Kate Nash on girl power and her trip to Ghana with Plan International

Kate Nash in Ghana

By Laura Ferreiro

Kate Nash has never been afraid to speak her mind. The talented singer’s biting lyrics address themes of complex relationships and standing up for one’s beliefs with great wit and just the right amount of sass.

She’s been touring the world in support of her new album, aptly titled “Girl Talk,” and has been amassing fans wherever she goes. But what’s really cool about Nash? She puts her money where her mouth is. She recently signed on to become a global ambassador for Plan International’s Because I Am a Girl  campaign that gives girls throughout the world access to the most basic of human rights: clean water, food, health care, education and protection from violence and exploitation.

Music for Good caught up with Nash shortly after her trip to Ghana with Because I Am A Girl to visit primary and secondary schools in the area and see their programs in the West African country first-hand. Nash said it was an unforgettable, life-changing experience. “We drove hours to a village where we met the chief and elders to visit the schools,” Nash recalls. “I’ve never seen anything like that in my life — it was awesome! There were loads of dancing and screaming kids that were vibrant and fun.”

Nash explained that the girls at the school were being educated about safe hygiene practices and how to prevent bullying and sexual assault. “There are way less opportunities for girls there — sexism is so prevalent in their society,” she says. “The world would be a much better place if these girls were fulfilling their full potential.”

Nash discovered that many girls there had to walk for hours to collect water instead of going to school – something many of us take for granted – and she wanted to do whatever she could to help them get a solid education and break the cycle of poverty that many of them face.

But it wasn’t all work and no play. Nash also joined in with the girls to sing the Aretha Franklin/Eurythmics classic tune “Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves,” and engaged in plenty of dancing and playing.

This isn’t the first time Nash has been involved in empowering girls. She also started an after-school club for girls in London, her home town. “Me and my friends visited schools and teenage girls and worked with them on self-esteem sessions,” she says. “We did lyric-writing sessions, and practiced guitar, bass and drums. At the end of the year we did a tour and they performed in front of 800 people and they were really empowered.”

Check out this video for highlights from Nash’s visit to Ghana:

Click here to join with Because I Am a Girl and global ambassador Kate Nash to help change the future of girls worldwide.

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