Intel leads awareness drive on educating young women

CEBU, Philippines - Technology innovation leader Intel Philippines, along with other stakeholders, is screening a documentary film that hopes to empower young women to acquire skills and knowledge and become more successful in life.

“Despite efforts by the government and organizations to ensure the protection of children and to provide for their special needs, more help is needed to uplift the situation of children in the Philippines because of widespread poverty and social inequality,” said Intel Philippine corporate affairs officer Yvonne Flores.

In a press briefing in Cebu last week, Flores cited a recent study by Plan International that found girl children from poor families are disadvantaged and fall prey to child labor, exploitation and lack of access to basic services primarily because of their status in life.

“Advocacies and campaigns that benefit women and children still need to be deepened and shared with the vast public,” said Flores.

Flores added that by documenting moving examples of how education can help fight gender inequality, promote girls’ rights and lift millions out of poverty, “Girl Rising” complements Plan International’s global five-year campaign, Because I am a Girl (BIAAG).

“Girl Rising” is a groundbreaking film directed by Academy Award nominee Richard Robbins, which tells the stories of 9 extraordinary girls from 9 countries.

Officials said the International Day of the Girl marked the beginning of a multi-sectoral global effort to promote the importance of girls education. On October 11, Intel, along with its partners Plan International, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) began screening the documentary film “Girl Rising: Educate Girls, Change the World” at various community areas nationwide.

“Most developing countries in Asia and the Pacific have earned high marks for a dramatic rise in primary education enrollment rates over the last decade, but daunting challenges remain, as the gender gap, especially in secondary education, is still very large,” said Shireen Lateef, ADB’s Senior Advisor for Gender.

With more than $8.2 billion in loans and grants to the education sector over the past 40 years, ADB has a long track record in assisting its developing member countries achieve the goal of quality education for all.

Despite these efforts, millions of girls in the region are said to have limited or no access to education.

Since its conception in 2012, the BIAAG campaign has been designed to create sustainable projects in developing countries like the Philippines and to give girls access to clean water, food, healthcare, education, and protection from violence and exploitation.

“We are optimistic that the screening of  “Girl Rising” will promote awareness on the need for education as a means to equip, enable and empower girls of all ages to acquire the assets, skills and knowledge necessary to be successful in life,” said Carin Van der Hor, country director of Plan International.

As a founding strategic partner of 10x10, the organization that created “Girl Rising,” Intel is proud of the film and of the global social action campaign that accompanies it.

Flores said Intel believes that education is a fundamental right for everyone, and that broader access to education for girls and women will significantly catalyze social progress and help drive worldwide economic growth.

Intel has worked for decades to improve education globally, and has invested more than $ 1 billion on campaigns that aim to improve education in more than 60 countries over the past decade alone. (FREEMAN)