Camp Fire USA Orange County Council teams up with the UNITED NATIONS' Girl Up campaign to aid girls in developing countries

LOS ANGELES, CA, November 20, 2010

Girl Up, a campaign of the United Nations Foundation, held a pep rally for hundreds of enthusiastic teenagers at Marlborough School in Los Angeles November 5th. The Girl Up campaign is reaching out to American girls, drawing on their compassion and energy to raise awareness and funds for programs of the United Nations dedicated to helping adolescent girls in developing countries. The Los Angeles pep rally was one in a series of rallies which will be hosted nationwide.
All participants in the rally were given a Girl Up passport and traveled around the room to the countries of Malawi, Liberia, Ethiopia, and Guatemala. While "traveling the world" they learned about the lives of their peers in each country through interactive games, trivia and physical challenges. The "Passport Challenge" not only enlightened those participating about the difficulties facing girls in each country, but also taught that these difficulties can be overcome, "because while we are strong, together we are stronger. And together, our voices will change the world."
Special guest speakers at the rally included the Mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa and Girl Up Global Advocate, Her Majesty Queen Rania al Abdullah of Jordan. Despite all the troubles facing girls around the world, Queen Rania reminded everyone, "Girls aren't the problem, girls are the answers to many of society's challenges." The girls attending the rally were a direct example of her statement.
One of the founding partners of Girl Up, Camp Fire USA, brought 7 girls and 3 boys from Orange High School to help spur global change. The partnership between Camp Fire USA and Girl Up is one of mutual benefaction. Camp Fire is able to spread the message of Girl Up and raise awareness about the campaign through the 300,000 children they serve nationwide with after school programs and summer camps. At the same time, being a part of the Girl Up campaign provides all involved with a global education in humanity and a new, unique perspective on their own lives. Girl Up reminds youth that every boy and girl has the power to enact change, the power to change the world.
Among the many activities at the rally, boys and girls had the chance to give a "high five" to a girl in a developing nation, writing encouraging and heartfelt messages that would be delivered halfway around the world. The notes were simple yet carried powerful messages: "There is hope!" "You can do anything!" "We can make a difference so never back down." "You are the hope for tomorrow, true inspiration for other girls. Stay strong."
Camp Fire USA and Girl Up encourage everyone to get involved by learning the facts, spreading the word and donating. More information can be found at http://www.GirlUp.org.

PHOTO: (send request to lizzmishreki@cox.net of color photo)

CAPTION: Jazmin Puente (left), 17, of Orange and Angelica Partida, 16, of Orange attend the launching of the United Nation's Foundation "Girl Up" campaign in Los Angeles as part of Camp Fire USA Orange County Council's ACCESS Program. Both are students at Orange High School.