UN / AFGHANISTAN GIRLS EDUCATION PRESSER

Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait (ECW) Yasmine Sherif said that the programme funded by her organization has reached over 100,000 girls in Afghanistan, 65 percent of them are adolescent girls. UNIFEED

• Video Length: 00:01:55
• Production Date: 7 March 2025
• Asset Language: English
• Subject Topical: EDUCATION; GIRLS; HUMAN RIGHTS
• Geographic Subject: AFGHANISTAN
• MAMS Id: 3347503
• Parent Id: 3347503
• Alternate Title: unifeed250307c

Description

STORY: UN / AFGHANISTAN GIRLS EDUCATION PRESSER
TRT: 1:55
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 07 MARCH 2025, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

Shotlist

FILE – NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior, United Nations Headquarters

07 MARCH 2025, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, press briefing room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Yasmine Sherif, Executive Director, Education Cannot Wait:
“We have reached over 100,000 and as I said, 65 percent are adolescent girls. We have trained 3,500 teachers in mental health and psychosocial service, in social and emotional learning, safeguarding, prevention of sexual exploitation and child protection. And the current program that we have that is working so very well runs through 2026.”
4. Wide shot, press briefing room
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Yasmine Sherif, Executive Director, Education Cannot Wait:
“We appeal to all public sector, private sector partners. You want change? You want to be a change maker? You want to make a difference? Well, here it is. We take care of everything for you, you just have to step up and support us with the financial means, everything else is in place. You're making a huge difference for humanity, and it's in everyone's national interest.”
6. Wide shot, press briefing room
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Elaha Mahboob, co-producer and writer of ‘Rule Breakers’:
“It was very important for us to make sure that this film capture not only the struggle, but also the determination and then courage and hope and talent of these young girls. Too often, the stories that we see about Afghanistan only focus on hardship, but “Rule Breakers’ shows another side – a side that is filled with innovation and possibility.”
8. Wide shot, press briefing room
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Elaha Mahboob, co-producer and writer of ‘Rule Breakers’:
“And all girls, they deserve to, and they have right to learn, and dream big and build a better future for themselves.”

Storyline

Executive Director of Education Cannot Wait (ECW) Yasmine Sherif said that the programme funded by her organization has reached over 100,000 girls in Afghanistan, 65 percent of them are adolescent girls.

The Executive Director spoke to reporters today (07 Mar) ahead of International Women’s Day.

Sherif said that in Afghanistan, ECW has trained 3,500 teachers in mental health and psychosocial service, in social and emotional learning, safeguarding, prevention of sexual exploitation and child protection.

The current program wIll run through 2026.

The Executive Director appealed to all public sector and private sector partners, “You want change? You want to be a change maker? You want to make a difference? Well, here it is. We take care of everything for you, you just have to step up and support us with the financial means, everything else is in place.”

“You're making a huge difference for humanity, and it's in everyone's national interest,” Sherif added.

Elaha Mahboob, co-producer and writer of ‘Rule Breakers’ also spoke to reporters.

Speaking about the film that is launching in theaters across the United States, Canada, South Africa and Sri Lanka today, Mahboob said, “It was very important for us to make sure that this film capture not only the struggle, but also the determination and then courage and hope and talent of these young girls.”

“Too often, the stories that we see about Afghanistan only focus on hardship, but ‘Rule Breakers’ shows another side – a side that is filled with innovation and possibility,” she said.

Mahboob concluded, “all girls, they deserve to, and they have right to learn, and dream big and build a better future for themselves.”

‘Rule Breakers’ launches in advance of International Women’s Day. The film highlights the courage and hope of the Afghan Girls Robotics Team, known as the Afghan Dreamers. When their innovation draws global attention, their success sparks hope – and opposition. As threats loom and sacrifices are made, their courage and unity ignite a movement that could forever transform the world.