I felt suicidal. I couldn't stop crying. I remember thinking, wouldn't it be great if the car crashed and I died?

All women, everywhere, have the same hopes: we want to be self-sufficient and create better lives for ourselves and our loved ones.

Around the world we have girls in primary school at about the same rate now as boys, but keeping them in quality secondary schools is where the world is lagging. I'm seeing a lot of countries look at this now.

When girls are educated and free to pursue their passions, they contribute more to a thriving society. When women have a voice, they raise it to demand a life that is greater than what they've been told they have a right to expect. And these demands change the future for everyone.

But iPods and iPhones are two things we don't get for our kids.

Women and girls should be able to determine their own future, no matter where they're born.

If you want to lift up an economy in Africa, you basically start with the women.