Calling herself 'a happy example of a girl child', Bollywood actress and filmmaker Juhi Chawla today said considering that women and girls in India face steep odds when it comes to access to education and health, she feels thankful for 'being what I am'.
'I am a happy example of a girl child. Being a woman, having been a girl living a blessed life, when I come across women facing several odds in terms of access to health and education, I feel thankful for being who I am,' Juhi said at an event to mark the entry of 'Join My Village' in India. 'Join My Village' is an innovative social change initiative to give girls and women from disadvantaged communities an increased access to education and support, providing a gateway to better opportunities, outcomes and lives. Juhi, who launched the initiative, created by General Mills to support Care, a leading global humanitarian organisation, said as a girl child she had been fortunate that her parents gave her a decent education. 'I am not new to the concept of women education.
My family has an education foundation in Jabalpur which was started by my father, who was the patriarch of the Mehta family to which I belong,' she said. Lauding the initiative, Juhi said,'I believe that when you educate a girl child, you educate the entire family. For, a woman who is educated passes on the values acquired by her through education to her entire family and to her children. Looking at the situation, I feel something needs to be done in this regard.
It's a great way to make a change.' Also present at the launch of the initiative were Care India CEO, Muhammad Musa and General Mills chairman and CEO Ken Powell. Since 'Join My Village was launched in Malawi in 2009, it has supplied more than 1.4 million US Dollars to help more than 2000 families. Last year alone, 'Join My Village' donated 9,00,000 US dollars to fund Care programmes in girls' education and economic empowerment in the South East African nation. Mr Musa said,'Join My village will be a potent tool to bring women and girls from poor and marginalised communities to the centrestage and equip them with the right tool and opportunities.' Every 'Like' on the 'Join My Village' Facebook page will trigger a one US Dollar donation from general Mills and the Merck Company foundation to Care's programmes supporting women and girls from India and Malawi.
Together, the companies will donate a total of 1.5 Million US Dollars to Care by the end of 2012. In India, these funds will help to build on current successful Care India programmes by enhancing Care bridge programmes that promote learning at the Government-run KGBV boarding schools. UNI
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