Plan Canada just released the 2009 edition of their report series "Because I Am a Girl". This year's report is called Girls in the Global Economy: Adding It All Up. It discusses how girls and women face not only economic inequality from a wage perspective - but that this inequality exposes them to additional violence in their lives. Whereas small incremental investments in education for girls can help break them out of this cycle.
Jennifer Heil is a celebrity sponsor of Because I Am a Girl. In the video below, Jennifer talks about the importance of dreams for young people and how she was touched by the dreams of young women she visited in a school in Burkina Faso.
There is also this great video about the AWESOME Willa who shaved her head to raise money for an ophanage in Toronto.
You can connect with and show your support for Because I Am a Girl in a variety of ways. Easy stuff:
- Visit www.becauseiamagirl.ca to learn about the campaign, become engaged on the issue of girl’s rights and contribute to the documentary by submitting a video
- Follow the Because I am a Girl Blog to read about the documentary team’s cross Canada trip, some of the exceptional young women they have met and issues that are important to girls and young women in Canada and around the world
- Become a fan of Because I am A Girl Canada on Facebook
- Follow Plan Canada on Twitter
Or, if you're feeling really inspired, donate. I've set up an easy monthly donation on my credit card. I know Christmas is coming and money is tight and everyone is asking for donations right now. But it's important that girls be able to pursue their dreams free from violence. I've had that privilege - how can I want anything less for these girls.