Global girl power comes to Sydney

Young women from each of the Group of 20 largest economies are in Sydney to form proposals aimed at convincing G20 leaders to invest more in girls and women.

The Girls 20 Summit was launched at the Clinton Global Initiative in 2009, with the aim of tapping female potential as key to economic growth, political stability and social innovation.

Founder Farah Mohamed says "3.5 Billion girls and women globally is a serious resource".

And with the G20 still focussed on recovering from financial crisis - and Australia as G20 Chair set on an extra 2 % lift in global growth - how can you do that without your resources firing on all levels?"

Through workshops and mentoring, it's hoped the girls will also develop the skills to begin their own social initiatives back home.

Keynote speaker at today's official opening was UNICEF's National Ambassador to Ethiopia, 16-year-old Ethiopian-born Canadian, Hannah Godefa.

At age seven she began an initiative to boost school supplies for Ethiopian classrooms.

Her advice to delegates was "Start small and locally, using the power of social media".