Since October 2013, CIEE has sponsored more than 400 screenings of "Girl Rising" in 69 countries to raise awareness and create lasting change by eliminating barriers to education for girls in developing nations.
Portland, Maine (PRWEB) March 07, 2014
In celebration of International Women’s Day, on March 8 CIEE: Council on International Educational Exchange will sponsor more than 130 free screenings of the feature film, “Girl Rising,” around the world. Each event will support CIEE and Girl Rising in their joint effort to eliminate the gender gap in education that exists today.
CIEE established a partnership with Girl Rising in 2013 to raise awareness and create positive and lasting change by eliminating the barriers to education for girls in developing nations. At the core of the movement is the film, which tells the stories of nine girls who overcame tremendous hardships to pursue an education. To date, CIEE has sponsored more than 400 screenings in 69 countries—from Ecuador to Zimbabwe—and expects to sponsor 200 more during the month of March. CIEE kicked off the screenings on International Day of the Girl, October 11, 2013, with a free event in Portland, Maine, where the organization is headquartered. The screening drew more than 800 community members and helped to raise donations for the Girl Rising Fund for Education.
“The CIEE community has truly embraced our mission to make an educational experience possible for girls in every corner of the world,” said Jill Sady, CIEE director of community outreach. “We’ve seen interest in this project in every part of our business and from all of our stakeholders. This passion and dedication across CIEE is helping us to create meaningful change by transforming the lives and the societies in which all girls live.”
Sponsoring screenings is just one of the ways CIEE is working to effect positive change. This summer, the nonprofit will join forces with Girl Up, one of Girl Rising’s seven non-governmental organization partners, to provide scholarships to female high school students in developing countries to take part in CIEE Leadership Academy programs. Each four-week summer Leadership Academy program—offered in China, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ghana, Japan, Jordan, Senegal, and Spain—provides students with the chance to develop the leadership and interpersonal skills necessary to succeed in today’s globalized world while taking part in meaningful service and exploring a new culture and country.
“By working with Girl Up to offer Leadership Academy scholarships, we are bringing a transformative international educational experience to girls who otherwise might never have access,” Sady continued. “Access to education for students is at the heart of what we do each and every day at CIEE, and we’re proud to partner with two incredible organizations to make this possible.”
CIEE: Council on International Educational Exchange
Founded in 1947, CIEE is the country’s oldest and largest nonprofit study abroad and intercultural exchange organization, serving 300 U.S. colleges and universities, 1,000 U.S. high schools, and more than 35,000 international exchange students each year. CIEE operates 60 study centers in 40 countries, sponsors international faculty training programs, teach abroad programs, and various specialty and custom programs for secondary, post-secondary, and international students. Visit http://www.ciee.org.
Girl Rising
"Girl Rising," directed by Academy Award nominee Richard E. Robbins, is a groundbreaking film that captures the stories of nine unforgettable girls—their dreams, their voices, and their remarkable lives. The film premiered in the United States on March 7, 2013 on the eve of International Women’s Day, and has since been seen by millions in cinemas, campuses, corporate boardrooms, and private homes worldwide.
Girl Rising is also a global movement dedicated to empowering and achieving educational equity for girls. The movement was founded by award-winning journalists at The Documentary Group and Paul G. Allen’s Vulcan Productions, along with strategic partner, Intel Corporation. Girl Rising’s International Day of the Girl activities are sponsored by Intel. Visit http://www.girlrising.com.
