From cricket championships to choir practice, Roll Call series highlights girlhood around the world
Learn what a week is like in the lives of girls from Brazil, India, Japan, Mexico and Turkey.
Kanon and her team put the finishing touches on their robot before leaving Japan for their regional competition in Hawaii. Hedil, a Syrian refugee, practised songs with her choir, which she joined to help improve her Turkish. And Lusi celebrated her 16th birthday thousands of miles away from her home in India — while visiting the U.K. for the Street Child Cricket World Cup.
In Assembly’s latest series, Roll Call, girls from around the world share their aspirations, struggles, fears and passions through videos and diary entries. Get to know some of the girls featured:
Hedil, 14, Syrian refugee living in Turkey
After Hedil and her family fled Syria five years ago, she had trouble making friends at school because she didn’t speak Turkish. Determined to learn the language, she found that her love of music could help her. “When my Turkish friends were listening to Turkish songs, I learnt the names of these songs and checked out the translations of lyrics in Arabic,” she said. She even joined a choir with IGAM, an organisation supported by Malala Fund that helps Syrian refugees resettle in Turkey.
(Courtesy of Rosie Hallam)
Lusi, 16, India
Cricketer Lusi travelled thousands of miles to Cambridge, U.K. to represent India in the Street Child Cricket World Cup, a tournament that uses the power of cricket to tackle the stigma faced by street-connected children. She competed in thrilling matches with team India North against competitors from Nepal, England and Tanzania and delivered a speech on the issues affecting homeless children at the U.K. parliament.
(Courtesy of Tess Thomas / Malala Fund)
Kanon, 18, Japan
It’s building season for Kanon and her robotics team, which means lots of late nights and plenty of snacks. Since graduating high school last month, Kanon has spent most of her time building robots (19 hours a day, to be precise) and competing. Her team, Sakura Tempesta, received the Chairman's Award at FIRST Robotics Regional Competition in Hawaii and qualified to compete at the world championship. In her Roll Call entry, Kanon shares her passion for engineering with a special guest — watch to find out who!
(Courtesy of Sthefany)
Sthefany, 19, Brazil
In Serra do Padeiro, a remote village in northeastern Brazil, Sthefany’s Indigenous Tupinambá community faces constant threat due to conflict over land ownerships. Despite the dangers, Sthefany speaks out in support of her community's right to own land. As a university student, she’s learning new skills that will help her fight for justice.
(Courtesy of Regina)
Regina, 13, Mexico
During the week, Regina is busy with schoolwork, basketball practice and acting out telenovelas with her friends. But on Sundays, her whole family gathers together for a big lunch in their home outside of Mexico City. In her episode of Roll Call, Regina opens up about the importance of family and seizing every moment with your loved ones.
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