By: Rachel McHollister

With the Olympics over and the athletes ready to take a break, Canadian Silver medalist Jennifer Heil is back to raising awareness of women in developing countries.

Heil, a professional freestyle mogul skier, is the Ambassador of Because I am a Girl. A foundation whose plan is to make a global change by gathering people from around the world and get them to help support social justice for women in developing countries.

“My focus is to improve the lives of girls in some of the world’s most underdeveloped countries,” Heil stated on her website.

Heil has made a specific goal with the foundation, to raise 100-million dollars from Canadians within the year. 

“Growing up in Canada we have, for the most part, the opportunity to make dreams come true. Traveling to Rwanda and Burkina Fasco in West Africa, I realized that so many girls around the world do not have the opportunity to become citizens of tomorrow,” Heil stated on her website.

Nearly one-billion people live in extreme poverty and 70 percent are women and girls. An estimated 20-million girls will never be able to go to school.

With Heil's pledge, girls in developing countries will be able to have a brighter, safer and educated future.

“You can make a real difference, if not the difference for girls,” said Heil.

Heil had an opportunity, between Olympics, to visit Burkina Faso in West Africa to see first hand how this project works.

“I was very moved by the experience,” said Heil. “While I was in Nurkina Faso I saw how difficult life is for girls there. But, I was inspired by their hope, pride and dignity and their determination to build a better future for themselves.”

A vetran in competition, throughout her career she has won 37 world cup medals, 19 Gold medals and 14 Silver medals since 2004. She came fourth at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, won Gold at the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics, and won silver at the Vancouver Olympics. She hopes that her commitment to the campaign will bring support from other Canadian women.

“At the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin I vividly remember while standing at the top of the mogul course that I was 100 percent prepared. Having an incredible team of top sporting professionals they helped me believe that I am capable of achieving results beyond my wildest of dreams,” stated Heil.

To join the Jenn Heil Challenge visit: www.becauseiamagirl.ca