In addition to blogger Kate Jongbloed and Team Because I am a Girl here at Plan Canada, we’ll have a variety of guest bloggers contributing to our campaign blog, bringing personal perspectives and first-hand accounts of girls’ initiatives across Canada. Check back often.

Read Team Because I am a Girl posts

Meet Kate Jongbloed

Kate is an Internet-crazed, note-scribbling, multi-tasking world changer. She believes in justice, technology, innovation, and people. With a degree in International Development Studies recently under her belt, plus a year internship in Ethiopia with Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief and CAPAIDS, she finds herself in a world of print, web and research for global health and international development. Kate is excited by the many ways each of us can make small changes that turn into big change for a better world. And she wants you to be excited by it too.

Read Kate’s posts

Meet the School Tour Team

The 411TV: Because I am a Girl concert and mock live-to-air TV talk show is now touring Western Canada schools through to June 4th. Blogging live from the tour are:

Nana Aba Duncan – Journalist

Nana is an on-air host and writer and currently hosts the contest segment on GO! every Saturday on CBC Radio One. Nana Aba was also a radio reporter in Ghana.

Read Nana’s posts

Masia One – Hip Hop Artist

masia-oneMasia One released her debut album ‘Mississauga’ in 2003, and three music videos including ‘Split Second Time’ which was nominated for a Much Music Video Award. Masia One is a mainstay of International Hip hop, working with producers and artist from Europe (Nicolay, DJ Vadim), N. America (Wild Child, BBA Muzik), Asia (DJ SARASA) and the Caribbean (Jubba; Mighty Diamonds). She has recently released her new album Pulau.

Read Masia One’s posts

Meet the Caravan Tour Team

The Because I am a Girl documentary film crew has completed its Caravan Tour across Canada in October, 2009 and the documentary is now complete! Read the bloggers’ posts from the tour, or watch the documentary! Here’s the team that made it all happen:

Simonee Chichester – Director

Simonee Chichester is a multi-disciplinary artist who directs, produces and writes for a variety of mediums and genres. She’s also a professionally trained actor who attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. In 2007 Simonee completed her first film, the award-winning documentary, “Chichester’s Choice.” The film tells the personal story of Simonee reuniting with her homeless father in Brazil. Alongside her documentary endeavors, Simonee, also directs and writes fiction films. She’s a graduate of the CFC and is currently in development on a BravoFACT short film, Captivus. It begins production in November 2009.

Read Simonee’s posts

Liz Dussault – Producer

Liz Dussault is an independent producer who began her film career in New York. After obtaining her BA in film studies from Queen’s University, Liz then moved to New York to attend the New York Film Academy. In 2006 Liz began working in feature film and television development for Andrew Lauren Productions. Liz served as Associate Producer on “This is Not a Robbery,” which premiered at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. Liz is thrilled to be part of a documentary that will inspire young women to take social action in their own communities and across the world.

Read Liz’s posts

Torey Kohara – Director/Lead Camera

Torey Kohara is an independent director/ cinematographer and photographer living in Toronto. He is a graduate of both Upper Canada College and Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Working alongside co-director Jonathan Weiman, Torey has shot numerous documentaries for non-profit organizations including Kingston Literacy and The George Hull Center. He is currently co-directing a documentary concentrating on the reconciliation of post-Genocide Rwanda via the catalyst of sport.

Read Torey’s posts

Jon Weiman – Director/Co-Producer

Jonathan Weiman is an independent documentary filmmaker and a graduate of cinema and new media studies at Queen’s University. At a young age, Jonathan began producing short, socially relevant documentaries for a wide variety of organizations ranging from Kingston Literacy to the George Hull Center. In the summer of 2007, Jonathan produced a 30-minute documentary funded by Clear Directions, an organization involved in rehabilitating youths with serious drug addiction. Jonathan recently came back from Rwanda, where he co-directed a television documentary on the role soccer has played in the lives of orphans after the 1994 Genocide.

Read Jon’s posts