Girl Rising Movie Showing

 

Written by Jessica Baker

 

In the hushed Olmsted Theater, a projector was set to unveil an equally hushed… problem? Epidemic? Violation? Even now, I struggle for the right word to define what Girl Rising addresses through its mosaic of powerful stories told from girls in the developing world. From India, Haiti, Peru, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Egypt, Nepal, Sierra Leone, and Cambodia, these girls bravely shared and presented their stories to shed light on … a Truth. Yes, that is the right word. Truth. Yet, it is often not discussed in public spheres—until now.

 

Released in 2013, Girl Rising sought to declare a profound Truth: “educating girls in the developing world can transform families, communities, entire countries and break the cycle of poverty in just one generation.” This is no easy goal to accomplish for girls though, since they face more barriers in education than boys do. However, Girl Rising takes a big step toward breaking these barriers via spreading these girl’s stories to the world.

 

Despite the film’s focus on girls from the developing world, these stories can be relatable to children even in America. While American schools are an excellent avenue for education, many students still face extra barriers, such as the estimated sixteen million American children facing poverty issues, according to Teach For America. Yet, barriers offer a common ground for people in the developing and developed worlds to come together and fight for excellent education for all. Also awareness of the extreme barriers others face allows for children in the developed world to understand their privilege in education. Awareness is the first step in letting this Truth shine and I believe Girl Rising takes it hand-in-hand with the girls who tell their stories.