Years ago, while visiting Parliament Hill, I stopped to look at the statues of the Famous Five—the five Canadian women who fought to have women legally considered people. I was humbled and immensely grateful for all the work that had been done so that I could have a better life. I then turned, only to watch in horror as a man laughed while humping one of the statues, indifferent to what the monument stood for or how insulting it was. I’ve got a better life, I thought, especially since I live in Canada, but the actions of that man were a very small, very real testament to the fact that there is still so much work to be done, locally and globally.

With that work firmly in mind, Project Nanhi Kali understands that the fight is far from over. Initiated in 1997 by the K. C. Mahindra Education Trust (KCMET), the goal of the project is to educate underprivileged girls in India. Founded by Anand Mahindra, Project Nanhi Kali fervently believes that education is empowerment, and this empowerment can aid in the battle against child marriage, the dowry system, or, worse still, being sold into sex slavery.

Their latest endeavour, The Girl Store, an e-commerce charity, allows donors to help send an underprivileged girl go to school by purchasing them school supplies  including uniforms, shoes, workbooks, backpacks, and other inexpensive items (pencil sets and math tools are only $5) that will make a huge difference in a little girl’s life.

You can also help sponsor a girl’s entire academic year for only $60. She will receive the materials listed above as well as academic support while she learns math and languages. Seriously, how awesome is that?

A wonderful, worthwhile cause, The Girl Store reminds us that gestures are relative: even the smallest ones for us can mean the world to someone else.