Shouts to The 411 Initiative For Change for the continued great work! From their latest press release:

Female Rappers Discuss Girls Rights and Self Esteem With 10,000 Students Across Ontario

Nov. 20, 2009. Toronto –Youth-led organization The 411 Initiative For Change (411), is teaming up with Plan Canada to present 411 TV: Because I Am A Girl, — a girls’ rights themed education program for schools across Ontario — in the format of a mock live-to-air TV Talk Show.

Canadian hip-hop artists Eternia and Masia One use their music and personal experiences to generate discussions on issues affecting girls in Canada and around the world. The show is hosted by journalist Nana Aba Duncan. MTV Canada hosts Nicole Holness and Aliya-Jasmine Sovani, along with Diane Salema join the conversation through pre-taped segments to discuss their trips to visit girls in Haiti, Colombia and Sudan. This highly entertaining and candid program will reach 10,000 female students in Brampton, Mississauga, Brechin, Sudbury, Sault St. Marie, Thunder Bay, Dryden, Sioux Lookout, St. Thomas, Waterdown, Hamilton, Beamsville, St. Catharines, Sarnia, Windsor, Bowmanville, Oshawa, Toronto and Richmond Hill.

411 TV: Because I Am A Girl uses video, music and theatre to hear first-hand stories from young girls around the world about access to education, forced early marriage, violence against girls and women and self esteem.

This project is committed to portraying positive imagines of girls, to providing engaging stories and to offering real–life testimonies from girls around the world. Internationally, girls are making their voices heard, empowering themselves and inspiring others – one community at a time. The show airs stories of local heroes by highlighting both their struggles and successes in improving their lives and their communities.

“Young people get a lot of their information through television; we wanted to capitalize on this popular media through the creation of an innovative 411 branded TV talk show,” explains 411 President Sterling Downey. “We took a lot of inspiration from watching shows like The Hour, Oprah and Tyra Banks. We are honoured to be working with Plan Canada to incorporate their international content into the program. Through the wonders of new media, we can create the concept of live-to-air taping – with satellite feeds for guest interviews.”

411’s programming works to connect young Canadians to volunteering initiatives and resources in their communities and provides schools with meaningful opportunities for youth to continue learning about this critical issue. This program demonstrates that young Canadians are drivers of change and make a difference in the world.

Plan Canada is part of Plan, a global movement for change and one of the world’s oldest and largest international development agencies. Operating in more than 65 countries, and inclusive of all faiths and cultures, we mobilize millions of people to support social justice for children in the developing world. We promote gender equality in all of our work.

For more info check out www.whatsthe411.ca