The Malala Fund and the Milaan Foundation wanted to expand into new media formats to tell the powerful stories of girls’ education around the world. The challenge was to create a highly impactful and immersive experience that could convey the emotional depth of their message, while also leveraging cutting-edge technology to reach new audiences through virtual reality.

We partnered with Oculus and Facebook’s VR for Good initiative to create Girl Icon, the Malala Fund’s first VR documentary. I guided the project as the project’s EP and Story and Content Strategist. Using VR storytelling, we immerse viewers in the lives of young women in India fighting for their right to education. The experience offered a first-person perspective, enabling audiences to stand next to these inspiring girls and feel the challenges and triumphs they face every day.

Girl Icon was a groundbreaking success, selected for prestigious film festivals including SXSW, Tribeca, and Sheffield DocFest. It also garnered awards at global festivals and made Forbes’ Top 50 XR Experiences of 2019 list. The VR documentary helped raise global awareness of girls’ education and the work of the Malala Fund, proving the powerful potential of immersive storytelling in driving social change.