First, if you are in NYC, get your tickets to GIRLS WHO ROCK before noon on Friday! http://www.gwr2012.eventbrite.com

GIRLS WHO ROCK is coming to a computer near you! If you can’t be in NYC on Friday night to enjoy the world-changing concert at Gramercy Theatre, you can still be part of the Internet Week fun! Watch online & make a small donation to join us as co-sponsors of 15 amazing girls at Shanti Bhavan in India.

On May 18, GIRLS WHO ROCK, presented by Umojawa.com, will broadcast live on ustream.tv, starting at 7pm. Listen to & “meet” Haley Reinhart (who’s performed on stages across the country with American Idol on tour!), Sarah Gregory, Jessica Latshaw, Shin-B, the Jane Doze, up close with our magnificent red carpet host Monique Coleman.

Best known for her role in High School Musical, Monique Coleman will interview each artist so that you can learn why they are so passionate about girls’ education, too. Have any burning questions for them? Tweet her at @gimmemotalk!

The countdown begins NOW…so what are you waiting for!? Tweet up your friends and family and ask them to watch and donate to Razoo.com/story/girls-who-rock to leave their mark on Internet Week — and the world!

Copy and Paste to Twitter! Support @GIRLSWHOROCKNY May 18! Tune into the red carpet & show w/ @gimmemotalk: http://ow.ly/aXSAi | Donate: http://ow.ly/aXSBZ #IWNY

This amazing concert will bring together the freshest minds in technology, entertainment and the nonprofit sector to fundraise for girls’ sponsorships in India through She’s the First. The concert will be held this Friday, May 18 at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City. It’ll be a jam-packed night full of remarkable female artists including American Idol Season 10 finalist Haley Reinhart, whose debut album Listen Up! will be released on May 22nd; Sarah Gregory, of Brooklyn’s Sarah and the Stanleys; Jessica Latshaw, who soared to fame after a video of her performing on the subway went viral; Shin-B, a hip-hop artist who made the world’s first music video with QR codes within the storyline; and mash-up artists The Jane Doze along with emcee Michael Thurber. The evening will feature a special performance by girls at the Park Slope Rock School; under Thurber’s guidance, they composed and recorded an original song dedicated to their peers at Shanti Bhavan.

Thanks to title sponsor umojawa, 100 percent of the proceeds will go directly to sponsoring girls at Shanti Bhavan. We’ve gotten to know some of the girls at Shanti Bhavan fairly well in the past 3 years. Jancy, who is now a senior and will be graduating in June, judged the Cupcake T-shirt contest in November 2011 and wants to be a fashion designer. Shilpa Raj is a Shanti Bhavan alum who graduated last year and decided to stay on at the school to teach and work on her memoir The Elephant Chaser’s Daughter. Catherine credits Shanti Bhavan with having taught her how to dream big. All of these girls have bright futures ahead of them, futures they would not have had without the help and support of generous donors.

Through hearing these girls’ stories, it becomes apparent just how important the work done by She’s the First and GIRLS WHO ROCK is. Here is an opportunity for you to get together with your friends, rock out on a Friday night and do something GOOD.

Will you be there? Will you be there to come through for girls like Vyshali, a 5th grader at Shanti Bhavan who contributed the poem featured below to She’s the First’s Voice Your Verse poetry campaign? Will you be there so there are many more girls like Jancy, Shilpa and Catherine, who are able to realize their dreams?

I will be. And I hope you will be too! Get your ticket here to make a difference.

I am…

I am clever, funny and helpful.
I wonder whether I will go to outer space.
I hear my classmates screaming after they finish graduating from college.
I see myself getting medals in my job for doing well.
I want my dreams to be fulfilled.
I am talented, generous and talkative.
I wonder if there is life on Saturn.
I hear the piano playing.
I see myself passing school.
I want to get more knowledge.
I pretend I am an Indian Administrative Services collector.
I wonder whether I will fail.
I cry when I get screamed at.
I am energetic, thoughtful and caring.
I understand others’ feelings.
I say there is God.
I dream of passing school and going to college.
I hope to get more money.
I am hard working, happy and sleepy.

