Int'l Day of the Girl Child: White House Honours Indian-American Teen Gitanjali Rao

NEW YORK: Gitanjali Rao, a 17-year-old Indian-American, along with 14 other young women leaders, was celebrated and honoured by US First Lady Jill Biden for their role in driving change and contributing to a brighter future within their communities nationwide. The occasion was the "Girls Leading Change" celebration held at the White House on the International Day of the Girl Child.

Jill Biden, a veteran educator of over 30 years, commented in a White House statement, "It is my honor to celebrate this exceptional group of 'Girls Leading Change' at the White House. These young women are protecting and preserving the earth, writing and sharing stories that change minds, and turning their pain into purpose. Together, they represent the potential of young people across the country, and it is my hope that others can learn from the power of their innovation, strength, and hope."

Gitanjali Rao, a freshman at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has gained recognition as a scientist and inventor. Her groundbreaking lead contamination detection tool earned her an EPA Presidential Award and the title of America's Top Young Scientist by Discovery Education/3M. Her book, 'Young Innovator's Guide to STEM,' outlining a prescriptive five-step innovation process, is used globally as part of STEM curricula in select schools. Rao remains dedicated to both her career as a scientist and inventor, as well as expanding her STEM education initiative, which has already reached more than 80,000 elementary, middle, and high school students, as mentioned in a White House release.

These 15 young women leaders were carefully chosen by the White House Gender Policy Council. The Biden-Harris administration has revealed a series of new initiatives aimed at bolstering support for young people and broadening opportunities for women and girls both at home and abroad. These initiatives encompass advancing girls' education on a global scale through USAID, promoting STEM skills and girls' leadership, empowering girls to influence the future of AI, tackling global child marriage, addressing the risks girls face concerning HIV/AIDS, and reducing risks for girls within the juvenile justice system, among other efforts.

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