R-FH Girls 'Rising' to a Global Cause

Twin sisters Clare and Emma Fitzgerald, seniors at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School, don't always think alike. But they did recently in support of a worthy cause; and the results far surpassed their expectations.

The two felt strongly about their desire to share the documentary Girl Rising with  fellow students and with the entire community. The film, which is about the lack of formal education for girls in underdeveloped countries, had affected each of them deeply.

They were concerned, however, about raising sufficient funds to secure the licensing fee to show the film in a public venue.

So, working with the R-FH student organization Character Education Club, the two got that message out to R-FH students and parents and ended up with enough suppport and donations to cover the screening cost.

The invitation to the public for the screening of Girl Rising is slated for May 22 at 6 p.m. in the RFH auditorium.

Worldwide, 33 million fewer girls than boys attend primary school. Girl Rising tells the highly personal stories of nine such girls who dream of attending school but instead face arranged marriages, child slavery, and other hardships.

At the same time, the film makes the case for the argument that educating all girls worldwide will lead to improvement of the economies, politics, and cultures of underdeveloped countries. 

The hour-and-a-half-long film, released in 2013 and directed by Richard Robbins, touched the hearts of critics and audiences alike. This high acclaim led to its distribution to movie theaters around the country, a rare feat for what is described as a grassroots documentary. 

Girl Rising was filmed on location in places such as Cairo, Calcutta, Peru, Haiti, and Afghanistan. The girls' stories are narrated by A-list actors including Liam Neeson, Selena Gomez, Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, and Kerry Washington. The movie is rated PG-13 for thematic material, including disturbing images.

The $5 admission cost — as well as any funds already donated above and beyond what was needed to secure the movie licensing fee — will be forwarded to Girl Rising and Angels in Africa, two global charities dedicated to helping all girls receive an education.

The screening event for the public is hosted by the R-FH student organizations Character Education Club and Film Club. Refreshments will be available for purchase, with the proceeds also being donated to Girl Rising and Angels in Africa.