Highlight Reel for 2024

The adventures of Maitreyi Ramakrishnan

1

You may know Maitreyi Ramakrishnan from her starring role in Netflix’s Never Have I Ever. This year, she took the (unscripted) lead as Plan International Global Celebrated Ambassador while travelling to Tanzania. And we think it’s some of her best work yet.

Watch as cameras roll while Maitreyi makes menstrual pads with students like Tassan. He and his classmates are tired of seeing their female counterparts face discomfort and stigma during their periods – and are doing something about it.

Psst: There’s a reason this received 1.4 million views in 24 hours on Instagram!

A film-fest standout: Salma’s story

2

Salma is an 11-year-old girl in northern Nigeria. She is unable to speak or hear, and, until a year ago, she had never attended school or left her community. Recently, her story took to the big screen as an Official Selection for the 2024 Imagine This Women’s International Film Festival in New York City.

The mini-documentary, Salma, was filmed entirely by smartphone and created by Plan’s Embedded Storytellers Aimalohi Ojeamiren and Ike Nnaebue. It follows Salma’s remarkable journey to overcome oppression, poverty and inequality with incredible resilience – and the unwavering support of her family. Watch and see why this short was the talk of the festival as Salma takes her rightful place in the spotlight.

Men against toxic masculinity

3

The world can’t achieve true equality without male allies. That’s where young men like Joel and Miguel come in. As part of the ARRIBA^* project in Bolivia, they’re stepping up to overturn machismo culture, which perpetuates discrimination and violence against women.

Both men have seen and felt the damage of machismo in their upbringing; they want better for their mothers, younger siblings and all children and families. See how Joel and Miguel are bravely setting an example of what true strength looks like.

*With funding from the Government of Canada

“ Knowledge shouldn’t stay in one person. It should be shared with others – and that’s what we do.” – Joel, a Champion of Change in, Bolivia.

Poetic justice

4

“ Now I wonder, how a child can recognize stigma before her own potential. Isn’t that another way to forcefully deflower a girl?” – Pelemo Nyajo

Joining from Nigeria, youth and disability activist Pelemo Nyajo recites a poignant poem during this Instagram Live with Plan International Celebrated Ambassador Lisa LaFlamme.

Two-time TEDx speaker Nyajo and award-winning journalist LaFlamme are a dynamo pair who refuse to stay silent about threats to girls’ rights. Each proves the mightiness of their pens and perspectives in this can’t-miss conversation.

Still rolling: more from Maitreyi’s travel diary

5

This trip was too full and good to capture with a single play button! In this short clip, you’ll see Maitreyi traverse bumpy roads to reach girls biking their way to a better destination.

In remote parts of Tanzania, girls walk up to 8 kilometres a day to attend school. Often this means taking dark paths where they’re at risk of harm and harassment. That cycle is shifting, thanks to 500 donated bikes.

Take a spin alongside Maitreyi and see how the proud owners of new wheels, like Ezra, are charting faster, safer routes to reach their top-gear goals.

BONUS: The Plan Effect

6

In under a minute, this video packs in Plan’s approach to change, and what makes it so powerful. Discover the Plan Effect, where your donations combine to create complete, community-wide transformations. Plus, see for yourself how every dollar helps ensure solid shifts are built to last – and expand further!