By Karen Scriven | Director
Actress Marcia Cross kick starts global Because I am a Girl campaign
NEW YORK: Actress Marcia Cross lit the Empire State Building in pink and white from sunset on Wednesday, October 10th to dawn on October 11th to honor the first international Day of the Girl.
Cross took part in the special ceremony to support Plan International’s Because I am a Girl campaign. She aimed to help raise awareness of girls’ rights and empower girls across the world to transform communities. She was joined at the Empire State Building by Plan International youth delegates Gifty, Marcela, and Nurul.
Across the world, other monuments were lit up, including the London Eye, Niagara Falls, Toronto’s CN Tower, Delhi’s Old Fort, and The Mermaid in Denmark.
Proud supporter
Cross said: “I’ve been a proud supporter of Plan’s work for many years and my family has had the privilege of sponsoring a child from Zimbabwe through the organization’s sponsorship program.
“Now, I’m thrilled to support Plan’s Because I am a Girl initiative. I recently took an amazing trip to India to see firsthand how Plan is helping to strengthen communities thru programs that focus on empowering girls. My visit to Delhi was magical. All of the girls and women were so welcoming and expressive. We played games, sang songs and danced. We shared conversations about our challenges and our dreams.
“But I also heard about girls who weren’t permitted to go to school. Others were malnourished. Even others were forced into child labor and sex work to provide money for their families. Why? Simply because they are girls. Girls are most likely to be malnourished, forced into early marriage, subject to violence, trafficked, or sold. But together we can stop the injustices. Extensive research shows that these trends can be reversed when girls are given the tools and resources to succeed.”
Day of the Girl
Girls throughout the world face higher rates of violence, poverty, and discrimination. They are more likely to be malnourished, forced into early marriage, trafficked, or sold.
On December 19, 2011, the United Nations adopted October 11th as the international Day of the Girl following an extensive campaign by Plan.
The international Day of the Girl promotes equal treatment and opportunities for girls around the world. Improving girls' lives has a ripple effect – when a girl is educated, nourished, and protected, she shares her knowledge and skills with her family and community, and can forever change the future of her country.
Cross continued: “As a mother of 2 young girls, I strongly believe everyone has the right to a good education and that means girls too. Empower a girl, keep her safe from harm and watch her grow. Then watch her help transform her family and her community. I will always remember my special trip to India with Plan. Now I need you to join the 4 million girl promise and help change the world.”
Cross added: “I’m proud to support Plan’s Because I am a Girl initiative. Now I need you to join the 4 million girl promise with me. Invest in a girl and she will change the world.”
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