Girl Rising: Breaking cycles of poverty by empowering girls
(All Photos Courtesy of Girl
Rising)
MR: What are the objectives of Girl
Rising?
Rising?
GR: Girl Rising is a global campaign for
girls’ education and empowerment. We use the power of storytelling to change
the way the world sees and values girls. Together, with partners, we launch
high profile campaigns to bring visibility to the issues girls face and inspire
people to dismantle the barriers that hold them back. Girl Rising has launched
campaigns in India, Nigeria, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the
United States, and we continue to expand our efforts to other places where our
message is timely and where unleashing the full potential of girls will result
in improved health, prosperity and stability for everyone.
girls’ education and empowerment. We use the power of storytelling to change
the way the world sees and values girls. Together, with partners, we launch
high profile campaigns to bring visibility to the issues girls face and inspire
people to dismantle the barriers that hold them back. Girl Rising has launched
campaigns in India, Nigeria, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the
United States, and we continue to expand our efforts to other places where our
message is timely and where unleashing the full potential of girls will result
in improved health, prosperity and stability for everyone.
MR: What are the most important things
for girls to fight poverty? How can education change the world?
for girls to fight poverty? How can education change the world?
GR: The
barriers holding girls back look very different community to community so this
is a challenging question. Still, when it comes down to it, we believe that
education is one of the most critical tools for girls to fight poverty. There is
an increasingly powerful body of research showing the positive effects of
education on a girl herself and also for her family, community, country and our
world. This narrative deserves repeating. Educated girls grow up to have
healthier children, whose children are also more likely to be educated and
healthy. Every additional year of secondary school raises a girl’s future
income by 10-20 percent. It makes perfect economic sense. Educated girls are
more likely to speak up for themselves and understand their rights. One could
argue too that if more boys and men see more educated and empowered girls, they
would be less likely to view women as objects, view women as inferior and view
women as those without potential from the classroom to the boardroom. All of
these contribute to breaking cycles of poverty and enhancing access to
opportunity.
barriers holding girls back look very different community to community so this
is a challenging question. Still, when it comes down to it, we believe that
education is one of the most critical tools for girls to fight poverty. There is
an increasingly powerful body of research showing the positive effects of
education on a girl herself and also for her family, community, country and our
world. This narrative deserves repeating. Educated girls grow up to have
healthier children, whose children are also more likely to be educated and
healthy. Every additional year of secondary school raises a girl’s future
income by 10-20 percent. It makes perfect economic sense. Educated girls are
more likely to speak up for themselves and understand their rights. One could
argue too that if more boys and men see more educated and empowered girls, they
would be less likely to view women as objects, view women as inferior and view
women as those without potential from the classroom to the boardroom. All of
these contribute to breaking cycles of poverty and enhancing access to
opportunity.
Of
course, this work has to be done in tandem with other interventions. Ensuring
girls have access to education is one thing, but ensuring that she is actually
safe, healthy and learning is another. The onset of puberty, security and
safety, paid work, domestic work, even transportation – these all bear on a
girls’ ability to continue schooling. The other main thing that a girl needs is
to be recognized as an individual with rights. In many places, attitudes,
behaviors and cultural practices suggest that a girl does not have the same
rights as her brother, that she is not worthy of schooling because her primary
role in life is to be someone’s wife, without any choice. Too often society
tells a girl, that just because of her gender, she deserves less. The most
empowering tool is to provide her with independence, value and agency to make
choices for herself.
course, this work has to be done in tandem with other interventions. Ensuring
girls have access to education is one thing, but ensuring that she is actually
safe, healthy and learning is another. The onset of puberty, security and
safety, paid work, domestic work, even transportation – these all bear on a
girls’ ability to continue schooling. The other main thing that a girl needs is
to be recognized as an individual with rights. In many places, attitudes,
behaviors and cultural practices suggest that a girl does not have the same
rights as her brother, that she is not worthy of schooling because her primary
role in life is to be someone’s wife, without any choice. Too often society
tells a girl, that just because of her gender, she deserves less. The most
empowering tool is to provide her with independence, value and agency to make
choices for herself.
For every person who does not receive access to equality application, that is a significant portion of our population that is un-employable or under-employable, less likely to access healthcare and basic resources, less likely to make informed decisions in an election, less likely to seek opportunities to be entrepreneurial and more. But education has many ripple effects. When people are educated, especially women who were previously denied access to education, household income is bolstered. A woman is more likely to invest back in her family and community than a man. This cumulative, multiplier effect is very meaningful both as an economic issue and a human rights issue.
MR: Why is story telling so important?
