development

Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei (left) speaks during the signing ceremony of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank last year in Beijing. Getty Images hide caption

Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, and Asian leaders approved an agreement on the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in Beijing in Oct., 2014. European countries are beginning to sign up too. Takaki Yajima/AP hide caption

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama unveiled the Let Girls Learn program at the East Room of the White House on Tuesday. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption

David Hermlin is a singer, dancer, musician and songwriter — oh, and a global activist, too. Sample lyric: "I will fight for my dream, and I will never give up." Courtesy of David Hermlin hide caption

Random violence in Syria makes it a dangerous place for aid workers. This month, members of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent transported Syrians from a rebel area to a part of Aleppo controlled by the Assad regime. Baraa Al-Halabi/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

They're members of the global-minded teens club: (left to right) Toluwanimi Sola-Adeyemi of Lagos, Chloe McGill of Seattle and Emine Arcasoy of Chapel Hill. Courtesy of Tolu Sola-Adeyemi, Chloe McGill and Emine Arcasoy. hide caption

Degan Ali, a Somali-American humanitarian, describes herself on Twitter as a "social justice activist, Muslima." Courtesy of Adeso hide caption

Despite recent gains, Virunga's endangered mountain gorilla population is still under threat from poaching. Brent Stirton/Getty Images hide caption

John Mayer sings to tens of thousands at the 2013 Global Citizen Festival in Central Park. The event is part of an effort to end extreme poverty. Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images hide caption

Families carry their belongings while moving to higher ground in the Bardia region of Nepal during the flooding on Aug. 15. Bhabuk Yogi/AP hide caption