G(irls)20 today launched a global project, “Fathers Empowering Daughters” to celebrate the powerful force fathers can play in the advancement of their daughters. Carlson Rezidor, is the corporate sponsor of the initiative, which is being launched in the run up to the world leaders meeting at the G20 in Australia this August.
G(irls)20 will convene 24 girls from around the world to address how to economically engage and empower girls and women to achieve growth goals globally and in their home countries. The campaign calls on fathers from around the world to showcase the ways in which they empower their daughters to succeed and achieve – whatever age, whatever dream – and also encourages daughters to share stories about how their fathers have empowered them.
The global campaign features fathers and daughters from around the world sharing their stories in a series of self-recorded videos, and kicks-off with high profile fathers such as Richard Branson, Ziauddin Yousafzai (Malala’s father) and well-known daughters including Chelsea Clinton and Shakira.
“My two daughters inspire me every day, and I want to empower them to follow their dreams and pursue their ambitions. Empowerment is not an act, but an attitude – it is all about embracing the opportunities of life. I have the same approach as a father and as a CEO: I want to empower women in leadership at the Rezidor Hotel Group. We are committed to doubling the number of female leaders by 2016 and to changing the paradigms in the male dominated hospitality industry”, Wolfgang M. Neumann, President & CEO of the Rezidor Hotel Group. (See more in his video below.)
On how fathers empower their daughters, Richard Branson, father to Holly Branson said, “Give them the freedom to do what they want to do with their life.” He also encouraged men to “treat all their children equally.” He continued, “It is so sad that in some places in the world, daughters are treated as second class citizens and that’s got to be put right. People cannot use religion as an excuse, that is certainly not what the people who originally set out their religions would have wanted, so just treat all your children equally.”
Chelsea Clinton, daughter of former U.S. President Bill Clinton said, “It is impossible for me to describe the extent to which my father has supported me, nurtured me and empowered me over the years. Through his words and even more his actions, he has always taught me the importance of doing right, by our family, by the communities that I have chosen to be a part of and, ultimately, by the world.” Clinton continued, “He has always challenged me to take risks, not unnecessary ones but the ones that are necessary to be the person that I want to be and to have the impact I hope to have on the world.”
The theme song of the campaign, Little B, a lullaby from a father to his daughter was co-written by Grammy Award Winner Sarah McLachlan and Canadian businessman, Frank Guistra.
“This campaign engages men in a unique, personal and meaningful way,” said Farah Mohamed, Founder & CEO of G(irls)20 and the creator of Fathers Empowering Daughters. “Fathers can play an important role in encouraging daughters to realize their dreams, no matter how big or small, and this Father’s Day we celebrate that.”
Videos can be viewed at www.fathersempoweringdaughters.com, where fathers and daughters from around the world are invited to upload their self-recorded video.
Additional confirmed participants include:
BC Lions Coach, Wally Buono, and his daughter; Former Prime Minister of Canada Joe Clark and his daughter Catherine; Musician Tom Cochrane; CFL Commissioner Marc Cohon; Blue Rodeo Musician Jim Cuddy; President and CEO of Edelman Public Relations, Richard Edelman; Host of Consumer Alert on CTV, Pat Foran; Musician, Producer and Composer David Foster; CEO of Lionsgate, Joe Feltheimer; CEO of Burson-Marsteller EMEA, Jeremy Galbraith; Businessman and Philanthropist Frank Guistra and his daughter Isabella; Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper; U.S. Ambassador to Canada, Bruce Heyman; Host of ET Canada, Cheryl Hickey; Worldwide Vice Chair of Burson-Marsteller, Ambassador Karen Hughes; Businessman and Philanthropist Mo Ibrahim and his daughter Hadeel; Record Producer Quincy Jones and Nikki Yanofsky; Retired General Andrew Leslie; Host of Power Play on CTV, Don Martin; International Chef and Philanthropist Marc McEwen; International Chef Roger Mooking; Model, TV host and Philanthropist, Petra Nemcova; CTV Chief Political Correspondent, Craig Oliver; Bolivian Actress, Carla Ortiz; 54-40 Musician, Neil Osborne; Jazz Artist Jean Luc Ponty and his daughter Clare; Musician Sam Roberts; Canadian Liberal Party Leader, Justin Trudea.
