Recently, the Flagstaff Freethinkers brought a screening of a remarkable movie to our lovely little mountain town: Girl Rising. It was an absolutely incredible, inspiring, imaginative, creative and uplifting movie about the value of educating girls in the developing world. They focused on several girls from countries around the world, including some in which we have students: Peru, Haiti, Nepal and India. Each girl was paired with a writer from her own country to accompany her and write her story, and each girl’s story was presented in a different, creative way. I can’t recommend the movie enough. If you want to bring a screening to your town, check it out at www.girlrising.com. At least watch the trailer; it will make you cry (in a good way)!

Speaking of girls rising, ours are doing beautifully! We have heard from Camila and Klaudina in Honduras; both are excelling in school and so very happy to be studying. Bencille in Haiti recently received top grades on tests in her class, and Mireya in Peru is studying away, and getting her usual good grades. More than the grades, though, they all appear to be thriving, and happy to be in school, which to us is more important than simply getting good grades. So we have our own 19 girls rising, and we thank you all for helping us help them.

We will have a table at Carolyn Young’s West of the Moon Gallery in downtown Flagstaff again for May First Friday Artwalk, so if you are in the area, stop by and say hi!

Thanks again, and please pass the word; we can always use donations to help these 19 and any new girls stay in school, succeed and achieve their dreams. Happy Spring!