Seeing Our Women Shine: Community building through female-focused entrepreneurship
“Stand up straight.”
“Wear this, not that.”
“Be ladylike.”
Girls are told many things over the course of their lives, from childhood to adulthood. It’s fair to say that the most important time in their lives—adolescence—also happens to be the time when such messages can make or break someone for the rest of their lives. What are we telling them? Are we building them up, or breaking them down?
Most of all, are we listening?
From left: Erica Taylor (General Manager, YMCA Etobicoke Employment Centre), Lauren (Plan Canada representative), Vincent Crisanti (Deputy Mayor, City of Toronto), Stachen Frederick.
For the 15 girls of the Seeing Our Women Shine (SOWS) program at the Etobicoke Albion Road Employment centre, they are speaking loud and clear about what they want for their own futures. They see Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jean Augustine as role models. They are savvy on social media, like many of their friends—but have plans on how to use it to identify themselves as a brand. But most of all, they want us to know that they are entrepreneurs and want to contribute to the community they live in.
“I’ve always wanted a career in business and I figured this would be a good way to get started,” says Alicia, 16, and a SOWS participant. “For me, I think this a good way to get leadership skills…we’ve been learning a lot about female empowerment and leadership is a big part of that, “says Idilo, 16, also a SOWS participant.
From left: Twimasi Amponsah (SOWS Project lead), Erica Taylor (General Manager, Etobicoke Albion Albion Road Employment Centre, Stachen Frederick (Employment Director).
The result of a collaboration between YMCA Canada, YWCA Canada, Plan Canada’s “Strong Girls, Strong World” initiative, and funded by Status of Women Canada, SOWS is a 2- year project that teaches girls in the Rexdale community about social entrepreneurship. In addition to various workshops on leadership, the girls are also learning how to start their own businesses by getting the best hands-on training possible: developing real ideas and getting trained on marketing, branding and making the products they intend to sell—body care products, hair care products and various textile products. The proceeds of the sales of their projects will go to a charity of their choice, and they will teach the skills they’ve learned to others in the community.
Monique London, owner of London Ivy, spoke on a entrepreneurs' panel providing advice to the girls of SOWS.
To celebrate International Womens’ Day, the girls of SOWS, their leaders, and various members of the community gathered at the Woodbine Racetrack to share ideas and showcase local established entrepreneurs. Though many thoughts, laughs and inspirations were shared that day, the best advice for girls wanting to start a business came from the SOWS participants themselves. It's hard not to be inspired after listening to what they have to say.
" Try new experiences and see what you like the most. There are so many things you can do."
"Find your strengths. find your weaknesses. Figure out what you want to do for yourself."
"Help yourself by helping others...volunteer at places to see what other people are doing and make connections for the future."
For more information about the Seeing Our Women Shine program, please contact the Etobicoke Albion Road Employment Centre at 416-741-8714 x 205.
