROGRAM GRADUATE“SOMETIMES ALL YOU
CAN DO IS NOT GIVE UP!”—SAPANA

here was once a girl who daydreamed of healing people with raysof light from her hands. Her name was Sapana, and when she wasyoung, her little sister fell ill. Her family lived far from a hospital, so they
performed a traditional healing ceremony to try and cure her. Sapana begged
her father to make the journey to a medical clinic, but by the time they set off
through the jungle, it was too late, and her sister died. At that moment,
Sapana promised herself she would become a nurse.
No one in Sapana’s family had graduated from high school, but they
supported her, even if paying her school fees meant they had to sometimes
go hungry. Every day, she walked for four hours to get to school. And when

ILLUSTRATION BY
BANDANA TULACHAN

monsoons flooded the roads, she slept overnight in her classroom.
Finally, the day came for her to apply to nursing school and take theentrance exam. Sapana was not accepted and she fell into a deep depression.
But she then remembered the advice of a mentor, who told her to neverunderestimate herself. “I realized I had the strength to keep trying,”
remembers Sapana. “I was not going to stop there.”
After months of preparation, she took the entrance exam again. Lateron, outside the college admission’s office, she stood at the window andscanned through the list of students’ names who had passed. There, in the
middle of the list, in big, black, all-cap letters: SAPANA!
Now, as a nurse working on the front lines of COVID-19, Sapana spends
each day using her persistance and courage to save lives. She daydreams
about her hero, Florence Nightingale, wondering “what gave her the strength
to keep working for others.” Many might wonder the same about Sapana.

BORN 1998
NEPAL

34

Sapana’s Hero:
FLORENCE
NIGHTINGALE
See next page.

FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE

O

NURSE

nce upon a time, a baby was born to an English couple travelingin Italy. They decided to name their daughter after the beautiful

city where she was born, so they called her Florence.
Florence loved traveling, she loved math and science, and she loved
collecting information. Whenever she went to a new place, she would note
down how many people lived there, how many hospitals there were, andhow big the city was. She loved numbers.
Florence studied nursing and became so good at it that the government
sent her to manage a hospital for injured soldiers in Turkey.
As soon as she arrived, Florence started collecting and examining all thedata she could find. She discovered that most of the soldiers died not
because of their wounds, but because of infections and diseases contracted
in the hospital.
“The very first requirement in a hospital is that it should do the sick noharm,” she said.
She made sure that everyone working there washed their hands
frequently and kept everything clean. At night, she carried a lamp as she
made her rounds, talking to her patients and giving them hope.
Thanks to her, many more soldiers made it home safely, and she became“I A T T R I B U T E M Y S U C C E S S T O T H I S —known as “The Lady with the Lamp.”

I NEVER GAVE OR TOOK ANY EXCUSE.”—FLORENCENIGHTINGALE

MAY 12 , 1820–AUGUST 13, 1910
UNITED KINGDOM36

ILLUSTRATION BY
DALILA ROVAZZANISENGHONG

O

GIRLS’ EDUCATION PROGRAM STUDENT“PATIENCE IS NECESSARYFOR SUCCESS.”—SENGHONG

nce upon a time, a Cambodian girl called Senghong loved tolaugh, read, and, especially, write. But her dreams of being an

author were often interrupted by a painful tightness in her chest. Once, shebecame so breathless and frustrated during an oral geography test that she
lost consciousness. But no one knew what was causing her symptoms.
Throughout her childhood, Senghong’s father also struggled. When hecould not find work, he became abusive. When he died, Senghong’s
beloved elder brother left to get a job in another city. Then her sister broke
her leg, and the operation was delayed because they couldn’t pay. The stressmade Senghong’s breathing worse than it had ever been. Her mother,a model for Senghong’s own courage, comforted her: “We are ok.”At last, in 9th grade, a doctor diagnosed Senghong with heart disease.
To help her spirit, she spent hours lost in stories and philosophy books.
Support from her friends, mentors, and family filled her with gratitude.
So for them, and others who struggle, Senghong began transforming her
challenges into words of inspiration. She felt like a fountain of words!
One day, Senghong saw a publisher online asking for work from young
writers. She shared some motivational essays, and this led to her first

Senghong’s
Hero:
SENG GECHLY
See next page.

published book. “I write about real situations in my community, and in mylife,” Senghong says. She also posts uplifting messages on social media.
“Writing is healing,” Senghong shares, “and it makes me happy.”
Senghong believes that obstacles make us stronger. With her strong
support network and inspiration from beloved books, Senghong is on her
way to becoming a successful author—and making her dreams come true.

