Amid all the facts and figures about how girls and women hold the key to eradicating extreme poverty (and they do!), it’s always exciting to hear stories about real people who are working hard, right now, to empower women all over the world.

In honor of Girls and Women Month, our partners at TakePart World put together this video featuring three such stories from around East Africa. Watch as women’s advocates, community leaders, and inspired individuals work to promote women’s rights, spark female entrepreneurship, and encourage family planning—all in the name of making this world a better place for the 3.5 billion girls and women who call it home.

I was especially struck by the segment at 00:20. The video shows how, in Rwanda, women have had the right to own land for over a decade—and yet, 80% still do not know their rights! It’s an important reminder that, while advocating to get fair laws on the books is a crucial first step, it takes trailblazing individuals at the ground level to put those laws into the hands of the women so they can make the law work for them.  

Watch the video, get inspired, and sign up to Global Citizen. Throughout the month of June you’ll get a whole lot more stories, insights and opportunities to take action in support of girls and women worldwide.