University Communications and Marketing
October 7, 2016
MSUB’s Women’s & Gender Studies Center presents “He Named Me Malala: Day of the Girl Celebration”
This documentary screening will be followed by a discussion and reception and is free and open to the public at 4p.m to 6p.m., Tuesday, Oct 11 in LA room 205
Contacts:
Dr. Jennifer Lynn, Women’s and Gender Studies Center, 657-2922
University Relations, 657-2266
MSU BILLINGS NEWS SERVICES — In honor of the United Nations International Day of the Girl the Women and Gender Studies Center at Montana State University Billings will host a documentary film screening, discussion, and reception of "He Named Me Malala” on Tuesday, October 11 from 4:00 – 6:00 in LA 205.
The UN International Day of the Girl recognizing girls’ rights and unique challenges girls face around the world.
According to a 2012 UN report there are 32 million fewer girls than boys in primary school and an Education for All Global Monitoring Report that same year pointed out that of the 792 million illiterate adults worldwide two-thirds are female.
“We’d like to raise awareness about this global issue of empowering girls and women through education,” said Dr. Jennifer Lynn, WGSC director. “An educated girl is less likely to be married as children, they are more likely to send their children to school and they earn more. Educating girls is good for the family, the community and countries as a whole.”
The film is a portrait of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai, who was targeted by the Taliban and severely wounded by a gunshot when returning home on her school bus in Pakistan’s Swat Valley. The then 15-year-old was singled out, along with her father, for advocating for girls’ education, and the attack on her sparked an outcry from supporters around the world. She miraculously survived and is now a leading campaigner for girls’ education globally as co-founder of the Malala Fund.
Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth, Waiting for Superman) shows us how Malala, her father Zia and her family are committed to fighting for education for all girls worldwide. The film gives us an inside glimpse into this extraordinary young girl’s life – from her close relationship with her father who inspired her love for education, to her impassioned speeches at the UN, to her everyday life with her parents and brothers.
The center will also give away door prizes at the event including copies of the memoir, I am Malala and amazon.com gift cards.
Throughout the week of the screening, the WGSC will also sponsor a fundraiser for gently used women’s and girl’s clothing through “Schoola Bags.” The Malala Fund sends proceeds to support girls’ education projects in vulnerable communities around the world.
The event is free and open to the public.
To learn more about the WGSC, visit www.msubillings.edu/wgsc