BORN 2003
CAMBODIAILLUSTRATION BY
KASIA BOGDANSKA38

S E N G G E C H LY

OBESTSELLING AUTHOR“ L I F E I S A C H O I C E .
WHAT YOU REACH FOR
IS UP TO YOU.”nce upon a time, near the lowlands of the great Mekong River,— S E N G G E C H LY

there lived a young Cambodian girl who could not set down her

pencil. Gechly spent hours in her spare time pouring her thoughts andemotions into journals. Writing felt like not only her first love, but her destiny.
Her parents felt differently.
They wanted her to become a “respected” professional, a doctor or abanker. But Gechly would not give up. Depression crept in, and Gechly
started writing about it in a journal. Gechly and her parents fought about
her future constantly, and those fights only intensified when she made it
clear that she would never change her mind.
After high school, Gechly left home to pursue her literary career and takecare of her mental health. The vibrant city of Phnom Penh opened up her
world, and in turn Gechly opened up her innermost self to the world.
In 2018, when Gechly was only 19, she self-published a book version of her
journal about living with depression. It became a bestselling phenomenon.
Gechly then started a Facebook page to encourage young people who
suffer from mental health to speak up and educate themselves. “Like me,
many teens in Cambodia are journaling as a way to cope with their mental
stress,” Gechly says. Soon, she had 200,000 young fans and followers, andpublished two more books in her series called Student of Life.
Today, Gechly uses her celebrity as an author to be a true social media
influencer: not by making brand endorsements, but with content thatinspires action. Talk about being an influencer with real influence!

BORN JANUARY 22, 1999
CAMBODIA

40

ILLUSTRATION BY
DEBORA ISLASSHIRINO

GIRLS’ EDUCATION PROGRAM STUDENT

nce upon a time, a Bangladeshi third-grader named Shirin“ I F Y O U D O N O T

was eating a small biscuit for lunch. It was all her family could

afford. Another girl approached and asked Shirin about her future dreams.

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF,“I want to be a teacher,” Shirin replied. “Poor people like you never become

NO ONE ELSE WILL.”—SHIRIN

anything,” the girl scoffed. “You’ll be married off by fifth grade.”
The words cut through Shirin’s heart, as she feared they weren’t far fromthe truth. “I felt so small,” Shirin says. “But then I decided to prove her wrong.”
Shirin convinced her parents to send her to a bigger school, with more
opportunities. But in her 7th grade year, they changed their minds. Soon afamily arrived to talk to her about marriage. Shirin summoned her courage
and refused. She was so persuasive that her parents also agreed she could
continue her education.
However, Shirin’s family still could not afford tuition. So, Shirin started
working at a lightbulb factory. Long hours of work and late nights of studying
became her life. Shirin’s work caused blisters and cuts all over her hands. But
her dream lit her way.
At the factory, Shirin befriended girls who faced similar challenges. She
encouraged them to speak up against child marriage, and even talked totheir parents about how education could change a girl’s life and her family’s.
“Never be afraid to speak up,” she counsels. “When you see that you canaccomplish small goals, you slowly gain confidence.”
Today, Shirin is working towards a teaching career. She uses some of hermoney for school and saves the rest. Shirin hopes to inspire others to lightup their own futures by speaking up and defending their dreams.

BORN 2004
BANGLADESH

42

ILLUSTRATION BY
SONIA LAZO

Shirin’s Hero:SUFIA KAMAL
See next page.

S U F I A KA M A L

OILLUSTRATION BY
MICHELLE D’URBANOPOET AND POLITICAL ACTIVIST

nce upon a time in Bangladesh, a smart and driven girl called
Sufia hid under a bed, her nose in a book of poetry. Her wealthy

