Dear Mr President…

We asked five girls who attended the World Conference on Youth to tell their leaders how to make the Girl Effect happen.

Angeli Siladan’s memo to President Benigno Aquino III, Philippines

Participating in a hackathon (an event where participants find new ways of turning data into useful tools) made me see the vast imagination of girls and their eagerness to tackle problems using technologies. I want to urge you to invest in quality education for girls. Available, accessible and quality education will bridge the gap between girls and women, and success.

Hilary Clauson’s memo to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Canada

Education in Canada must encourage women to enter science and engineering to increase the number of career choices open to them. Formal education should be complemented by non-formal education opportunities that teach leadership skills and empower girls to take an active role in their communities.

Chamathya Fernando’s memo to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka

For girls and young women to have access to equal opportunities and the ability to make our own decisions, boys and men are essential. Please consider girls' and women's empowerment as key priorities. Promote female representation in parliament to enable girls and young women to become future leaders. For this to happen, law and order needs to be effective, efficient, transparent, accurate and unbiased.

Elisabeth Chatuwa’s memo to Peter Mutharika, President of Malawi

The government can achieve equal access to quality education by opening more girls' schools and providing free education. I think the curriculum should include lessons on the effects of HIV, child marriage and early pregnancy to give girls information they need to make life-changing decisions.

Do you have a message for the leader of your country? Tell us what it would be by sending an email to info@girleffect.org