GR: The human mind
is wired for stories. Stories activate parts of our brains that facts don’t. They shape
how we see the world. Global crises can be difficult to comprehend. The numbers
can be overwhelming – millions of people displaced from their homes, millions
more children out of school, millions without proper healthcare or economic
opportunity. The list goes on. Storytelling
makes the foreign familiar by humanizing the numbers. Stories appeal to the
emotion and make taking action a mandatory next step Organizations
that work hard to build schools, provide scholarships, supplies, skills
and empowerment programming are crucial, but, if parents and communities
believe that a girl is not worthy of education, those resources will go
un-utilized. We’re here to help spread the word and provide opportunities to
create conversation. We also want to inspire others to see themselves in these
stories and to remember that they have power to make change for themselves and
their communities.
is wired for stories. Stories activate parts of our brains that facts don’t. They shape
how we see the world. Global crises can be difficult to comprehend. The numbers
can be overwhelming – millions of people displaced from their homes, millions
more children out of school, millions without proper healthcare or economic
opportunity. The list goes on. Storytelling
makes the foreign familiar by humanizing the numbers. Stories appeal to the
emotion and make taking action a mandatory next step Organizations
that work hard to build schools, provide scholarships, supplies, skills
and empowerment programming are crucial, but, if parents and communities
believe that a girl is not worthy of education, those resources will go
un-utilized. We’re here to help spread the word and provide opportunities to
create conversation. We also want to inspire others to see themselves in these
stories and to remember that they have power to make change for themselves and
their communities.
MR: Tell us about the film.
GR: From Academy Award-nominated director Richard E.
Robbins, Girl Rising journeys around the globe to witness the
strength of the human spirit and the power of education to change the world.
Viewers get to know nine unforgettable girls living in nine different countries
in the developing world: ordinary girls who confront tremendous challenges and
overcome nearly impossible odds to pursue their dreams. A writer from each
girls’ country penned her story and renowned actors give them voice. The
film was born in a search for how to end global poverty. And the answer was
pretty simple: educating girls is the highest-return investment you can make in
breaking cycles of poverty.The film stands at the heart of our campaign for
girls’ education and empowerment. It has been screened for millions of viewers,
government officials, students, parents, teachers, corporate leaders and more.
Robbins, Girl Rising journeys around the globe to witness the
strength of the human spirit and the power of education to change the world.
Viewers get to know nine unforgettable girls living in nine different countries
in the developing world: ordinary girls who confront tremendous challenges and
overcome nearly impossible odds to pursue their dreams. A writer from each
girls’ country penned her story and renowned actors give them voice. The
film was born in a search for how to end global poverty. And the answer was
pretty simple: educating girls is the highest-return investment you can make in
breaking cycles of poverty.The film stands at the heart of our campaign for
girls’ education and empowerment. It has been screened for millions of viewers,
government officials, students, parents, teachers, corporate leaders and more.
MR: How can people help Girl Rising?
GR: Global change begins with individual action. The best ways for
individuals to get involved is the spread the message in their local community.
We are stronger when we work together. For every girl out of school, there is
another person who does not realize that there are girls who do not have access
to education or equality. Use your voice and talent to help us create
meaningful change: spread the message, raise funds, and rally your community to
advocate in anyway you can.
individuals to get involved is the spread the message in their local community.
We are stronger when we work together. For every girl out of school, there is
another person who does not realize that there are girls who do not have access
to education or equality. Use your voice and talent to help us create
meaningful change: spread the message, raise funds, and rally your community to
advocate in anyway you can.
We have four easy ways to get involved to start:
Host a Screening. Share
the amazing stories of Girl Rising, and raise awareness about the importance of
girls’ education. Learn more
the amazing stories of Girl Rising, and raise awareness about the importance of
girls’ education. Learn more
Join us on social media: Help us
spread the word about the power of girls’ education. Follow Girl Rising on Facebook,
Twitter and Instagram and add your voice using
#girlrising.
spread the word about the power of girls’ education. Follow Girl Rising on Facebook,
Twitter and Instagram and add your voice using
#girlrising.
Make our work possible:
We use your donations to improve the lives of girls and empower the
voices of global education advocates. Give today.
We use your donations to improve the lives of girls and empower the
voices of global education advocates. Give today.
Explore our curriculum: Stories have power and
school is one of the first places that many of us learn our gender biases.
Explore the free tools and film
chapters and think about you can bring Girl Rising to your school, in your
volunteer work or even adapt for your company.
school is one of the first places that many of us learn our gender biases.
Explore the free tools and film
chapters and think about you can bring Girl Rising to your school, in your
volunteer work or even adapt for your company.