Muslim family did not believe in schooling for women, but she always founda way to learn, even if curled up in a dusty corner on the floor! Sufia spenthours in her uncle’s library. From a tutor, she was allowed to learn thelanguages Urdu, Arabic, and Persian.
One day, Sufia’s mother took her to Kolkata. There, she met a famous
woman author who wrote about the challenges faced by women, challenges
Sufia knew by heart. Sufia started writing her own poems and stories about
life, love, and the experiences of women in her culture.
Sufia became such a good writer that words seemed to flow from herpen. When reporters would come knocking at her door to ask this nowfamous writer for her poetry, she would sit them down and write a poem
instantly!
When war broke out, Sufia organized to help women and people
experiencing poverty. With her words, she nurtured the dream of a country
with stronger rights for all. She wrote, “I’ll remove the thorns along the path—so that, for those who come after, thorns don’t prick their feet; so that, for theirthorn-pricked feet they don’t fall behind. That much I’ll do with whateverstrength I have.”To this day, Sufia Kamal, the people’s Khalamma (auntie), inspires a newgeneration of leaders and poets in a land called Bangladesh—her words speak
to their hearts and souls, in all the corners they find the courage to learn.

JUNE 20, 1911–NOVEMBER 20, 1999
BANGLADESH

44“ D O T H A T W H I C H
IS GOOD FOR OTHERS.”—SUFIA KAMALTRANG

T

GIRLS’ EDUCATION PROGRAM GRADUATE“T O M O R R O W , M Y
LIFE WILL BE
DIFFERENT!”

rang lived with her family in a small thatched hut in remote Vietnam.

—TRANG

She helped her mother sell sweet cakes at the market across theriver. One day, their boat tipped over and all the cakes tumbled into the water.
Trang’s mother cried. Now they wouldn’t have enough money to buy food.
”I will never forget that day,” Trang recalls. “I wanted so badly to help myfamily out of poverty.” So she sat and thought. She had a special bond withanimals, especially with Bim Bim. He was the only white duck in a flock of all
black birds, and he was not accepted by the group. Bim Bim must be lonely,
thought Trang, just like me. It dawned on her that maybe, just maybe, theworld might enjoy their unique friendship.
Trang had heard about YouTube. She dreamed of becoming an actor anddecided to start her own channel. “At first I recorded videos with old phonesthat kept on breaking, and many times my videos didn’t get a single view.”
But Trang kept at it. She posted Bim Bim’s birthday party, Bim Bim learning
to cook, Bim Bim dancing. Over time, the whole nation was laughing!
Trang won YouTube’s Silver Creator Button Award for earning 100,000 fans.
”I never thought I could go that far. I do not have an assistant. I do not havehigh quality equipment. I taught myself everything.”
Trang has even started a YouTube channel for her mom called Mother’sHometown. “It celebrates my mom’s delicious cooking and helps college
students overcome feeling homesick,” she said. ”My mother was very happy.”

Trang’s Hero:H’HEN NIÊSee next page.

Trang hopes her success inspires others to think beyond what feels
possible.

BORN 2002
VIETNAM

46

ILLUSTRATION BY
JUEN TIEN

H’HEN NIÊW

MISS UNIVERSE VIETNAM“F R O M N O T H I N G ,HERE I AM.
I CAN DO IT, SO YOUCAN DO IT, TOO.”—H’HEN NIÊ

When she was not helping her parents cutting rice, herding
cows, and picking beans, young H’Hen Nie loved to explore

her home in Vietnam’s Central Highlands. She swam in the lake, slid downslopes, and played in the lush forest among the colorful birds and butterflies.
But among the Ede people, an ethnic group to which H’Hen Niê’s family
belongs, young girls marry and start a family by age fourteen. Her parents
expected her to do the same, but H’Hen didn’t want to. “I had lots of dreams
and I had to follow them,” she said.
So she left her rural village to study in the city. Her mother saved to send
her through college and, to help with the expenses, H’Hen also worked as ananny, house cleaner, waiter, tutor, and even a Christmas tree decorator!
She graduated, and eventually discovered the glitzy world of fashion andstarted modeling. She realized that if she was a successful model, she could
help her family. H’Hen worked hard to learn more about fashion and soon she
was joining runway shows and going on national auditions.
In 2018, H’Hen became a Top Five finalist in the Miss Universe pageant—the first Vietnamese contestant to do so. At her mother’s suggestion, H’Hen
used 100% of her prize money from the pageant to build a library in one ofVietnam’s rural central provinces. H’Hen continues to advocate for women
empowerment and girls’ education and literacy because she believes that
“if girls are given tools to succeed, then nothing can hold them back.”
ILLUSTRATION BY
MICHELLE D’URBANOBORN MAY 15, 1992
VIETNAM48

