Artist statement

Every day, girls face barriers to education caused by poverty, cultural norms and

practices, poor infrastructure and violence. The Right To Play creates a powerful

narrative that sheds light on the challenges faced by millions of girls globally in their

pursuit of an education.

The project poses the question - What do girls dream of? And what happens when a

supportive environment is created where girls are empowered and given the opportunity

to learn and dream? What does that world look like?

The result is a poignant exploration of the dreams and aspirations of young girls,

challenging societal expectations that limit their potential. By creating a playful world

where girls are not confined by poverty, cultural norms, or violence and instead, is

shown through a lens that paints a vivid picture of the possibilities that arise when girls

are given the opportunity to learn and dream freely.

The Right To Play merges storytelling with an imagined playful world where girls are the

shown in an empowered and affirming way blooming as the heroines of their own

stories and overcoming the many barriers to getting an education.

This project was created with Kakenya's Dream, a nonprofit organization that leverages

education to empower girls, end harmful traditional practices including female genital

mutilation (FGM) and child mar