Photos celebrate the glory of girls on 'International Day of the Girl'

2 days ago

Alexander Jesus González Rodríguez, left, and his girl Yefreannys Isamar Muñoz López, right, activity connected mathematics equations adjacent nan Paso del Norte Bridge betwixt nan United States and Mexico wherever they walk clip during nan time arsenic they hold for their assignment via nan CBP One app successful Ciudad Juárez, Mexico connected June 30, 2023. (Photo by Danielle Villasana for The Washington Post)

This father-daughter infinitesimal is really ... homework. Alexander Jesus González Rodríguez and his girl Yefreannys Isamar Muñoz López of Venezuela activity connected mathematics equations adjacent nan Paso del Norte Bridge betwixt nan United States and Mexico. In this 2023 photograph, they were waiting for an assignment pinch nan U.S. Customs and Border Protection representatives. Danielle Villasana/‎ hide caption

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Danielle Villasana/‎

From nan flimsy grin connected Yefreannys Isamar Muñoz López's face, it mightiness beryllium a astonishment to study that she is moving connected mathematics equations pinch her dad. The photograph was made aft they had trekked hundreds of miles from Venezuela to nan United States-Mexico border, awaiting their migration appointment.

Yefreannys is 1 of galore girls whom Danielle Villasana has met arsenic a photojournalist moving astir nan world complete nan past decade, capturing images that show really girls and young women persist successful spite of nan issues and inequalities they face.

Villasana remembers: "She was conscionable truthful happy, truthful afloat of joy, not complaining, not upset."

It's a image that resonates connected October 11 – nan International Day of nan Girl connected nan United Nations almanac of typical days. Dedicating a time to girls, according to nan U.N., serves arsenic a "rallying outcry to spot girls for who they genuinely are, to perceive to their voices and to admit their limitless potential."

We're featuring a action of photos from Villasana's assemblage of activity complete nan years.

Villasana says she is successful awe of nan beardown tone of nan girls she's encountered. "I've met girls and women who person been kidnapped by militants aliases faced gender-based unit erstwhile migrating, who person camped successful vans going crossed hundreds of miles. It's conscionable astonishing that nan women and girls tin support pushing guardant contempt these incredible, really unthinkable challenges."

"I deliberation erstwhile fixed opportunity and support and acquisition and resources," she says, "women and girls are unstoppable." That's nan connection she hopes to nonstop pinch her photographs.

Judith Paola, 10, Nely Chambilla Huayta, 8, and Lisseth Carola Paredes Laura, 9. Out of 151 h2o samples precocious taken by nan World Health Organization passim Peru, much than 75 percent transcend nan recommended limit. In Huanucollo nan arsenic level is astir 50 times supra nan WHO-recommended level. Scientists estimate astir 14 cardinal group successful Latin America are exposed to drinking h2o pinch unsafe levels of arsenic.

Elementary students successful Peru return a break from their studies to bent retired pinch a llama. They unrecorded successful a organization facing precocious levels of arsenic successful their h2o supply. Danielle Villasana hide caption

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Danielle Villasana

Girls tally successful a section of poppies on nan roadworthy to nan monastery of Sapara successful Georgia. Danielle Villasana hide caption

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Danielle Villasana

Young girls publication and constitute astatine at nan Fufore IDP campy successful Yola, Nigeria, connected Oct. 7, 2016.

It's instruction clip astatine a campy for internally displaced group successful Yola, Nigeria. Danielle Villasana hide caption

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Danielle Villasana

On Aug. 8, 2016, successful Izmir, Turkey, children play extracurricular an abandoned storage that houses Syrian refugees who activity successful migrant labour camps for astir $8 a day. Because nan migrant camps move pinch nan harvests, location are nary coagulated structures and nary sewage aliases drainage systems. Thousands of Syrian refugees who person been smuggled into Turkey from Syria are recruited to activity arsenic migrant laborers connected farms scattered passim Turkey, pinch committedness of accommodations and pay. Upon arrival, however, their caller “homes” deficiency capable accommodation specified arsenic bathrooms, bedrooms aliases drainage and sewer systems. The unsuitable surviving conditions origin galore wellness issues, which tin beryllium particularly challenging for women and children.

Syrian refugees successful a migrant campy successful Izmir, Turkey, wherever their parents worked arsenic workplace laborers. Conditions successful these impermanent camps were challenging. Danielle Villasana/Redux hide caption

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Danielle Villasana/Redux

Children play successful nan organization of La Joya adjacent Puerto Maldonado, Peru, connected Aug. 26, 2015. A recently constructed road and lax onshore correct laws person led to deforestation and wide migration successful southeastern Peru.

Children play successful nan organization of La Joya adjacent Puerto Maldonado, Peru — an area that was disrupted by road construction. Danielle Villasana/Redux hide caption

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Danielle Villasana/Redux