--- title: International Day of the Girl Child description: Erica Newton Fessia, VP of Global Field Operations at FIRST, recognizes the role girls play in our society in celebration of International Day of the Girl. image: https://community.firstinspires.org/hubfs/MicrosoftTeams-image%20(3).png --- By Erica Newton Fessia, Vice President, Global Field Operations Today, on International Day of the Girl Child, we recognize the ever-important role women and girls play in our society. Girls worldwide continue to face a number of barriers, including education inequities, and it is all of our responsibility to champion and strengthen the access and participation of girls in science and technology fields. Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) is for everyone, STEM needs everyone. Girls must have the opportunity to discover and forge new pathways within science and technology and beyond. The development and success of our future relies on unique perspectives and problem-solvers. We must advocate for the equitable inclusion of girls to create meaningful breakthroughs and innovations. *FIRST* is committed to expanding the engagement and advancement of girls and women in STEM, without being exclusionary of the contributions of boys, men, and all people. To enhance the contributions of girls, as well as those of other underrepresented and underserved youth in STEM, we, and our Partners, continue to invest in them at all stages of their education journey, including their access to *FIRST* programs and experiences on teams. ** [STEM for Everyone](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/stem-for-everyone) #### Share it: [** ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://community.firstinspires.org/international-day-of-the-girl) [** ](https://twitter.com/share?url=https://community.firstinspires.org/international-day-of-the-girl) [** ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://community.firstinspires.org/international-day-of-the-girl) ![Default Author Image](https://community.firstinspires.org/hubfs/Community%20Blog%20v2/images/FIRST-author-icon.svg) Author [FIRST Staff](https://community.firstinspires.org/author/first) These blog posts have been contributed by members of *FIRST* staff. *FIRST* is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization headquartered in Manchester, N.H. ### Related Posts ** [STEM for Everyone](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/stem-for-everyone) All-Girls Libyan Teams Promote Gender Equality March 1, 2022 ** [STEM for Everyone](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/stem-for-everyone) "Girls of Steel: Fostering the Feminist Future of Robotics" (Ms. Magazine) July 25, 2019 Build the Future Spotlight: Girls of Steel February 8, 2022 ![](https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=1200203950045814&ev=PageView&noscript=1) ![](https://ct.pinterest.com/v3/?tid=2615041699514&noscript=1) ![](https://ct.pinterest.com/v3/?tid=2615041699514&event=PageVisit&noscript=1)