Its about 1.4 billion people around the world live on $1.25 a day. 70% of this group is made up of girls and women. Women are more likely to spend their incomes on food and children’s needs – research has shown that a child’s chances of survival increase by 20% when the mother controls the household budget.
Plan Philippines held the movie screening of “Rising Girl” at MyCinema Greenbelt 3 and the event was grace by Plan Interntional country director Carin van der Hor, Javad Amoozegar, country director of ACF International and Plan ambassador Bea Binene and ardent supporters of Plan International.
The movie tells the stories of nine girls from different parts of the world who face arranged marriages, child slavery, and other heartbreaking injustices. Despite these obstacles, the brave girls offer hope and inspiration. By getting an education, they’re able to break barriers and create change. Each girl’s story was written by a renowned writer from her native country.
“Girl Rising” is a groundbreaking film directed by Academy Award nominee Richard Robbins and the award-winning Documentary Group, in association with Paul Allen’s Vulcan Productions comes Girl Rising – an innovative new feature film about the power of education to change a girl – and the world which tells the stories of 9 extraordinary girls from 9 countries. With voice performances by Anne Hathaway, Cate Blanchett, Selena Gomez, Liam Neeson, Priyanka Chopra, Chloe Moretz, Salma Hayek, Alicia Keys, Freida Pinto, Kerry Washington and Meryl Streep, “Girl Rising” showcases the strength of the human spirit and the power of education to change the world.
The film spotlights unforgettable girls like Sokha, an orphan who rises from the dumps of Cambodia to become a star student and an accomplished dancer; Suma, who composes music to help her endure forced servitude in Nepal and today crusades to free others; and Ruksana, an Indian “pavement-dweller” whose father sacrifices his own basic needs for his daughter’s dreams. Each girl is paired with a renowned writer from her native country. Edwidge Danticat, Sooni Taraporevala Aminatta Forna and others tell the girls’ stories, each in it’s style, and all with profound resonance. These girls are each unique, but the obstacles they faced are ubiquitous. Like the 66 million girls around the world who dream of going to school, what Sokha, Suma, Ruksana and the rest want most is to be students: to learn. And now, And now, by sharing their personal journeys, they have become teachers. Watch Girl Rising, and you will see: One girl with courage is a revolution.
Despite efforts by the government and organizations to ensure the protection of children and to provide for their special needs, more help is needed to uplift the situation of children in the Philippines because of widespread poverty, especially in the rural areas, and social inequality. According to a recent study by Plan International, girl children from poor families are disadvantaged and fall prey to child labor, exploitation and lack of access to basic services primarily because of their status in life.
Advocacies and campaigns that benefit women and children still need to be deepened and shared with the vast public. By documenting moving examples of how education can help fight gender inequality, promote girls’ rights and lift millions out of poverty, “Girl Rising” complements Plan International’s global five-year campaign, Because I am a Girl (BIAAG).