ILLUSTRATION BY
TASNEEM AMIRUDDINYA S H I KA
GIRLS’ EDUCATION PROGRAM GRADUATEO

nce upon a time, there was a girl who karate-chopped her fear.
For young Yashika, it was not easy to get to school. Without

street lights, sidewalks, or school buses, the route was sometimes
dangerous. Yashika’s parents worried so much they asked her to stop going.
But Yashika was determined to get an education! She had learned in a life
skills class how to advocate for herself and knew there just had to be a safe
way to get to school. Instead of giving up, she asked the local leaders forsupport and they listened.
One day, Yashika had the opportunity to take a self-defense class forgirls. Standing in front of the class was the teacher, a powerful and strong
woman. “If she can do it, why not me?” she thought to herself. The next day
Yashika signed up.
People in her town teased Yashika and her family. “Karate is a boy’s sport”
they’d say. Her parents pressed her to quit, but she remained calm.
“Confidence does not come at once. It is a gradual process. By doing karate
I learn to never give up, no matter my challenges.” Before she knew it, she
won a tournament! Then another and another.
A few years later, Yashika boarded a train and traveled to the biggest cityin all of India to compete in the Skys India National Karate Championship.
There, the girl who was once afraid of walking to school won a silver medal
for her individual performance and, with her team, she won gold.
Today, “The Karate Girl,” as she is fondly called by her fans, is a beloved“DREAM BIG
IRRESPECTIVE OFYOUR SITUATIONOR YOUR
SURROUNDINGS.”—YASHIKA

mentor for girls. She tells her students that dedication, focus, and hard work
will make dreams come true, and karate will help you kick fear’s butt.

BORN 2003
INDIA

50

Yashika’s Hero:
ARUNIMA
SINHA
See next page.

ARUNIMA SINHAOILLUSTRATION BY
SAMIDHA GUNJALMOUNTAINEER

nce upon a time, an Indian girl with a passion for sports wasdetermined not to let an administrative error threaten her

chances for a job with India’s security forces. While she was on the train
to their office, thieves snatched her gold chain. “Thanks to my fitness,
I gave them a tough time. But they threw me out of the train,” Arunima
remembers.
Another train ran over her left leg, shattering it from the knee down.
Doctors had to amputate and give her a prosthetic leg. Arunima foughtfor her life—and won.
Her bones were broken, but not her determination. On her sick bed, she
experienced many people who saw her only for her disability. Arunima
decided to “answer them with action, not words” by scaling the world’s
tallest mountain! As soon as she could leave the hospital, she visited thefirst Indian woman to climb Mount Everest. Bachendri Pal told Arunima,“You already conquered your inner Everest . . . climb the mountain only toshow the world what you are made of.”Arunima trained, and trained hard. In the final part of the climb, she saw
skeletons covered with snow. “Our bodies behave according to how wethink,” Arunima says. “I firmly took stock of my fears and told my body thatdying was not an option.” Slowly and steadily, Arunima continued to climb.
Each step filled her with confidence. Finally, after 52 days, Arunima reached
the top of the world. She took off her oxygen mask and screamed in victory.
Since then, Arunima has scaled the six other highest mountains aroundthe world. She is the first woman amputee to reach these summits—andshe continues to challenge perceptions, each and every day.

B O R N J U LY 2 0 , 1 9 8 9
INDIA

52

“N E V E R F O R G E T
YOUR GOAL.”—AR UNI MA S I NHA

despite her illness, and speaks up about it openly thanks to the strong

SOCIAL MOBILIZERSROOM TO READ MENTORS

R

voice she developed in her work with Tafatia.
Brought up by her grandmother after her parents’ divorce, social
mobilizer Happyness understands the pain of living apart from a parent.
When one of her mentees was struggling to manage the emotional distressof her own parents’ divorce, she found comfort in Happyness’ guidance andlife skills lessons. “If I had had a mentor growing up, my life would have beenvery different. All I was ever taught by my grandmother were traditional andoom to Read’s social mobilizers work in places as far apart as thesnowy mountains of the Himalayas all the way to the hot, sunnygrasslands of East Africa. From childhoods spent making their own way insocieties that, historically, have not valued education for daughters, today
these women are mentors, advisors, friends, and teachers. They’ve used life
skills like courage and creative problem-solving to build careers serving girls

