Empower Her: Bridging the Gap with E-Mentorship

Connecting secondary school aged girls with guidance for success

Maya came from a new immigrant, multi-generational family home, where English wasn't spoken. Despite the warmth of her family, Maya often felt alone with her dream of higher education and a career. With no English speakers at home, she couldn't rely on family for guidance and support. This left her feeling alone and isolated, especially at school. Desperate for guidance, Maya found Girls' E-Mentorship (GEM). Through GEM, Maya was paired with a mentor named Sarah, a successful engineer. Sarah's impact on Maya was profound. Not only did she guide her academically, but she also served as an inspiration and source of empowerment. With Sarah's help, Maya gained confidence and clarity about her goals. Sarah introduced Maya to various opportunities and networks, broadening her horizons and nurturing her ambitions. Despite her daily barriers and complexities of immigrant life, Maya thrived under Sarah's mentorship. Thanks to Sarah's support, Maya was accepted into university.

Background

Statistics Canada, 2021, reported women were more likely than men to desire a bachelor’s degree or above as their highest level of education, they were also more likely to report obstacles preventing them from going as far in school as they would like, compared with men. Women face numerous obstacles in pursuing education: Societal Expectations. Gender norms may prioritize family duties over schooling, discouraging women from pursuing higher education. Financial Constraints: High costs of tuition, textbooks, and transportation make education unaffordable for many women, particularly those from low-income backgrounds. Childcare Responsibilities: Balancing childcare with education is challenging, especially for single mothers or those lacking support. Gender Discrimination: Bias in institutions limits women's access to resources and opportunities, discouraging them from certain fields. Lack of Role Models: Few visible female role models in male-dominated fields may undermine women's confidence in pursuing such careers. Cultural Barriers: Societal norms may devalue girls' education, restricting opportunities and perpetuating stereotypes. Safety Concerns: Fear of harassment or violence in school environments may deter women from attending. Addressing these barriers requires gender-sensitive policies, financial aid, childcare support, promoting gender equality, challenging stereotypes, and ensuring safe learning environments.

The good deed

Girls' E-Mentorship (GEM) tackles these challenges through mentorship, empowerment workshops, financial scholarships, community outreach, skill-building programs, and advocacy. Pairing girls with mentors, offering empowerment workshops, engaging communities, imparting skills, and advocating for policy changes, GEM creates an environment where girls can thrive academically and professionally, breaking barriers and realizing their potential.