Plan USA’s We Are the Girls campaign

Thanks to hundreds of thousands of donors like you, we exceeded our goal to raise $200M in support of projects designed for and with girls.

Campaign overview

5
years.
$205 million
raised.
15.5 million
lives impacted.

I have been so inspired not only by the girls themselves, but also by those who saw the potential of girls and have supported this campaign. I am excited to see what can be accomplished next!

— Vicki Escarra

Boston Consulting Group Senior Advisor, Plan USA We Are the Girls campaign cabinet chair

Plan’s We Are the Girls’ campaign supported projects around the world in the 80+ countries where we work.

or click on one of highlighted countries on the map.

Plan’s We Are the Girls campaign is shifting the power to change the world to girls like us, and we’re more than ready to take on that responsibility together.

Lily, a young White woman with blonde hair, looks at the camera with a closed-mouth smile.

— Lily

Plan USA Youth Leadership Academy participant

I believe that girls can change the world, make a better world for everyone, but we need the support of others. Because we girls are brave warriors.

Maria Alejandra, a young Bolivian woman, smiles at the camera, wearing a black t-shirt tucked into black distressed jeans.

— Maria Alejandra

Young feminist activist working with Plan in Bolivia

“The project has changed my life,” Dayana, who participated in one of the Plan projects supported by the campaign in El Salvador, says. “Knowing about issues of gender, violence and others have made me see the world differently, and having participated in other spaces helped me feel more secure in my abilities and skills. I have developed my inner power and it has allowed me to be a leader in my community to empower more girls.”
“The project has changed my life,” Dayana, who participated in one of the Plan projects supported by the campaign in El Salvador, says. “Knowing about issues of gender, violence and others have made me see the world differently, and having participated in other spaces helped me feel more secure in my abilities and skills. I have developed my inner power and it has allowed me to be a leader in my community to empower more girls.”

One of the projects supported by Plan’s We Are the Girls campaign in Egypt incorporated art into its activities, including organizing girls to paint a series of murals on walls and waiting areas at the bus stop featuring colorful and inspirational images about girls’ safety. “We have learned that by art we can express our feelings without uttering a sound,” Mona, one of the project’s participants, said.
One of the projects supported by Plan’s We Are the Girls campaign in Egypt incorporated art into its activities, including organizing girls to paint a series of murals on walls and waiting areas at the bus stop featuring colorful and inspirational images about girls’ safety. “We have learned that by art we can express our feelings without uttering a sound,” Mona, one of the project’s participants, said.

Carmen*, a 16-year-old girl from Venezuela, migrated to Mexico with her family. Plan’s We Are the Girls campaign supported activities in the shelter where they were staying, providing psychosocial support and protection services. “Plan International helped me see what I want for myself,” she says. “I have to take care of myself so that I don’t damage my future and can get ahead in life.”
Carmen*, a 16-year-old girl from Venezuela, migrated to Mexico with her family. Plan’s We Are the Girls campaign supported activities in the shelter where they were staying, providing psychosocial support and protection services. “Plan International helped me see what I want for myself,” she says. “I have to take care of myself so that I don’t damage my future and can get ahead in life.”

*Carmen’s name was changed for her safety.

Eliza, 23, participated in Plan’s Connection to Success project in Guatemala, supported by the We Are the Girls campaign. Through the project, she got a job at a hotel kitchen. “I feel happy for the space I have been given in the Connection to Success project,” Eliza says. “My mom says she sees changes in my life. I tell her what I learned in the employment sessions. She tells me not to stop, to put everything into practice, and to keep growing.”
Eliza, 23, participated in Plan’s Connection to Success project in Guatemala, supported by the We Are the Girls campaign. Through the project, she got a job at a hotel kitchen. “I feel happy for the space I have been given in the Connection to Success project,” Eliza says. “My mom says she sees changes in my life. I tell her what I learned in the employment sessions. She tells me not to stop, to put everything into practice, and to keep growing.”

Roshani, 19, lives in a town in Nepal that borders India. Through Plan’s PROTECT project supported by the We Are the Girls campaign, she became an active campaigner against human trafficking, spreading awareness in her community. “I believe that we have been trusted with the work we continue to do in our community,” Roshani says. “I now realize that all the dots are connected to form one line.”
Roshani, 19, lives in a town in Nepal that borders India. Through Plan’s PROTECT project supported by the We Are the Girls campaign, she became an active campaigner against human trafficking, spreading awareness in her community. “I believe that we have been trusted with the work we continue to do in our community,” Roshani says. “I now realize that all the dots are connected to form one line.”

Era, 23, started a business selling ornamental plants in Indonesia, with support from the We Are the Girls campaign for the GIRL 2.0 project. Now, she encourages other young people to follow in her footsteps with this advice: “Don’t be afraid to start a business. By becoming an entrepreneur, we can improve our family’s well-being, and ourselves as well.”
Era, 23, started a business selling ornamental plants in Indonesia, with support from the We Are the Girls campaign for the GIRL 2.0 project. Now, she encourages other young people to follow in her footsteps with this advice: “Don’t be afraid to start a business. By becoming an entrepreneur, we can improve our family’s well-being, and ourselves as well.”

Kadiatou, 17, participated in Plan’s Girls Learn & Thrive project in Senegal, supported by the We Are the Girls campaign. Through the project, she learned about online safety and gained skills for talking to adults about sensitive issues like child marriage. “Before the project arrived in my community, many girls did not have the opportunity to openly discuss with parents on taboo issues,” Kadiatou says. “Many girls did not have phones and were unaware of the dangers they face on social media. The project allowed me to gain more knowledge on how to manage my [digital] fingerprint, how to talk with our parents about issues often considered taboo, to advocate for my rights as a young girl.”
Kadiatou, 17, participated in Plan’s Girls Learn & Thrive project in Senegal, supported by the We Are the Girls campaign. Through the project, she learned about online safety and gained skills for talking to adults about sensitive issues like child marriage. “Before the project arrived in my community, many girls did not have the opportunity to openly discuss with parents on taboo issues,” Kadiatou says. “Many girls did not have phones and were unaware of the dangers they face on social media. The project allowed me to gain more knowledge on how to manage my [digital] fingerprint, how to talk with our parents about issues often considered taboo, to advocate for my rights as a young girl.”

Patricia, 16, participated in The Graduation Project, supported by the campaign in Zimbabwe. This program built two dormitories for girls to stay closer to school and provided scholarships to cover their school expenses. “My school fees are being paid for me by the project and this has given me a peace of mind, as I have no worries over being turned away from school,” Patricia says. “I have more time channeled to my education.”
Patricia, 16, participated in The Graduation Project, supported by the campaign in Zimbabwe. This program built two dormitories for girls to stay closer to school and provided scholarships to cover their school expenses. “My school fees are being paid for me by the project and this has given me a peace of mind, as I have no worries over being turned away from school,” Patricia says. “I have more time channeled to my education.”

There’s a saying that says if you educate a woman, you educate a nation. If I’m educated, I’ll change my community, because they believe that only boys should be educated and girls are only here to bear children. I want to be an example.

Amanda, a young Zimbabwean woman, smiles for the camera while wearing her school uniform, which includes a navy blue blazer over a light blue collared shirt and a navy blue tie.

— Amanda

Plan project participant in Zimbabwe

Plan International USA

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Your gift to Plan International USA will be used where needed most, to help create sustainable change and address the root causes of poverty and inequality. Donations can support programs, innovation, and infrastructure required to deliver our programs to girls and children worldwide, in areas such as protection, education, health, sanitation, disaster relief and economic empowerment.