(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The campaign in India would focus on getting more girls past grade 10 increasing secondary school completion rates for girls and reducing gender-based discrimination.
Priyanka Chopra and Freida Pinto
Girl Rising A global campaign for girls’ education has roped in actresses Freida Pinto and Priyanka Chopra as the initiative made its entry in India on Saturday. Storytelling is one of the most important mediums to evoke a sense of responsibility towards society and the campaign is set to engage kids through films and encompasses storytelling to spread awareness of things girls can achieve if educated. “We choose them (Priyanka and Freida) as they are great performers are passionate about the issue and platform and lastly when you have an issue like girls’ education it is important to have visible icons to carry the message” co-founder and CEO Holly Gordon said before the official launch.
The campaign in India would focus on getting more girls past grade 10 increasing secondary school completion rates for girls and reducing gender-based discrimination in India. The programme includes a film narrated by Priyanka Freida and seven other Bollywood names a mass media campaign and an aggressive grassroots campaign.
“The best thing is that it is universal in nature. It is not like the problem is only in India - yes there is - but it is a problem in other nations as well. It just took one phone call from me to other actresses associated with the project for them to come on board. It proves another point as well that female actresses get along” said Priyanka.
Frieda plays an oppressed girl in Trishna which is set to release in India in January 2015. The actress says the role helped her reinforce her belief in the cause.
“I always felt that it was calling in this area but the project made it more clearer. A part of my job is to research for the role I met a lot of people I went to several villages in Rajasthan. The things I saw is beyond your imagination.
“Girls getting married at the age of 13 and getting pregnant at 15... I mean you hardly get your period at that age. It opened doors for me” said the Slumdog Millionaire actress.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided start-up funding for Girl Rising: ENGAGE INDIA (Empowering New Generations to Advance Girls’ Education) to bring Girl Rising to India.