Connecting GIRLS across the Globe: the GIRLS WHO ROCK effect
We at GIRLS WHO ROCK take pride in our efforts to raise funds and awareness for girls’ education in the developing world. This year we raised over $17 thousand at our signature event in June. However, the impact of our concert was also felt stateside by our many high school and college volunteers
Through our pilot program, we collaborated with high school and college students from the New York City area to help make GIRLS WHO ROCK 2011 possible. From the beginning, the students knew that this concert was part of something bigger, and they felt the enormity of their actions, Urban Assembly School of Business for Young Women Senior Aijia Fennick took note of this:
My GIRLS WHO ROCK experience was amazing, I met so many people and did so many new things. I was also able to help send many girls my age to school in Uganda to get an education. What surprised me was all the supporters there were and all the money that was raised to make a change. I loved everything that night between meeting all the artist and all the positive energy at the concert.
Yet, this experience would not be possible without the use of social media. This platform goes into every GIRLS WHO ROCK idea. Our inception was born out of the tweets and facebook messages that our supporters and partners have created with us, and on our behalf. In addition, our own Creative Associate Opal Vadham—who started her freshman year at Pace this year—-connected with GIRLS WHO ROCK via twitter: “I met Tammy Tibbetts at A Kidult Conference and heard about She’s The First and signed up for their mailing list. I followed her on twitter, and I thought this woman was so cool and awesome. It was so cool talking to this woman who you admired and looked up. Then I followed GWR on twitter, and saw they were looking for interns. I didn’t think I was qualified but still sent my resume and after the interview process, I got the position!”
Our passion for social media could only be dwarfed by our passion for education, everyone at GWR considers themselves privileged to live in a country that promotes education for girls. The impact of an education and the opportunities it affords a girl cannot be underestimated, and this belief is shared by our volunteers as well. Boston University Senior (and 2011 GWR volunteer) Ivellisse Morales touches on this when she reflected on her own scholastic achievements and offered words of encouragement to girls in the developing world,
“Education is the ticket to my future. I wouldn’t be where I am today, if it were not for the education and the teachers I have had throughout my whole life. I w tell the girls to cherish every moment in the classroom, to devour every book they can get their hands on and to always be hungry for more knowledge and more skills.”
Moreover, St. Jean Baptiste High School Senior, and GIRLS WHO ROCK 2011 volunteer, Cordilia Williams know that her education has opened many doors for her that would not be available, if not for her schooling and hard work. This past summer, Ms. Williams had the opportunity to intern at the Willkie Farr & Gallagher law firm in New York City. “It was a paid internship and I had the opportunity of going to meetings with attorneys and lawyers. I even got the chance to meet Former Governor Mario Cuomo. I absolutely loved working there; the environment was welcoming and I was treated as a young adult rather than a high school student.”
The act of giving back to those less fortune not only helps the girls on the receiving end; this acts changes the way we view ourselves. One of the most important aspects of GIRLS WHO ROCK was to show millennials and young girls that they have the power to change their circumstance, the world around them. It is a point that is Ms. Williams echos when she thinks about her time with GIRLS WHO ROCK:
“I had absolutely wonderful experience with GWR. Working with influential women had a positive impact on me. It opened my eyes that one day I could be just like these women and make an impact on the world. I liked being there, being apart of the action, and getting to see the turnout. It was amazing.”
Filed under: GIRLS WHO ROCK news, Interviews, She's the First, Twitter Tweeps, Uncategorized, Web Campiagn Wednesday by stephanie
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