¡PODER!

"Imagine the collective change worldwide that can result if that message could inspire the other 600 million girls around the world living in poverty who don't have access to education or healthcare"

¡PODER!, which means "power" in Spanish, is a docu-drama, film-based tool to ensure that girls can advocate for their own causes and their own funding, as well as impacting legislation in their own communities. It is based on the real-life story of 2 indigenous girls in the small town of Concepción Chiquirichapa, Guatemala, who challenged their local mayor to create policies and funding to ensure that girls in their town had access to education and healthcare. In Concepción Chiquirichapa, only 10% of Mayan girls finish primary school, and over 50% get pregnant and have children before they turn 18.

In an effort to change these statistics, Elba Velasquez and Emelin Cabrera, supported by leadership training and support, fought to create more girl-friendly legislation.

¡PODER! does not centre its message or production process around the challenges of being a girl in this community, but, rather, on the power girls possess when given the opportunity to participate in leadership training. Filmmaker Lisa Russell created the story from the ground up by developing the script in collaboration with the 2 girl leaders and having them play themselves in their own story. The film was shot over 3 days in July 2013. It is available in English (see above) and Spanish (click here to watch it on YouTube.)

This is a multi-media effort in the sense that the film is connected via a website that includes information about the film and invitations, such as to the Film Ambassadors Club. "Film Ambassadors receive an online link to the film, Guidelines on How to Host a Screening, ¡PODER! Film Ambassador Swag, and more..."