Zuriel Oduwole: Filmmaker and Campaigner for Girls' Education
Introduction Zuriel Oduwole People’s lives are made up of stories which can encourage us to see the world in new and exciting ways Some stories reveal tremendous challenges that people have overcome Other stories highlight their remarkable achievements Learning about other people’s stories can teach us more about ourselves and our role in the world around us What Is a Biography A biography is the story of a person’s life and experiences We read biographies to learn about another person’s life and thoughts Biographies can be based on many sources of information Primary sources include a person’s own words or pictures Secondary sources come from friends family media or research Zuriel is always prepared and professional when directing a film 4
A Powerful Force Zuriel Oduwole started making movies when she was just nine years old She wants to help more girls around the world to get an education so they can create brighter futures for themselves To help achieve this she has met with world leaders and used her films to press for change She has been called a powerful global force for the empowerment of girls THINK ABOUT IT As you read about Zuriel Oduwole think about how this remarkable young filmmaker is inspiring others to act and create change 5
Chapter 1 Becoming a Filmmaker Zuriel Oduwole was born in Los Angeles California on July 24 2002 Although she is American she also has strong ties to Africa Her parents come from Nigeria and Mauritius Zuriel enjoys normal teenage activities such as sports hanging out with friends and going to the movies She is also passionate about girls education and dedicated to helping underprivileged girls around the world Zuriel is a role model for millions of young people who want to inspire change 6
Parents Influence Zuriel’s parents play an important role in her beliefs and values They have encouraged her connection to her African heritage And they insist that while life may present difficulties there is nothing called I can’t Although Zuriel advocates for girls education she has never actually attended a traditional school Her parents have homeschooled her following a private homeschool program since she was three From a young age my parents taught me I am a proud African and just because we live in America doesn’t mean I am any less African Zuriel Oduwole African Independent January 2016 Young women in Ghana celebrate their high school graduation Zuriel is a champion for girls education 7
