What Halle Berry Learned From Daughter Nahla

— -- Halle Berry learned a very important lesson from her daughter, Nahla, recently.

"This year, I went to Nicaragua and I took my now seven-year-old daughter Nahla with me," Berry, who traveled for the World Food Program, told an audience Saturday at Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA, where she was receiving an award. "And during that trip, what I realized as a parent is it’s my responsibility to teach children the importance of taking care of children."

Berry told the crowd her daughter saw many poor children in Nicaragua but was surprised to notice that they were still happy.

"She started to think, ‘Well, I don’t need two bikes, do I? Wow, I don’t need 15 American Girl dolls, do I? No,’" Berry said.

So when Berry, 48, and her daughter returned home, one of the first things Nahla did was pack up a number of her material possessions, including dolls and a bike, and send them to Nicaragua.

She then started a lemonade stand, which she continues twice a month, to raise money for children in need.

"I’m so proud of her," Berry told the audience. "It’s important to teach your children about caring for children."

Berry's daughter with ex Gabriel Aubry continues to inspire Berry to be a humanitarian, the Oscar winner said.

"[Children] are the most important, most vulnerable, most valuable assets that we have on the planet. To protect them is our duty," Berry said. “Whether we have children or not, it is our responsibility."

The actress is also mother to Maceo, 18 months, with husband Olivier Martinez.