Celebrities and Advocates
Traveling the globe to see change firsthand
Some of Hollywood's top talents traveled with Nicholas Kristof to Somaliland, Kenya, India, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Sierra Leone to meet the women on the front lines of the campaign to secure human rights of women and girls worldwide.
Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide filmed in 10 countries, following Kristof, WuDunn, and celebrity activists America Ferrera, Diane Lane, Eva Mendes, Meg Ryan, Gabrielle Union, and Olivia Wilde on a journey to tell the stories of inspiring and courageous individuals. Across the globe, oppression is being confronted and meaningful solutions are being fashioned through health care, education, and economic empowerment for women and girls. Embedded in the linked problems of sex trafficking and forced prostitution, gender-based violence, and maternal mortality — which needlessly claims one woman every 90 seconds — is the single most vital opportunity of our time. All over the world, women are seizing this opportunity.
"Celebrities can bring these
issues into the limelight. That’s your job;
to shine a little light on people
that are actually doing the hard lifting,
but to help them as much as you can."
— Susan Sarandon, Actor, Activist

America Ferrera
The star of Ugly Betty and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants has served as an artist ambassador for the global humanitarian organization Save the Children. She traveled to India with Nicholas Kristof to visit Urmi Basu and the New Light shelter.
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Diane Lane
The Academy Award nominated star of Unfaithful and supporter of Heifer International and Oceana, traveled to Somaliland with Nicholas Kristof to visit Edna Adan at the Edna Adan Maternity Hospital.
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Eva Mendes
The star of Hitch and We Own the Night traveled with Nicholas Kristof to Sierra Leone to visit Amie Kandeh and the International Rescue Committee.
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Meg Ryan
The star of When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle, and a CARE Ambassador, traveled to Cambodia with Nicholas Kristof.
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Gabrielle Union
The star of Bring it On and Bad Boys 2 and education advocate traveled with Nicholas Kristof to Vietnam to visit John Wood at Room to Read.
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Olivia Wilde
The star of House and veteran activist traveled to Kenya with Nicholas Kristof to visit Ingrid and Jane at Jamil Bora and Rebecca in the Umoja Village.
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