Barbie is celebrating International Women's Day by encouraging girls all over the world to dream big. Following the inclusion of Indonesian designer Anne Avantie in the Barbie Role Model program, Butet Manurung will be chosen as part of the observance of International Women's Day on March 8, 2022.
Who is Butet Manurung?
Butet, who was born in Jakarta in 1972, studied anthropology and Indonesian literature at Padjadjaran University, Bandung. She joined the conservation organization WARSI Jambi in 1999, where she supervised an education program for Orang Rimba, an indigenous, nomadic community living in the Jambi forest. This effort prompted her and four colleagues to start the SOKOLA Institute, a non-profit organization that provides educational opportunities and literacy to over 15,000 children and adults in remote Indonesia.
Butet has received numerous international awards for his work as an educator and activist, including the UNESCO "Man and Biosphere Award" in 2001, TIME Magazine's "Hero of Asia" in 2004, "Ashoka Fellow" in 2006, "Asia Young Leader" in 2007, "Young Global Leader" in 2009, Ernst and Young Indonesian "Social Entrepreneur of the Year" in 2012, and the 'Asia Nobel Prize' Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2014.
She graduated from the Australian National University with a Master's degree in Applied Anthropology and Development Participation in 2011. She studied Global Leadership and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University in the United States, in 2012.
Barbie is teaming up with entrepreneurs and role models to inspire the next generation of leaders and dreamers for International Women's Day, according to Mattel, Inc. Barbie is devoted to helping strengthen the confidence and reinforce the infinite potential of girls everywhere through a multi-faceted campaign to promote access to female role models, assist female entrepreneurs, and work with like-minded global programs.
"We know that children are inspired by what they see around them, which is why young girls need to see themselves reflected in role models who have bravely pushed past roadblocks and overcome the Dream Gap to become the brave women they are today," said Lisa McKnight, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Barbie and Dolls at Mattel.
Reminding girls of 12 Global Female Role Models they can be anything by featuring one-of-a-kind Barbie dolls in the likeness of women who are pioneers in their respective fields of tech, wellness, STEM, education, and more. Role models from around the world include:
- Shonda Rhimes (United States) - Founder of American Television Production Company Shondaland
- Ari Horie (United States/Japan) - Founder & CEO, Women’s Startup Lab and Women’s Startup Lab Impact Foundation
- Pat McGrath (United Kingdom) - Makeup Artist and Founder of Pat McGrath Labs
- Melissa Sariffodeen (Canada) – CEO and Co-Founder of Canada Learning Code and Ladies Learning Code
- Adriana Azuara (Mexico) - Founder of All4Spas
- Doani Emanuela Bertain (Brazil) - Teacher and Founder of Sala 8
- Jane Martino (Australia) - Chair and Co-Founder of Smiling Mind
- Lan Yu (China) - Fashion Designer
- Butet Manurung (Indonesia) – Founder and Director of SOKOLA
- Sonia Peronaci (Italy) - Founder of Italian food website, ‘GialloZafferano’
- Tijen Onaran (Germany) - CEO and Founder of Global Digital Women and Co-Founder of ACI Diversity Consulting
- Lena Mahfouf (France) – Digital Creator, Videographer and Author of ‘Always More’
Source: Changemakr.asia, Mattel.com, TheSun.co.uk
