Group shows “Girl Rising” film to promote gender equality

CEBU, Philippines - With the advocacy to promote equal access to education for girls, the Coalition for Better Education conducted a special screening of a documentary film that depicts the power of education to "transform" families.

CBE in collaboration with Intel Philippines and Philippines and Foundation for Information Technology Education and Development (FIT-Ed) held the viewing of the film "Girl Rising" at Cebu Normal University.

In the film, Academy award-nominated director Richard Robbins spotlights the story of nine girls living in Cambodia, Haiti, Nepal, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Peru, Sierra Leone and Afghanistan.

The girls confront tremendous challenges and overcome all odds to pursue their dreams by getting education, the film's website states.

The girls' stories written by prize-winning authors are narrated by Hollywood celebrities Anne Hathaway, Cate Blanchett, Selena Gomez, Freida Pinto, Meryl Streep, Kerry Washington, Chloe Grace Moretz, Priyanka Chopra, Alicia Keys, and Liam Neeson.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) reported that a total of 66 million girls worldwide are out of schools.

There are 150 million who are victims of sexual violence and 50 percent of these sexual assaults victimize girls under 15 years old.

The report also states that childbirth has been the number one cause of death in girls aged 15 to 19 years old.

"Figures also tell us that if education is afforded to these girls, they are less likely to get married at a young age and more likely to succeed in their career," said CBE executive director Marilou Flores in a statement.

Further, Flores said that the film uses "powerful" storytelling to deliver a simple, critical truth: "educate girls and you will change the world."

The CBE was started by a group of aspiring teachers from the University of Northern Colorado aimed in creating and empowering communities to become "learned." It has expanded to include teachers, parents, as well as students across the state . (FREEMAN)