New Delhi: Priyanka Chopra and Freida Pinto today launched a multi-level global campaign, 'Girl Rising', which includes a documentary film featuring the two stars and seven other Bollywood actresses, to spread awareness about importance of girls' education.
The top Bollywood actresses feature in the Indian version of the film, which tells stories of nine unforgettable girls around the world striving against difficult circumstances to achieve their dreams of an education.
Priyanka, 32, and Freida, 30, are also part of the global feature, which co-stars Oscar-winners Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway.
"I've been a part of the 'Girl Rising' campaign since its inception and am honoured to be able to bring this powerful idea to India. I am also extremely humbled by and grateful for the support from my colleagues in the industry.
"All it took was one phone call for me to have these amazing seven ladies to graciously agree to join us on this journey. If more girls are educated, all of India stands to gain. The girl rising campaign aims to address that through an innovative initiative that will not only help create awareness but also create a tangible platform to affect change," Priyanka said here.
Freida, who made her debut with Oscar-winning film 'Slumdog Millionaire' and is a popular name in Hollywood now, said girls' education is one of the most important causes for her.
"Too often it is social and traditional ideas that hold girls back. People just can't imagine a different future for girls. The time has come where instead of questioning why we should educate girls, we should be asking why not? when we know that educating girl can change the world, why wait? With Girl Rising we will change that," Freida said.
Holly Gordon, a journalist in the US, who co-founded the campaign, said educating girls is not only essential for India's prosperity and stability but also represents an unprecedented economic opportunity.
"Right now it is estimated that there are 270 million women and girls under age 25 in India. Furthermore, by not educating girls equally, it is estimated that India misses out on potential economic growth of about USD 33 billion per
year," Gordon said.
Priyanka said the initiative was needed in India because a girl is devalued in the country at every step. "This campaign is very important as girls' rights and their education is a very relevant topic in India. A girl in our country is devalued since she is born. She is told that she does not need to study so that the guy can study and those are the kind of sacrifices that girls have made across years in India," she said.
The 32-year-old 'Mary Kom' actress called the movie path breaking and said she is proud to be a part of it. "This film has been path breaking... the kind of women who are in and behind it really gave the film a voice and I am proud to be a part of 'Girl Rising' and bringing the film to India," Priyanka said.
Freida said that being a part of the campaign was her way of giving it back to the country. "I always wanted to be at the global platform but then come and give back to my country. (This campaign) is like me giving back to India," she said.
The initiative also includes a mass media campaign that will mobilise and unify millions toward a shared goal of 'Pass Class 10' and local action through an aggressive campaign.
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