Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Girls tell their stories to documentary crew

Director Simonee Chichester and her crew interview girls and women in Portage Place Tuesday for a documentary called Because I am a Girl.

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Director Simonee Chichester and her crew interview girls and women in Portage Place Tuesday for a documentary called Because I am a Girl. (RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

GIRLS in Winnipeg got a chance to stand before a camera and say what it means to be female Tuesday as a national documentary rolled through town.

Because I Am a Girl's production crew was at Portage Place, hoping to have girls stop in after school and tell their stories.

"We look for girls who speak passionately about girls' rights, here in Canada and in developing countries," said Liz Dussault, the film's producer.

The documentary is part of a campaign by Plan International Canada, a global movement for change, that aims to mobilize millions of people around the world to support social justice for children in developing countries. Winnipeg is the last stop of six for the crew as they travel across the country to get girls' stories. The campaign kicked off in Toronto on Sept. 22, and in the spring of 2010 the national documentary will be unveiled at "Pink Carpet Premieres" across the country.

Dussault said they have heard some shocking stories on their road trip.

"Some girls have told very personal stories of instances where they have experienced inequality at home or at school," Dussault said. "It has been very eye-opening for us."

One goal of the film project, said Dussault, is to create "a sisterhood for girls in Canada." She said she hopes girls can go onto the project's website and be inspired by the stories of their Canadian female peers, whether they are in Halifax, Winnipeg or Vancouver.

Canadian girls can support social justice for girls around the world by visiting the Because I am a Girl website at www.becauseiamagirl.ca.

eva.cohen@freepress.mb.ca

 

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 28, 2009 B2

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