Think about the people who helped you get to where you are today.
Maybe it was a teacher who saw something in you before you saw it in yourself. A mentor who encouraged you to apply for an opportunity you didn’t think you were ready for. Or someone who simply took the time to listen, offer advice and remind you of what you’re capable of.
For many of us, those relationships have shaped the direction of our lives.
Every girl deserves that kind of support.
Celebrating International Day of the Girl
Every year on October 11, International Day of the Girl celebrates the voices, achievements and leadership of girls around the world. It’s also an opportunity to reflect on what we can do to ensure more girls have the chance to pursue their ambitions.
Because while talent and ambition can be found everywhere, access to opportunity isn’t always equal.
For a young girl thinking about her future, knowing someone who works in her dream career, having a mentor to turn to for advice or simply being invited into a space she’s never been before can make all the difference.
Sometimes, all it takes is one conversation to help a girl see a future she hadn’t imagined for herself.
Creating Opportunities Through Girls’ Mentorship
At Girls E-Mentorship (GEM), we see the difference these connections make every day.
Through our nine-month mentorship program, high school girls across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area are paired with professional women who offer guidance, encouragement and a fresh perspective on what’s possible.
Together, they talk about everything from navigating school and friendships to exploring careers, building confidence and making decisions about the future.
But GEM is about more than mentorship alone.
Throughout the year, our girls step into workplaces, meet women from different industries, develop new skills and discover interests they may never have explored otherwise.
And the impact is real.
Last year, 91% of GEM girls said they accessed opportunities they otherwise wouldn’t have had.
That’s more girls meeting people who can help them navigate their next steps. More girls exploring careers they didn’t know existed. More girls realizing that their goals are within reach.
These are experiences that can stay with a young person long after the program ends.
Help Us Reach More Girls
This International Day of the Girl, we’re celebrating our GEM girls: their curiosity, their ambition, their courage to try new things and the futures they’re working toward.
We’re also celebrating the mentors, donors and partners who show up for them. The people who share their time, open their networks and make space for the next generation.
Because when a girl has people in her corner, she doesn’t have to figure everything out on her own.
And we want more girls to experience that.
Your support helps GEM connect more girls with mentors, introduce them to new experiences and give them access to opportunities that can shape their futures.
This International Day of the Girl, help us open more doors.