Vyshali
5^th grade, Shanti Bhavan Children’s School, India

Click to get your ticket!

The most anticipated She’s the First fundraiser of the year is finally here: GIRLS WHO ROCK! This Friday, May 18, Gramercy Theatre in NYC will house an unforgettable night of live entertainment. One-hundred percent of ticket sales from the concert will go directly to girls’ sponsorships at Shanti Bhavan in India, thanks to our amazing sponsor umojawa. This year some MAJOR media–Aol and NBC–are helping us get the word out!

Can You Be Our Publicists & Help Us Tweet the News?

On May 18, 12.4 million Aol users will see She’s the First on the homepage as “Cause of the Day.” We are hoping they’ll donate to our online giving page for GIRLS WHO ROCK. During Internet Week, we want to raise $5,000 toward our overall $50,000 goal purely online, to transform the lives of 15 girls at Shanti Bhavan. Help us raise the remaining $4,620 by visiting the GIRLS WHO ROCK Razoo page and leaving a donation–everyone who does will receive the GIRLS WHO ROCK 2012 theme song, written and recorded by the Park Slope Rock School teens, for free!

Copy & Paste This to Twitter! Cause of the Day on AOL.com is @ShestheFirst! 12.4 MILLION eyeballs will see! RT & donate: http://ow.ly/aVAsA #IWNY @GirlsWhoRockNY

Look forward to meeting you, Chuck!

Cynthia & Tammy

Wednesday evening, our very own co-founders of GIRLS WHO ROCK will be on NBC’s New York Nightly News with Chuck Scarborough at 7PM! The show is a combination of news, guest segments & lifestyle issues that reaches over five million homes and can be seen on Channel 161 on Time Warner systems.

Copy & Paste This to Twitter! Watch @GIRLSWHOROCKNY cofounders on @nbcnewyork Wed 7pm, talking about our #IWNY show on FRIDAY! Get tix: http://gwr2012.eventbrite.com

Thank you for helping us spread the word!

"In Kibera," Shining Hope for Communities powerful new film collection

I’ve noticed recently that She’s the First is in a flurry of film! Kate Lord and Christen Brandt are gearing up for their trip to Shanti Bhavan in India, where they’ll be filming a short documentary, and of course we recently launched our brand-new PSA (see it on our homepage!).

And one of our partner schools, Shining Hope for Communities in Kenya, just launched an incredible new film platform. “In Kibera” features short videos about the lives of those who have been impacted by Shining Hope. The videos are beautifully done, intriguing and inspiring. Visit the site and you’ll learn about Baba Diana, the father of a student at the Kibera School for Girls who wants nothing more than to see his young daughter live a life filled with learning. You’ll be captivated by the story of Shining Girls for Kibera, an empowerment group for young girls.  In Coaches, you’ll feel the dedication of a man committed to supporting the children of Kibera through coaching. I’m already beyond-impressed by the phenomenal work of Shining Hope for Communities, but this new website is truly icing on the cake.

I also recently got a chance to attend a film festival with Brianne Riviello, She’s the First Pen Pal coordinator and former Ithaca grad! Because I’m an Ithaca College student living in upstate New York, it’s a rare day that I can visit my She’s the First friends based in New York City. Needless to say, I was thrilled when I found out Brianne would be visiting Ithaca, New York for its famous FLEFF Film Festival! We were moved by the screening of “Africa is a Woman’s Name,” a collection of three documentaries about women who are catalysts for change.  At the film’s conclusion, we were asked to speak about the She’s the First. All the Ithaca students lit up in smiles when we reminded them they already know of She’s the First – the organization that brought them the famous tie-dye cupcakes! For more information on the documentary and other films about women’s rights and education, visit this site.

