Year of the Girl

Every year, Women and Girls Lead Global sets out in search of more great films featuring the inspiring stories of women and girls around the world fighting for change – fighting for equality. Those films make their way into rural classrooms, intimate living rooms, bustling town squares, and vibrant community centers through the work of partner organizations and local broadcasters in Jordan, Kenya, Peru, India and Bangladesh.

This year, girls’ stories are rising to the top. From Sonita – an Afghani immigrant in Iran winning the respect and admiration of other girls through her rap music, to Sepideh – an aspiring astronaut fighting stereotypes in Iran, to Thulasi – a brave Indian boxer fighting gender-based violence outside the ring, to the Favela Street Girls – the determined football team representing Brazil in the first ever Street Child World Cup. Every one of these girls pushes boundaries to achieve an education and ensure a brighter future. They are connected in their challenges and their triumphs.

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That is the essence of the newest film in this year’s series. Girl Connected is the story of five teenage girls using their individual strengths to tackle gender discrimination and violence in their communities.   The stories of these five girls surfaced from Women and Girls Lead Global’s vast network of grassroots organizations, media partners, and community change-makers. Committed as always to illuminating the unheard voices of women and girls, we worked with renowned filmmaker Koen Suidgeest to create a film that reflected the issues that are most important to the women and girls we work with every day.  

1Meet Josi from Peru, fighting to provide teenagers with better access to critical reproductive health education. Meet Michelle from Kenya, working to empower young women to build confidence and strong leadership skills. Meet Ayesha from India, transforming her own success and passion for Karate into training other girls to protect themselves and feel stronger. Meet Ghazal from Jordan – breaking stereotypes and pushing her peers to use creative expression to tell their stories and beautify their communities. Meet Latifah – rallying young people in her community to go door-to-door convincing families to invest in their girls’ education and end child marriage.

With the 5th ever International Day of the Girl on the horizon, Women and Girls Lead Global is excited to bring these girls’ stories onto the screen. People all over the world will have the opportunity to watch on television, online, and at community screening events. To find out where and when you can watch Girl Connected, and even chat with some of the girls, check out the timeline below. Girls need more than just a day. Join us as we celebrate the Year of the Girl.

October 5

  • WGLG Hosts #Day5 of the #IDG2016 #11DaysofAction. #High5 the amazing people and organizations fighting to bring girls’ stories into the spotlight!
  • Don’t miss the #WorldPremiere of 5 mini docs featuring the girls of #GirlConnected! Join @womengirlslead for the #High5 Twitter Chat 12-2pm ET.

October 11

  • WGLG country offices organize a Twitter Takeover featuring a Q&A with girls from the film! Follow @womengirlslead to find out when the Takeover will reach your time zone.
  • WGLG premieres #GirlConnected in the girls’ home countries through a special broadcast, reaching India, Kenya, Jordan, Peru, and Bangladesh.

March 2017

  • Global online premiere of #GirlConnected in honor of International Women’s Day – thinking forward to the path every girl needs to grow into a strong, empowered woman.
  • Release of #GirlConnected toolkit for educators and community groups to spark conversation around the many roles we each play in empowering girls around the world.