A film to increase public dialogue on gender

US ambassador Nancy J. Powell has announced a project, "Girl Rising Country Partnership", which will increase public dialogue on gender and education around the world using the medium of a film.

Under this project by the US Agency for International Development's (USAID), the film, "Rising Girl" will be screened to encourage community-level interventions to improve girls' education. The film focuses on real-life inspirational stories and have human touch.

"The US recognises the importance of girls' rights to be educated around the world, to live a healthy life, and to be treated as equals in society," Powell told reporters at a conference here Thursday.

"This film uses the power of storytelling to deliver a simple, critical truth: educating girls is one of the smartest investments we can make to reduce extreme poverty," she added.

The film was screened for 100 girls affiliated with the USAID funded NGOs - Pratham and Katha.

Powell, the first woman to serve as a US ambassador to India, appealed to the parents and teachers sitting among the audience to encourage their children, especially girls, to have "dreams" in their life.

"Sometimes small actions are good for people and allow them to do big things," she said.

"We all have something in common as women. We work together, support each other and grow together," she added.

"Girl Rising" highlights the stories of nine girls born into difficult circumstances.

It featured characters such as Ruksana, an Indian "pavement-dweller" whose father sacrifices his own basic needs for his daughter's dreams; Sokha, an orphan who rises from a Cambodian garbage dump to become a star student and an ccomplished dancer; and Suma, who writes songs that help her endure forced servitude in Nepal and crusades to liberate others.