by Mayra Vazquez for the "Women + Girls Leading the Way" series
"Women + Girls Leading the Way" is a series where, once a month, we'll take a look at amazing young individuals who have made a positive impact in their own lives, their communities and beyond, in order to celebrate their work and gain inspiration!
At the age of 13, Melissa took a trip to Mongolia to visit relatives that would open her eyes up to a major problem. She noticed that there was a lack of education resources and realized that major improvements needed to be done in the education system. She noted how her cousin and her classmates, "with big dreams of becoming lawyers, doctors, and scientists, attended schools with sparse textbooks." Once she was aware of this issue, she knew she had to act.
Back home, she started small and decided to collect some of her own favorite books to donate to students and schools in need. She then went around to her neighbors and managed to collect hundreds of books. This inspired her to create her 1000 Books For Project where she set out to collect 1000 books or more in order to donate to kids in Mongolia.
By the time she was 17 years old, she made it official and turned her project into a full nonprofit organization! Melissa believes that education and entrepreneurship can really change a person's life, and so she loves that she has the chance to provide students access to more resources and opportunities, as well as teaching them that "they have the power to create a better world".
Today, her organization is operating in at least 9 countries and impacting over 35,000 students. It was not easy for her to get to this point. Melissa has stated, "the first time I pitched to potential partners, my hands trembled and voice stuttered as I cried on stage. But I learned that it's okay to fail..." Fear and failure didn't stop her. She focused on what she wanted to do and took action.
If there is something she wants youth to know it's this: "I want youth to know that they can make an impact. Your socioeconomic status or cultural background does not determine where you will be in life. Work together to find solutions for problems in your community."
Check out this link to learn more about Melissa and her cause!
"Everyone deserves to have a fair and proper education."-Melissa Khasbagan
Who is your inspiration? Who should we write about next in our "Women + Girls Leading the Way" series? Share with us in the comments below! We'd also love to hear your topic ideas for our Step Up Blog!
