This project will provide leadership and mentorship programs for over 400 diverse female leaders in the greater NW. With your support, girls from all walks of life will have the opportunity to set and meet goals for their futures. These girls will: gain college and career skills; learn to collaborate with others who look, act, and believe differently than they do; find positive, adult role models; gain self confidence; and work together to make a difference in the local and global community.
Over 90% of adolescent girls say that they feel they have lost their voices and fewer than 20% of teen girls view themselves as leaders. These statistics are startling compared to United Nations reports which prove that the #1 way to transform communities is to invest in education and opportunity for girls. This is as true in rural Somalia as it is in Seattle high schools. Yet, many NW girls do not have access to leadership programs because they do not have funds or transport to attend.
We are able to reach diverse teens from all over the NW by: 1. Offering our programs on a sliding scale to assure equal access, regardless of economic background. 2. Offering transportation and meals for all programs so that girls may participate regardless of monetary or regional barriers. 3. Engaging volunteers, mentors, staff, and board members from diverse backgrounds. These adults spearhead our outreach efforts, serve as positive role models, speak effectively to parents and teachers.
WA is home to one of the most diverse zip codes in the nation and yet we generally interact with groups from the same economic, age, cultural, religious, & political backgrounds. Y-WE provides a unique space to connect with 400 girls and 200 women from a wide range of countries, cultures, and religions. This gives them the tools to be agents for social justice. 95% participants report that Y-WE helps them become leaders who will dedicate their lives to making a local and global impact.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
