Honoring Girls Worldwide on 'International Day of the Girl'

Captured in a photo, a young girl from Venezuela, Yefreannys Isamar Muñoz López, joins her father, Alexander Jesus González Rodríguez, in solving math problems as they linger near the Paso del Norte Bridge, bordering the United States and Mexico. This image, taken in 2023, shows their wait for an immigration meeting with U.S. authorities.

The subtle smile on Yefreannys's face might surprise those who realize it masks the challenge of trekking from Venezuela to the Mexico-U.S. border. They're prepared for their immigration appointment, enduring arduous miles along the way.

Throughout a decade of global travels, photojournalist Danielle Villasana has met many girls like Yefreannys. Her camera captures the perseverance of these girls facing numerous challenges and societal hurdles.

Villasana reflects, "Her joy was infectious; she didn't have a single complaint or trace of anger."

This image, particularly meaningful on October 11—the UN's International Day of the Girl—serves as a powerful reminder. The day calls on us all to truly witness the strength, hear the voices, and understand the immense potential girls hold.

We highlight several photographs from Villasana's extensive collection.

Villasana finds inspiration in the resilience she sees in these girls. "I've encountered girls who have been kidnapped, experienced gender violence while migrating, or journeyed vast distances in cramped vehicles. Despite facing incredible adversity, their determination astounds me."

She dreams of a world where girls and women, with access to education and resources, can achieve anything: "Given the right opportunities and backing, they are unstoppable," Villasana declares. Her photos embody this message.

In Peru, young schoolgirls take time off from learning to enjoy the company of a llama, revealing a slice of life in a community grappling with contaminated water.

In Georgia, girls dash through a vibrant poppy field leading to the Sapara monastery.

A lesson is underway at a camp in Yola, Nigeria, hosting internally displaced children.

Syrian children reside in a migrant camp in Izmir, Turkey, where their families work on farms. Life in these provisional settlements proves to be arduous.

In La Joya, near Puerto Maldonado, Peru, highway construction disrupted life, but children continue to play and explore.

In a violence-stricken region of Honduras, children make their daily walk to school in the Bajo Aguán region.