Thank you for an empowering #GirlConnected screening and panel! We are inspired by our thoughtful conversation on how gender stereotypes constrain girls’ and women’s potential, and how we as a global community can support girls to transcend them. If you didn’t get the chance to watch the Girl Connected film it is available for free online, along with the Girl Connected […]
A Women and Girls Lead Global facilitator, Sana Al Hanaqtah, used to watch Women of the World films with her husband, Ahmad, as she prepared for her all female community screenings. Ahmad, age 45, was so inspired by the films and the WGLG 3-Film model that he asked Sana to train him in film facilitation. […]
The idea that powerful true stories can drive social change is at the heart of Women and Girls Lead Global‘s work. We are honored to have an opportunity to share the model that we’ve developed for using film to start breakthrough conversations, and to convert those conversations into action, at the Empowering Women and Girls through […]
In this blog series, Koen shares some of his experiences from the making of Girl Connected. In his visit to India, Koen meets Ayesha, an international Karate champion and advocate for women’s safety. Koen remarks, “Girls as young as six years old come to her weekly class…When she enters the park for her training sessions, everything changes… Her speech becomes louder and clearer, and her body is strong and determined… This is where Ayesha is at her best, fulfilling her dream to become a teacher to other girls.”
In this blog series, Koen shares some of his experiences from the making of Girl Connected. In his visit to Jordan, Koen meets Ghazal, a stereotype-defying artist who invites other women and youth into her creative world. Koen reflects, “Ghazal might not seem so different from my own teenage daughter and the girls she hangs out with, but in her country she is truly unique…. Ghazal challenges the perception of onlookers, the common people on the street, while involving other women in achieving it…. I can’t think of a more peaceful, colorful and beautiful way of using creativity as a motor behind the liberation of young Jordanian women. “
This 16 Days of Activism, “Girl Connected” Ghazal challenges families to give girls the freedom to pursue what they love. Girls around the world are often discouraged or prevented from pursuing their dreams, especially when those dreams are deemed inappropriate for women and girls. Ghazal uses art and photography to fight repressive gender norms that try to silence girls’ voices. Her work inspires other girls to think beyond gender stereotypes and tell their stories.
This 16 Days of Activism, “Girl Connected” Michelle’s call to action for girls is to believe in their dreams and express themselves. Battling gender stereotypes to pursue her own dream of becoming an aeronautical engineer, Michelle also mentored other girls to pursue their ambitions. She says, “Our society will not improve through great ideas that are in minds and stay there. These ideas need to be heard.”
This 16 Days of Activism, “Girl Connected” Ayesha Noor encourages girls to take up self defense lessons and fight GBV. How will you fight for girls’ rights?