I’ve loved learning about new films that bring to life how women are empowered by education. What are your go-to girls’ education films? If you have any recommendations, tweet us or comment below!

The endless talents of the students at the Kibera School for Girls!

As summer approaches and finals are behind us, it’s time to close the books for a bit and think about fun! I wrote to the Kibera School for Girls in Kenya and the Selamta Family Project in Ethiopia to learn more about playtime halfway across the world. In elementary school, my recess usually consisted of hopscotch, foursquare (the kind with a ball and chalk boxes – not a cell phone check-in!), and funnel ball. However, after learning about the schools’ playtime activities like Circus Camp, yoga classes, Ethiopian and hip hop dancing, I’m blown away by incredible ways these girls fill their day.

At the Kibera School, the girls play outside for 30-40 minutes every day after lunch. Typically, the younger girls dance their way through recess, while the older girls jump rope, read, or talk with friends. However, for two weeks recently, the young girls were entertained by the Africa Yoga Project, a performing arts organization that led the girls in yoga, drumming, singing, sign language, face paint, and hula hooping classes! The girls rotated through the different sessions the first week, and then chose their favorite activities to do the second week. At the culmination of Circus Camp, the girls hosted an incredible show for all of the KSG families.

In Ethiopia, the students at the Selamta Family Project also have time each day to relax and play. Though all of the students have break-time during the school day, they usually also play after school before helping out at home or starting homework. Like the girls at Kibera, the students enjoy jumping rope, painting and drawing, and doing gymnastics, but they also love to play card games (especially Uno!) and futbol, or practice their hip hop or traditional Ethiopian dance moves. Some girls spend their recess trying out new hair braiding styles. One of their favorite special events is Selamta Idol!

Both the Kibera School for Girls and the Selamta Family Project believe that all children have the right to play. In writing this blog, I learned that playtime is more than just a fun break in the day, it’s actually a right protected by the United Nations. Article 31 of the UN Convention asserts, “every child has the right to rest an leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities . . .and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.” Whether they’re working hard at reading new books or solving math problems, it’s clear the girls at the She’s the First partner schools fill their day with lots of learning and lots of joy!

Are Girls the Solution to Overpopulation?
Experts estimate that the Earth has the capacity to support approximately 4 billion people, however we’ve already surpassed that number and likely to reach over 9 billion by 2040. Resources are growing scarce and the cycle of poverty only continues. Perhaps one of the best solutions to overpopulation can be found in young girls. If provided with a safe environment and an education, girls truly do have the power to change the world. Research shows that girls who stay in school are more likely to marry later in life and have fewer children. Even more, educated mothers are more likely to send their own children to school, which helps break the cycle of poverty even further. Read more here.

Britain Pulls Funding for Girls Education Program in South Sudan
South Sudan is perhaps the worst place to be a female. Not only does the new country have the highest maternal mortality rate, but it also have the lowest female literacy rates. Girls in South Sudan are therefore more likely to die of pregnancy-related causes than complete primary education. While conflict has plagued the region for years, which limits educational and economical opportunities for women, many countries have contributed funds to help the nation rebuild. However, Britain recently pulled back development funding in response to South Sudan’s halt of oil production. The withdrawal will limit funding to Britain’s program to educate girls. Meanwhile the United States is moving forward with their development plan. Read the whole story here.

Africa’s First Female Presidents Determined to Help Women
The first two female presidents in Africa are joining forces in an effort to make life better for girls and women on the continent. Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Malawian President Joyce Banda recently pledged to work together to accelerate their efforts to empower girls and women. Both women govern countries with significant development issues, yet they’re confident about the future. Read it all here.

LRA Commander Captured
Ceasar Achellam, a senior commander in the Lord’s Resistance Army, was recently captured by the Ugandan army in the Central African Republic. Joseph Kony, the group’s leader, is still wanted by the International Criminal Court for rape and murder thousands of civilians. See it here.