Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand Up

Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari. Ghana President John Kufour. Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness. These are just some of the leaders that 15-year-old documentary filmmaker Zuriel Oduwole has sat down with to talk about access to education for girls.

In her latest documentary, Follow the Ball for Education, Oduwole chronicles some of her efforts to gain support for girls' education from leaders around the globe.

Her advocacy work began at only age 9. While working on a project about the Ghana revolution, it caught her attention that girls her age around the world had great disparities accessing education, particularly in African countries.

"I didn't like to see girls [in Ghana] who were ... a similar age to me not in school and not getting an education," Oduwale says.

Motivated to do something, Oduwole set out on a path to make a difference in improving girl’s access to education. The Los Angeles native, born to Mauritian and Nigerian parents, began producing more documentaries about Africa, and also started an organization, Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand Up, as a means to talk directly to children about the importance of education and staying in school. 

Her work for girls education as a leader for women in Africa has caught the attention of media outlets, including Forbes, Elle, and Teen Vogue. In this edition of the Harvard EdCast, Odulwole shares her inspirations and aspirations for the future.

About the Harvard EdCast

The Harvard EdCast is a weekly series of podcasts, available on the Harvard University iTunes U page, that features a 15-20 minute conversation with thought leaders in the field of education from across the country and around the world. Hosted by Matt Weber and co-produced by Jill Anderson, the Harvard EdCast is a space for educational discourse and openness, focusing on the myriad issues and current events related to the field.