Written by Pat Cluett and originally published September 11, 2018
I was introduced to Girls Inc. in 2015. It is a not for profit organization focusing on empowering girls to value oneself, take risks, discover and develop inherent strengths. Through a combination of long lasting mentor relationships and research based programming in a pro-girl environment. I love what the organization stands for … Inspiring Girls to be STRONG … to be SMART and to be BOLD.
Our daughter took part in their camp program this summer and absolutely loved learning to express herself and deepening her understanding of the community around her. She came home every day with a smile on her face and wanted to cancel other camps to continue attending this camp. The young leaders were nurturing and really cared about each girl in attendance.
Her experience definitely inspired my husband and myself to become Table Hosts for the organization’s annual fundraising Lead Luncheon. When we arrived, we were mingling with other guests when I spotted 14 year old Amilya. She looked incredible. I had met Amilya two years earlier and she was shy and introverted. Her Mom, Heba, attended an event at my home and had brought along Amilya and her brother that night. She had been dressed all in black and had sat quietly in my kitchen doing homework while her Mom and I attended an information session for the United Way in the dining room. The teenager standing before me had emerged. She was dressed in white and red and looked confident and mature. She greeted me with a smile and I complimented her. What a remarkable difference? I wondered what had changed.
Then, this young lady took a place behind the podium and started to tell us about her experience with Girls Inc. She had been bullied in school from the time she was in Grade 2. The verbal abuse resulted in Amilya shying away from classmates, spending a great deal of time alone and erecting an invisible wall of self-protection. She described the bullying words as ‘knives in her heart’ and ‘stripping away her confidence’. I now understood the shy girl in my kitchen and could see the transformation that had taken place because of her involvement with Girls Inc.
Once she made the decision to stand up for herself, follow her Mom’s example, and put herself out there, things started to change. She made friends and in a short period of time went from introvert to valedictorian of her Grade 8 graduating class. She now knows that the STRONG, SMART and BOLD girl was in there all of the time and all she needed was the perfect catalyst to bring her out.
Amilya was selected to take part in the first Business & Community Incubation Lab Project sponsored by the Peter Gilgan Foundation. The project focused on teaching young women between the ages of 13 and 17 about financial literacy, entrepreneurship, community engagement, leadership and social enterprise. Together with Girls Inc. of Halton staff members and professional mentors, the program allowed the girls to delve into a variety of relevant projects that serve a need in their lives and in their community. The environment focused on developing more female leaders and ensuring that support systems are put in place for girls to continue to thrive.
Amilya has always heard the phrase “Be the Change you wish to see in the World” and now believes wholeheartedly that she can do just that. She is grateful to Girls Inc. for “showing the little girl inside me that it’s okay to be who I am because no matter what … I am strong. I am smart. I am bold. I am a female leader”.
Thank you Amilya for the inspiring and powerful message.
Update June 28, 2020
Locally, our Girls Inc. chapter has now re-branded to She Can and the programming is designed and executed by the Milton Community Resource Centre.
For more information, please visit their website at: https://mcrc.on.ca/shecan/
