“If we unleash the potential of the world’s girls and young women, we will unleash a powerful force that will bring lasting change to all corners of the globe.”
Michelle Bachelet
Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women
HerCampus William and Mary had the opportunity to screen Girl Rising, a documentary by 10×10, an initiative for global girls’ education in partnership with Intel. The documentary told the stories of nine girls from different parts of the world and showed how education changed their lives. It showed girls fighting for their right to an education and the choices it afford them.
Educating girls is one of the most effective ways to address global poverty and health issues. The longer a girl stays in school, the more income she will earn, the healthier her children will be, the older she will be when she is married, and the more likely it is that their children will go to school. The education of girls is threatened by poverty, war, threat of violence, sexual assault, discrimination, and lack of healthy school conditions.
We are so privileged to have a chance at an education from one of the country’s greatest institutions of higher learning. Our education has not only enabled us reach for our dreams but also helped us to avoid childhood marriage, increased our earning potential granting us a level of financial independence. It has given us the opportunity to have a healthy life.
We were glad to be able to hear these girls’ stories, see a side of the world we have been lucky enough to not have to face personally, as a reminder to those of us who can walk into a classroom without fear that there are still girls out there who are not standing beside us facing a chalkboard.
Starting next semester, Her Campus William and Mary will be working to support She’s The First, a not-for-profit dedicated to funding and supporting the education of girls in developing countries.
For more information on hosting a screening of your own this summer, donating, and more, visit 10x10act.org