Happy Navratri!
This year October 10th marks the beginning of Navratri, a Hindu Festival celebrating the triumph of good over evil.
Announced at the Clinton Global Initiative in September 2009 in collaboration with Vital Voices Global Partnership, Man Up is a global campaign to activate youth to stop violence against women and girls. Our call to action challenges each of us to “man up” and declare that violence against women and girls must end.
In order to break the cycle of trauma and misinformation unabated violence against women and girls bestows on individuals, families, communities and societies around the world, Man Up Campaign was created to give young people a voice in developing models of change that truly address this issue.
The Man Up Campaign brought together a prestigious team of delegates from 24 countries, along with artists, athletes, technologists researchers and activists to launch the campaign at an inaugural Young Leaders Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The youth leaders were able to gain inspiration, insight, techniques and connections to resources to allow them to help facilitate them undertaking projects of their own design in their community to end gender-based violence.
The Man Up Campaign movement has continued by convening our youth delegates, in summits and conferences, in forming chapters and projects along with artists, athletes, technologists, researchers and activists to further actualize the goal. These youth champions of gender equality and inclusiveness are engaging fellow youth using sports, music, arts, reflection and technology S.M.A.R.T. realizing grassroots projects to bring an end to gender-based violence in their own communities.
This is a bold initiative and the first of its kind in that it is both youth led and informed. Over the course of the next five years and beyond Man Up Campaign will continue to expand both its resources and presence to build a worldwide community around this cause. As Man Up Campaign continues to grow we welcome you to partner with us in the movement to stop the gender-based violence to stop this for all we must work with all!
Through the universal platforms of sport, music, the arts, and technology Man Up Campaign is partnering with young men and women around the world by providing innovative training, resources and support to youth informed initiatives. This partnership works to build a network of young champions and defenders, of gender equality, gender inclusiveness and opportunity linking their efforts to those of community based and mainstream organizations, entertainment and sports communities, non-profits and corporations towards our common cause.