from their communities. From mentoring and looking at life options, totalking to families about the importance of education, to supporting a girlstanding up for her rights to government officials, social mobilizers
represent essential role models and advocates for many girls.
Tafatia could not openly talk to her mother as a teenager, or speak up for
herself. Nevertheless, growing up, she chose male friends who respected
women and respected her decisions. Tafatia is now a social mobilizer. “Now,
I teach girls open communication, and how to speak up,” Tafatia says. Oneof her life skills lessons on reproductive health and communicationencouraged a girl to get a medical test, which showed that she had HIV.
Her family had kept the secret from her. Today, she lives healthy and freely

cultural practices, nothing about expressing my feelings and navigating myteen years,” says Happyness.
Social mobilizer Megha’s mother was still in school when she was born,and she had to drop out. Their community was not always kind to the young
mother, but she was determined to give Megha a better life. Megha’s
mother and grandmother believed in her, and supported her to finish her
education at any cost. Megha even remembers having to outmaneuver wild
animals on her daily three-hour walk to school! She became fearless. “I see
myself in the perseverance of the girls I mentor,” Megha says. “Helping themlearn to think critically and get out of their shell is a joyful feeling.” Herproudest moment was when a girl who was bullied for her dark skin,declared, “I don’t want to be fair, I want to be fearless.”
Every single girl in this book shared that, in addition to her hero, her social
mobilizer is one of the most important people in her life. The service of these
women is mighty, proving that when Rebel Girls of all ages across the world
join hands to support each other, anything is possible.
ILLUSTRATION BY
TATSIANA BURGAUDW R I T E YO U R S T O R Y

D R AW YO U R P O R T R A I T

56

57

ROOM TO READ’STEN KEY LIFE SKILLSLife skills are the knowledge, attitudes, and abilities that enable us toeffectively address challenges and make decisions in our everyday lives—

6. DECISION-MAKING: the ability to make a decision by carefully
thinking through all the possible outcomes it could lead towhether at home, school, work, or in the larger community. Learn more
about some of the life skills Room to Read focuses on in the list below.
1. SELF-CONFIDENCE: the ability to recognize your own value as aperson, to know how to rely on yourself, and to be aware that you
deserve a good life

7. PERSEVERANCE: the ability to continue to strive toward achievinga goal, even in the face of obstacles
8. COMMUNICATION: the ability to make yourself understood,
and to listen and understand what is being said to you—good

2. EXPRESSING AND MANAGING EMOTIONS: the ability to identify
your emotions, understand how emotions affect thoughts andcommunication means both speaking effectively and listening
effectively to others

behaviors, and to share them with other people
9. CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING: the ability to imagine or identify
3. EMPATHY: the ability to recognize the emotions experienced bydifferent possible solutions to a problem

other people—that is, to imagine what they are experiencing andthen relate to them in a compassionate way

10. BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS: the ability to maintain existing
relationships with other people in a healthy and positive way, and

4. SELF-CONTROL: the ability to control your emotions and behave

to form new, healthy, and positive relationships

appropriately in all life’s situations
5. CRITICAL THINKING: the ability to evaluate information, opinions,and beliefs, and to consider a problem f rom different points of
view

58

59

U N D E R S TA N D I N G

E XP L O R I N G L I F E S K I L L S

LIFE SKILLSDevina from Tanzania, Keya from Bangladesh, and Senghong from
Which 1–2 of these life skills do you think are the most useful or

Cambodia. All these girls have different stories, but they used their life skills

helpful to you right now? Why?

to overcome obstacles and create positive change.
What life skills did you notice Devina, Keya, and Senghong
demonstrate in their stories that were similar to one another?

Which of these life skills do you think are currently yourstrengths?
What life skills did you notice Devina, Keya, and Senghong
demonstrate in their stories that were different from each other?

Which 1–2 of these life skills would you most like to further
develop or strengthen? Why?
How do you think Devina, Keya, and Senghong developed these life
skills? Who in their lives might have supported them?

60

61

W H O ’ S YO U R H E R O?

