International Women's Day

To celebrate International Women’s Day this year, YWM partnered with Status of Women Canada and Because I am a Girl on an event to help spread the word about The International Day of the Girl.
The Young Women on the Move event saw 500  girls in Grades 3 to 6 talking about girls’ rights, and the adult women who inspire them.

We know that if we invest in girls, especially in their education, we can literally transform lives and end global poverty:

• An educated girl will be more likely to marry later and have fewer, healthier children.
• Each year that a girl stays in school, her income will rise by 15%.
• An educated girl will grow up to gain her rightful place in society and be a force for change.

The International Day of the Girl is a time to celebrate that power, and also to do a check in: how is the world doing when it comes to the world’s girls?
Thank you to the Honourable Rona Ambrose for her ongoing support!

For more info check out Because I am a Girl

Co-ed Session

We didn't recieve much feedback via the blog about the first ever Co-ed YWM session - - but it is going to happe.  YWM and Boys2Men are getting together to support our girls and boys.  We will be having a planning session next week to discuss the details.  Watch out on the Deputy Director's Weekly Bulletins for more details.

And follow us on Twitter. @TDSByoungwomen.

We're Back!!

Hi All,

After a little hiatus - we are back.  So far this year has started out with a bang.  We have had two great events for students and one mentor PD.

Now we are planning for the Winter.  We are considering partnering with Boy2Men and having a co-ed session talking about body image and self-esteem.  So both genders can understand how the other feels.

What do you think?

CNE

Check out the YWM float on August 30th at 6:00 at the CNE. 

We are gearing up for the 2011-2012 school year.  Watch out for emails and invitations to you events and PD opportunities.

Also, make sure you check out our website: www.tdsb.on.ca/YWM for new resources and our mentor handbook.

Leave us comments if you think we are missing anything!

Great things happening for girls

We just heard aboutt this and wanted to pass it on.

Sister 2 Sister: International Women's Day celebrated with the women of tomorrow

Education, diversity, and celebration were in the air at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) on International Women’s Day. The TDSB, in partnership with OISE and several community-based service providers, organized a one-of-a-kind event for grade 8 girls from Regent Park neighborhoods. Sister 2 Sister 2011 focused on self-empowerment and community building amongst a group of highly diverse young women. The event provided an opportunity for the future women of Toronto to share ideas and to support each other on the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day.
Joelle Therriault, Sister 2 Sister co-chair, highlights the importance of bringing the young women together."Their connection to the world around them, the things they do can automatically affect other young women, other communities, and other parts of the world."
The event included two prominent keynote speakers. Zanana Akande is the first black woman in Canada elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and to serve as a cabinet minister. Jessica Yee is a community activist and YWCA Young Woman of Distinction.  In addition, there were workshops and a lunchtime women-in-the-workforce mentoring session. 

Students shared their aspirations and views on some of the challenges facing young women today. One young woman--a grade 9 student who attended the event last year and was a volunteer this year--shared her views on the impact of Sister 2 Sister with a poem:
 I am…
 I am greatness beyond measure;
 I am exactly who I want to be.
 And if I say I wanna be better…
 It’s because I think I need to improve.
 I will not allow myself to be defined by others.
 Only I am allowed to decide who I essentially am.
 I will not be influenced, forced into or negotiated into being something I am not.
 I am greatness beyond measure.
 Why?
 Because I already know it.

Great things happening for girls!

Year End Celebration - SUCCESS!!!!!

Tuesday's YWM Year End Celebration was a great day, filled with team building and leadership activities.  A few students have already send comments about how they loved the day - - see below.

Thank you to the YWM committee for the events, it was fabulous and our girls long to come back again next year. The activities were amazing, more important educational, because after each activity, girls were reminded on the lesson they can take from the activity. I found that amazing. I look forward to continue helping our young women make their way in life. 

Again thank you for all the hard work and preparation you have put into this. -  Smithfield MS

The YWM group at Nelson A. Boylen would like to say a HUGE THANK YOU! The YWM committee did a FABULOUS JOB! The entire event was well-organized, fun, and active! The girls had an amazing time!!!! Thanks for allowing me to bring extra students...we truly appreciate your kindness! Thank for providing our young ladies with an opportunity to experience new activities which they may not otherwise have access to!