A York girls’ school has announced it will host the city’s only confirmed screening of an international film showing how empowerment of girls through education can break cycles of poverty in just one generation.
The Mount School will celebrate the International Day of The Girl on 11 October by holding a public screening of the film ‘Girl Rising’ from 6:30pm in the School’s main Hall. Tickets are available for purchase from the school’s office.
Principal Julie Lodrick said today, “We at The Mount are delighted to bring to York this important film which shows how investing in girls’ education transforms families, communities and nations. The Mount is already committed to educating girls in Equatorial Africa through our involvement with Ibba Girls’ School in South Sudan. Through this film we can ‘bring home’ that message to our School community and the interested people of York.”
The innovative feature film, ‘Girl Rising’, journeys around the globe to witness the strength of the human spirit and the power of education to change the world. The film, from Academy Award-nominated director Richard E. Robbins, spotlights the stories of unforgettable girls born into unforgiving circumstances, capturing their dreams, their voices and their remarkable lives.
As one of the girls says, “I feel as though I have power … I can do anything. And I have important things to do.”
Each girl’s story is transformed for the screen by an acclaimed writer from her native country: Marie Arana from Peru, Edwidge Danticat from Haiti, Mona Eltahawy from Egypt, Aminatta Forna from Sierra Leone, Zarghuna Kargar from Afghanistan, Maaza Mengiste from Ethiopia, Sooni Taraporevala from India, Manjushree Thapa from Nepal, and Loung Ung from Cambodia.
Cate Blanchett, Priyanka Chopra, Selena Gomez, Anne Hathaway, Selma Hayek, Alicia Keys, Chloe Moretz, Liam Neeson, Meryl Streep, and Kerry Washington all contribute voice performances to the film, which features original music from Academy Award winner Rachel Portman, in collaboration with Hans Zimmer.
It now comprises more than 30 pupils aged from seven to 13, who perform at functions both in and out of school, including at last year’s switch on of the Petworth Christmas lights and in the school production of the musical Baboushka.
Mr Weaver says he is passionately committed to improving the quality and range of music that the choir performs, having become a vibrant and integral part of life at Seaford College Prep School.
The School Choir of the Year competition aims to find the best junior and senior school choirs in the UK. This will be the 12th annual contest and all choirs who enter receive constructive feedback, with those shortlisted televised to appear in the later heats.