INTERVIEW A HEROI N YO U R L I F E

All of the girls you’ve read about had a hero or mentor—someone whoRole models and mentors are everywhere around us—they aren’t justinspired them and made a great impact in their lives and the lives of others.

famous or public figures. They can be found within our families, schools,

Who’s your hero or mentor? Draw a picture of this person below! Write theand local communities. Identify a local woman role model or mentor and3 qualities you most admire about this person somewhere in your drawing,interview her to get to know her better!

and share your completed drawing with a friend or family member.
Some questions you can ask:
What dreams or personal goals have you achieved?
What 2–3 skills helped you reach your goals?
What advice would you share to young girls about overcoming
challenges?
My interview notes:

62

63

P OW E R F U L Q U O T E S“J UST TRY, NO MATTERHOW HARD IT IS!”– MENGHORNG, CAMBODIA

All of the girls in the book, and their heroes, shared powerful quotes about
their life experience and advice for others. If you could share your own
personal quotes with others, what would they be?
My quotes:“STAND UP
FOR YOURSELF EVERY
CHANCE YOU GET.”– NEO, SOUTH AFRICA“D REAM BIG IRRESPECTIVE
OF YOUR SITUATION OR
SURROUNDINGS.”		– YA S H I KA , I N D I A

64

65

IDEAS FOR CHANGE
Positive change happens in big and small ways. Is there an important

TALK TO AN ELECTED OFFICIAL OR LEADER. Take the issue toissue affecting you or others in your community that you want to address,

your local leaders. Attend a meeting or speak directly with community

but are not sure where to start? Check out the ideas below for how you

and elected leaders about why the issue needs to be addressed.

can create change.

Raising the issue with those who have the influence or authority tomake decisions is an important step in getting your voice heard.

TALK ABOUT IT. Discuss the issue with your peers, teachers, andfamily, and share why the issue is important to you. Sharing yourthoughts and how you feel is a great first step to bring awareness tothe issue—and you might just learn that there are others who feel thesame way as you!

CREATE SOME ART. Draw, paint, design, and choreograph about
the issue to raise awareness. Whether you make posters, complete amural, or dance, visual materials and storytelling are compelling andfun ways to engage others.

ORGANIZE FRIENDS AND SCHOOLMATES. Gather a group of
START A PETITION. Collect signatures from people who support
your issue. Petitions can show that a large number of people believe

friends and peers to help support you in tackling part of the issue.
More people involved means more support.

the issue is also important to them and want to support change.

WRITE A LETTER OR ESSAY. Put all your thoughts down on paper!
Write about the issue, how it affects you and others, and what you
think should change. Share this letter or essay with your teacher, thelocal newspaper, or a community leader.

66

67

LEADING THROUGH ACTION

T H E A U T H O R S A N D I L L U S T R AT O R S

All around the world, girls—like YOU—are exercising their leadership skills!

MARTHA ADAMS is a celebrated multimedia storyteller from the UNITED

Many of the girls and women featured in this book overcame adversity and

STATES with a focus on gender equality. 10, 14, 34, 46

challenges, and often initiated positive change in the process. They took
action to solve a problem and improve the situation for themselves andothers. What inspires you to take action?
Can you think of 1–2 issues in your local school or community that could
be improved or changed?

AVERY GIRION is an award-winning writer living in the UNITED STATES
with a love for comedy, television, and telling women-focused stories. 6, 18,
42, 50AIMEE MORALES writes and edits poetry and non-fiction pieces. As thefounder of the Freelance Writers’ Guild of the PHILIPPINES, she is an ardent
writers’ rights advocate. 12, 20, 24, 44, 48
ANURADHA SHARMA is an award-winning writer from NEPAL who writes
charming, funny, and action-packed stories. Her latest story was named abest book by The Guardian. 16, 22, 26, 42, 52
LORATO TROK is a lauded children’s book author from SOUTH AFRICA witha focus on telling authentic African stories. She is also an experienced editor,translator, and publisher. 8, 28, 30, 32, 38, 40, 54–55

Twenty-five extraordinary women and nonbinary artists from all over the
What is the first step you might take to address this issue?

world illustrated the portraits in this book. Here are their names:
ANNALISA VENTURA, Tanzania, cover

