Plan International Canada works with young women to bridge the gender leadership gap through its Girls Belong Here program.
To mark International Women’s Day, the organization is expanding its youth leadership program to provide even more opportunities for young women to tap into their power as changemakers.
Promoting gender equity
Girls Belong Here promotes gender equity, builds confidence among youth participants and helps sharpen their professional development skills. Young women get to network and receive valuable mentorship from professionals in their field, including corporate executives, political decision-makers and civil society organizations.
Challenging gender stereotypes has never been more important, as only 10 per cent of Canadian youth picture a woman when they think of a CEO. As part of a global development and humanitarian organization that’s been advancing children’s rights and equality for girls for more than 85 years, Plan International Canada aims to shift this narrative.
A platform for inclusion and representation
This spring, through seat shares, more than 30 young women will step into high-profile positions with more than 10 partnered organizations. Youth participants gain first-hand experience with leadership roles and reinforce their right to representation and equal opportunities in all industries. Other activities include Innovation Hubs, half-day sessions where girls and young women contribute their insights to resolve a specific organizational challenge.
Investing in the next generation couldn’t come fast enough, as achieving true gender equality is estimated to be 132 years away. To help close the gender gap, Plan International Canada’s ambitious new five-year “All Girls Standing Strong” strategy aims to improve the lives of 30 million children around the world, half of whom will be girls.
Powerful partnerships
For the Girls Belong Here program’s first spring edition, Plan International Canada is proud to partner with leading organizations that will host seat shares, Innovation Hubs and more. With AstraZeneca as the global sponsor, young women will also collaborate with Bank of Montreal (BMO), Royal Bank of Canada, Brother International, Unilever, Pfizer/Alesse, YWCA Canada, the University of Alberta, Fora: Network for Change, Results Canada and Habitat for Humanity.
Unlocking endless potential
“Girls have immense potential that needs to be tapped into and given a platform, and Girls Belong Here does just that,” says Anoushka, a Plan International Canada youth ambassador partnered with BMO. “Through this experience, I am learning invaluable skills, building lifelong relationships, and growing personally. I strongly encourage girls to apply for this rare, life-changing opportunity.”
Anoushka
Youth Ambassador, Plan International Canada
“Girls have immense potential that needs to be tapped into and given a platform, and Girls Belong Here does just that.”
Investing in young women leaders today is crucial to achieving a more inclusive and prosperous future. Through Girls Belong Here, Plan International Canada is breaking down barriers and unleashing the limitless potential of young women, paving the way for a new generation of trailblazing female leaders.
To learn more about the program, visit plancanada.ca/GirlsBelongHere and follow
@PlanCanada on social media for the latest news.
