Sheetal Acharya is a Co-Chair of the Girl Rising India Boston Reception.  Sheetal has long been involved in Indian American community affairs, having served as the National President of the Network of Indian Professionals of North America, and in recent years, on the host committee of events for the American India Foundation, Akshaya Patra Foundation and other groups.  She is a consultant with Slalom Consulting in Boston and lives in Wayland with her family.

She is passionately supporting the Girl Rising project. She talked to Lokvani about the project. 

Can you describe the Girl Rising project?

The original movie, “Girl Rising” was produced by Academy Award winning director Richard Robbins in 2013.  It tells the story of nine girls and their story of overcoming adversity in their home nation.  The girls are from nine nations, including India, Nepal and Afghanistan in South Asia.  The original version was narrated by Hollywood stars like Meryl Streep, Ann Hathaway and Liam Neeson.

In 2015, “Girl Rising India” was launched in India and the United States to raise funds and awareness in a targeted manner for girls and women’s causes in India.  The movie was released in a Hindi version with narration by Priyanka Chopra, Freida Pinto and Amitabh Bachchan.  The goal is to make the movie available to the hundreds of millions of Indians who would understand it better in Hindi.

The India story is Ruksana of Kolkata, who was paired with Sooni Taraporevala - the award-winning screenwriter of Mississippi Masala, The Namesake, and Salaam Bombay!  Girl Rising has partnered with World Vision that supports Ruksana and her sister with school supplies, tuition support and medical assistance. Similarly, we have partnered with other NGOs in India that do impactful work to promote girls' education.
Overall, Girl Rising is using funds raised from the screening of the movie, and appearances by its celebrity ambassadors to raise money for NGO’s and activists in India that supports girls education and girls/women’s empowerment.  Because the program in India is so new, there are expected to be many partners.
Here is the links to the Girl Rising trailers: 
Girl Rising official trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJsvklXhYaE
Girl Rising India trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYg0hg5Vbdw
Priyanka Chopra video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bGKKLXCZzk
 
What impact has Girl Rising had to date?

Over the last twenty years or so, there has been widespread understanding among experts that the education of girls can be one of the most dynamic factors for changing the quality of life in a community.  The more that girls are educated, the more that they participate in the community, take care of their own health, create economic value and live longer.  Therefore, it is one of the most important strategies a community can undertake.

To date, millions have viewed the original “Girl Rising” movie worldwide, and have raised several million dollars for girl’s education and women’s empowerment programs worldwide.  And countless millions more have learned about the subject from public service announcements done by stars like Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Priyanka Chopra and Freida Pinto.
The inaugural gala for Girl Rising India, held in October 2015 in Washington, DC, raised several hundred thousand that was targeted for India.  Girl Rising has partnered with the Global India Fund, which is based in Washington DC.  Global India Fund raises funds for NGO’s in India, with an emphasis on women’s issues and public health. 
 
 How does Girl Rising adapt to the local cultures of the communities?

As a movement, Girl Rising decided to create localized versions of its movie so as to adapt to the local culture.  Girl Rising India, for example, was launched with Bollywood stars, and dubbed in Hindi, because it was reach hundreds of millions more Indians than an English-version of the movie with Hollywood stars.  
In addition, the funds raised by screenings and events related to Girl Rising India will be earmarked for Indian NGO’s and activities.
 

How similar are the issues around the globe?

Evidence shows that many of the issues facing girls and women are the same worldwide.  While the context is different from the Middle East to South Asia and Latin America or Africa, there remains much to do to convince societies to educate and take care of the health of their young girls.  And many economic opportunities, including here in the United States, are limited in comparison to men.    For example, in India, women are seeking access to finance to start businesses and the ability to inherit and own family assets, land and businesses.  In the US, we still struggle with equal pay and income inequality.  So the issues are similar, but the context is different.
 

What are the unique dimensions to the project in India?

In India, it is estimated that 20-30% of school age girls do not attend school, depending on the statistics you use.  And 40% do not attend secondary school at all.
At the event in Boston, you will have a chance to meet Christina Lowery, the CEO of Girl Rising, and Nidhi Dubey, the CEO of Girl Rising India.
 

Can you tell us about the fundraiser?

The Boston premier screening and reception will be held on Saturday, June 4th from 6:15pm – 8:30pm at District Hall, in the Seaport District in Boston.   

We will start the evening with the screening of three chapters of the movie – to be followed by remarks:
Keynotes:
Christina Lowery
CEO, Girl Rising (who will talk about the movie, its various versions, including Girl Rising India, and the movement)
www.girlrising.com 

Sheela Murthy, Esq
CEO, The Murthy Law Firm (the largest immigration law firm in the country and the leading American women philanthropist funding in India)
www.murthy.com

Panel:

We will then have a short panel of Boston-area non-profits that work on girls and women’s issues in India.

Shaun Jayachandran,
Executive Director & Founder, Crossover Basketball Academy (Runs basketball education clinics in India)
http://www.crossover-india.org/

Sanjli Gidwaney
Executive Director, Design for Change (An education movement started in India to engage children in learning)
http://www.designforchange.us/

Roopa Purushothaman
CEO & Founder, Avasara & the Leadership Foundation of India (runs boarding schools for under privileged girls in India)
http://www.leadershipfoundationindia.org/

We will finish the evening with a performance by Sonika Vaid, Boston’s own American Idol semi-finalist. 
The Boston host committee for the event is:
• Sheetal & Nish Acharya
• Aparna Rao & Parag Shah
• Nirva Patel
• Meenakshi and Aseem Agarwal

How will the funds be used?

The funds raised in Boston on June 4th will be dedicated to supporting Girl Rising India, and their efforts to educate and empower girls and women in India.  Girl Rising India looks forward to working with various NGO’s across India on this endeavor.

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