TYLA MASON, South Africa, 31

NICOLE KAMBI, Tanzania, 7

ANOVUYO MALI, South Africa, 33

ANDINA SUBARJA, Indonesia, 9

BANDANA TULACHAN, Nepal, 35

KATHERINE AHMED, U.S.A., 11, 15

DALILA ROVAZZANI, U.K., 37

MONTSE GALBANY, Spain, 13

KASIA BOGDANSKA, Poland, 39

NABILA ADANI, Indonesia, 17

DEBORA ISLAS, Brazil, 41

HANNAH PECK, U.K. and BONNIE TAYLORSONIA LAZO, El Salvador, 43

FORSYTH, Australia, 19

MICHELLE D’URBANO, Zambia, 45, 49

SARAH SAIYARA, Bangladesh, 21

JUEN TIEN, Vietnam, 47

JOANNE DERTILI, U.K. & Greece, 23

TASNEEM AMIRUDDIN, India, 51

KRIS DURAN, Venezuela & U.S.A., 25

SAMIDHA GUNJAL, India, 53

KATHRIN HONESTA, Indonesia, 27

TATSIANA BURGAUD, France, 54–55

JANET PAGLIUCA, Venezuela, 29

68

69

ABOUT ROOM TO READABOUT REBEL GIRLS

Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated

REBEL GIRLS is a global, multi-platform empowerment brand dedicatedChildren®, ROOM TO READ is creating a world free from illiteracy andto helping raise the most inspired and confident generation of girls

gender inequality. We are achieving this goal by providing support during

through content, experiences, products, and community. Originating fromthe two most critical time periods in a child’s education: primary school for

an international bestselling children’s book, Rebel Girls amplifies stories ofliteracy acquisition and secondary school for girls’ education.

real-life, extraordinary women throughout history, geography, and field ofexcellence.

Our Literacy Program trains and coaches teachers, creates quality books andcurricular materials, and establishes libraries filled with diverse children’sWith a growing community of 20 million self-identified Rebel Girlsbooks in local languages that can be enjoyed at school and at home.

spanning more than 100 countries, the brand engages with Generation
Alpha through its book series, premier app, events, and merchandise.

Our Girls’ Education Program helps girls build skills to succeed in secondary

To date, Rebel Girls has sold more than 8 million books in 49 languages

school and make key life decisions by providing life skills curriculum,

and reached 18 million digital audio listens. Rebel Girls award recognition

opportunities for mentorship and peer support, and family and community

includes New York Times bestseller list, 2022 Apple Design Award forengagement.

Social Impact, multiple Webby Awards for Family & Kids and Education,a Common Sense Selection, and iHeartRadio podast nomination among

We deliver additional remote solutions that leverage local logisticalmany others.

infrastructure, broadcast media networks, and internet-based technologies
to facilitate learning beyond the classroom. Room to Read collaborates with

JOIN THE REBEL GIRLS’ COMMUNITY:

local communities, partner organizations, and governments to test andWeb: rebelgirls.com

implement innovative models that can be integrated into the education

Facebook: facebook.com/rebelgirls

system to deliver positive outcomes for children at scale. To date, RoomInstagram: @rebelgirls

to Read has benefited more than 32 million children, and has worked in
more than 49,000 communities and 21 countries, including Bangladesh,
Cambodia, Grenada, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Italy, Jordan, Laos,

Twitter: @rebelgirlsbook
Podcast: rebelgirls.com/podcast

Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Rwanda, South Africa, Sri Lanka,
Tanzania, Uganda, United States, Vietnam, and Zambia. Room to Read plans
to benefit 40 million children by 2025.

If you liked this book, please take a moment to review it wherever
you prefer!

Learn more at www.roomtoread.org.

70

71

ABOUT THE ROOM TO READ
A N D R E B E L G I R L S PA R T N E R S H I PWhen two women CEOs committed to creating a more gender-equal
world cross paths, creativity ignites with phenomenal results. The idea
for this collection started when Dr. Geetha Murali, CEO of Room to Read,and Jes Wolfe, CEO of Rebel Girls, met in a networking group. They soon
realized that they had a lot in common: both lead organizations focusedon inspiring young women to reach for their dreams. Both recognize theextraordinary power of storytelling to change how we see the world–
and to change history.
Together, Geetha and Jes initiated a partnership to showcase thestories of young women who are rarely in the spotlight, but regularly
demonstrate remarkable courage as they advocate for themselves andtheir futures. Under this partnership, Room to Read collects the real-life
tales of participants in their Girls’ Education Programs who have usedtheir life skills to overcome enormous obstacles and create positivechange for themselves, their families, and their communities. Rebel
Girls then publishes these narratives using their robust array of media
channels, providing girls around the world with access to stories thatspark the imagination, invite reflection, and reinforce the inner strength
all girls possess.
This book is one of several creative collaborations that the organizations
have embarked on. The collection is being translated into numerous
languages and incorporated into the curriculum of Room to Read’s Girls’
Education Program. This collaboration is just one chapter in a dynamic
anthology of initiatives that highlight the magic that happens when girls
discover their own power and gain access to role models, both on thepage and in person.

72