Right to Play, the international children’s charity, hosted its Women’s Network lunch on Thursday 2nd October 2014 in London with CNN Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour as the guest speaker. Through the Women’s Network, Right to Play hopes to empower even more women and girls around the world with their structured sports programs. They want to harness the energy and commitment of leading women like Billie Jean King (who spoke at the inaugural lunch in June 2014) and Christiane Amanpour, who have undeniably led the way for women to advance further and break through barriers. The Women’s Network is a forum for discussing careers and business, sharing information, and creating new connections.
Christiane said, “It was a wonderful privilege to be invited to speak at the Right To Play Women’s Network lunch. I thoroughly enjoyed having the chance to engage with you all on an issue that is of the utmost importance: the changes we need to make to be sure that the next generation can grow up safer. The hugely positive effect that Right To Play is having on furthering women’s rights and providing girls with opportunities is truly impressive, and something that I support wholeheartedly.”
“Interviewing influential women, from Dilma Rousseff and her female challenger in the Brazilian election, Marina Silva, to the extraordinary Malala Yousafzai, I have been struck by the incredible power women and girls have to change the world we live in, irrespective of background. Right To Play, with its fresh and exciting approach, is taking a central role in empowering the next generation of both boys and girls across the world to make gender inequality a thing of the past.”
About Christiane Amanpour
Christiane Amanpour is the CNN Chief International Correspondent. During her time at CNN, and previously at ABC News, Christiane has interviewed some of the world’s top leaders and earned major television awards, including 11 News and Documentary Emmy Awards. She has travelled all over the world, visiting many of the countries where Right To Play works to empower disadvantaged women and girls. She has experienced first-hand the inequalities that Right To Play seeks to address through our play-based learning programmes.
About Right to Play
Right To Play was established iby Norwegian Olympic speed skater Johann Olav Koss. The charity has a distinctive approach of using sport and structured play to bring about change, which is a powerful tool to challenge this inequality and to empower women and girls. Play provides a retreat from everyday hardships allowing children to learn whilst doing what they love most – having fun.
The games are specially designed with both girls and boys in mind, recognising the importance of both sexes to improving gender equality. The games teach children important values and life skills while supporting their physical, mental and social development. Playing these games helps improve health and well being, fosters self-esteem and empowerment, encourages social inclusion, challenges gender norms, and provides opportunities for leadership and personal achievement.
Today, Right To Play has programmes in over 20 countries across Latin America, Africa and Asia. For the first time, in 2013, 50% of children participating in our programmes were girls, and of our volunteer Coaches, 56% are women.
About the Right to Play Women’s Network
Launched in June 2014 by sports icon and humanitarian Billie Jean King, the Right To Play Women’s Network brings together inspirational and influential women to embrace, celebrate and advance the education and empowerment of women and girls around the world. Members of the Network have access to exclusive events throughout the year, including the opportunity to hear global leaders and to network with influential sports and business women in London and beyond. Members of the Right To Play Women’s Network directly support the charity’s gender equality programs, which currently reach half million girls around the world. The network hopes to hit their target of doubling the number of girls they reach to 1 million by 2018.
For further information, please visit www.righttoplay.org.uk.