A Small Voice, a Huge Meaning

Hi guys, it's Samantha!

This is kind of a kill-two-birds-with-one-stone-type post to honor International Women’s Day (March 8^th - Kelsey says you can blame her for not having this post up in time!). I am a big supporter of the Girl Rising film/movement (www.girlrising.com, I haven’t seen the film yet, but I REALLY want to. Didn’t know I was a women’s rights supporter, huh?). The gist of the film is nine girls from nine countries experience some of the biggest issues in the developing world; child marriage, poverty, gender-based violence, and modern-day slavery. The one thing that will give them a future; an education. Check it out; the trailer alone will move you. I made a number of videos to support the movement; just about the same slide show set to different songs about girl-power/changing the world/making a difference. This is one of my favorites; “I Am But a Small Voice” by Lea Salonga (a VERY YOUNG Lea, about age 10, pictured above).

 The song has a message that many songs have; kids can empower the world. It has all of the things that kids hope for; world peace, an end for poverty, and love among the human race; pretty much what the movement through girl’s education hopes to achieve. Please forgive the fact that the opening is in Tagalog; don’t let that turn you off! The song was the child star’s first hit (I kid you not; out of the twenty-one videos, seven of them are set to songs sung by Lea both as a child and as an adult. What can I say? She’s my muse!!!) More to come on the Girl Rising subject!!!

I Am But a Small Voice

Sung  by Lea Salonga

Akoy munting tinig

May munting pangarap

Samyo ng bulaklak

Sa hanging malinis

May ngiti sa araw

At kung umuulan

Makapagtampisaw

Malayang daigdig

Ng kawalang malay

I am but a small voice

I am but a small dream

The fragrance of a flower

In the unpolluted air

I am but a small voice

I am but a small dream

To smile upon the sun

Be free to dance and sing

Be free to sing my song to everyone

Chorus:

Come young citizens of the world

We are one, we are one

Come young citizens of the world

We are one, we are one

We have one hope

We have one dream

And with one voice

We sing...

Peace, prosperity

And love for all mankind

Peace, prosperity

And love for all mankind

I am but a small voice

I am but a small dream

To smile upon the sun

Be free to dance and sing

Be free to sing my song to everyone

Come young citizens of the world

We are one, we are one

Come young citizens of the world

We are one, we are one

We have one hope

We have one dream

And with one voice

We sing, we sing

Peace, prosperity

And love for all mankind

Peace, prosperity

And love for all mankind