The US Secretary of State, John Kerry and the US State Department recognized 14-year- old Nigerian-American girl, ZurielOduwole, for ‘clarity of purpose’ in her fight for Girls Education in Africa through her Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand Up project.
For the very first time in the history of the United States Government, Zuriel is being commended for the unexpected attention she is bringing to the issue of girls’ education in Africa at such a young age, since she was 10 years old, and the measurable difference she is making in children’s lives across the continent through some of her programmes, such as film making classes for the underprivileged.
She has now taught film-making to more than 305 youths across 4 African countries including Namibia, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria and last month in the Mathare slums and SOS Orphanage Village, Kenya, Guardian reports.
The secretary was impressed that a student from her first film class workshop in February 2016, 24-year-old Namibian, Anna Kalola, produced her first documentary just 9 months later, in November 2016 in Windhoek.
”I don’t believe there is anyone out there under the age of 35 doing anything nearly as much as what you are doing,” the Secretary told Zuriel.
It is incredible you have seen clearly the importance of these global challenges, and taken bold steps to do something about them. As far as I know, you are the world’s most powerful Girl, but you probably just don’t know it! You are inspiring and empowering Africa’s youth, and that is powerful. I try, Zuriel replied,” but Secretary Kerry responded saying ‘No, you are not trying, you are a doer, and we like to recognize talent like yours.”
Secretary Kerry told the smart independent filmmaker, who has now met one-one-one with 23 presidents, addressed more than 24,900 children across 11 countries on Education, and who was invited to speak at the UN last September, that because of her continued development work, she might one day be a future U.S. Secretary of State, or as many in the diplomatic circles now believe, perhaps the youngest UN Secretary-General in history.
Sharing photos from her visit via social medial, young Zuriel wrote:
“Met John Kerry – US Secretary of State. Happy New year to you all and hope you had a Merry and Safe Christmas. I am just so very, very thankful to the LORD for where he is taking me and what he wants to do in the lives of the youth of this world today.
I just met with the US Secretary of State, John Kerry in his office in Washington DC. Some of you might think so, you’ve already met 23 World Leaders and recently spoke at the UN. This is very different. Secretary Kerry’s decisions affects the whole worlds foreign and economic policy. And next to President Obama, he is the most visible member of the US Government leadership. The whole world knows who he is.
What’s so cool is we talked about Girls Education, and all the State Department has done the last 4 years on this serious topic. Like me, he believes if all people in a society are included, especially Girls and Women, then that society does much better. I believe that so much. That’s another reason I am teaching young children some basic film making skills, so they can add to their society’s development. We all can do something very small, to empower others, or encourage others. I truly believe so.”
Wao lovely
God bless her
Wow incredible. Kudos to her.
Nice one, kudos to her.