Nelson Mandela once said, "There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children." I could not agree more. As a mom, human rights lawyer, and international development specialist, I believe that protecting and ensuring children's rights is one of the greatest duties of our generation. 

The vision of a world in which every child enjoys the right to smile, play, and learn resonates with me unlike anything else. So does the following statement by a child rights specialist Vanessa Tobin: "We should always unite where children are concerned and put their rights and needs at the heart of our efforts. When we do so, we create a society that is not only best for children, but best for all."    

Promoting the right to education, especially among girl children who tend to be disadvantaged in their access to quality schooling, is one of four social good causes that are particularly close to my heart. The other three include ending violence against women and girls; suppressing trafficking in persons; and ensuring the right of children and their families to the highest attainable standard of health, especially in relation to HIV/AIDS and maternal mortality and morbidity. 

There are many organizations that do absolutely amazing, hard, and often dangerous work to ensure that all children and their families live dignified, healthy lives, free of human rights violations, poverty, hunger, homelessness, and illiteracy. I have a privilege to work for one of them, and I cannot wait to share their success stories, challenges, and innovative, cutting-edge initiatives that make the world a better place for children and all of us. 

One of the most fascinating developments of the recent times is the growing role of new technologies and social media in solving the world's greatest challenges. "Stories told through social media help drive global discussions on issues like sustainable development and climate change," says Andy Shuai Liu of the International Journalists' Network in a blog post, How Social Media Inspires Global Development.

In two days I will have an amazing opportunity to attend the Social Good Summit, which will once again showcase the unparalleled effects of people connected through social media and technology to change the world. The conference website promises the event to be more engaging than ever. People from around the world, in both the developed and the developing world, will unite in person and online to participate in The Global Conversation – the world’s largest discourse on how technology can grow communities and improve life for all of us as we move toward being a networked society.   

       

The social good causes I am committed to, and the fascination with social media, have recently drawn me to join an amazing initiative, Mom Bloggers for Social Good. Launched in January 2012, Mom Bloggers for Social Good is a global coalition of mom bloggers who "who care about spreading the good news about the amazing work non-profit organizations and NGOs do around the world." The initiative proves that moms around the world can really make a difference.  

The concept behind our network is "simple and sustainable." The more of us, and the more we use our blogs as platforms for raising public awareness about notable organizations and their work across the globe, the better chance their message will spread across our networks, and across our networks' networks. This chain reaction will likely produce an effect which a TV, radio, or newspaper ad will never accomplish. That's because social interaction translates creative thinking and passion into real action. That's activism at its core, and it can be amazingly effective.