What We Do

Programming

Our evidence-based programming is delivered by trained professionals who focus on the development of the whole girl, supporting, mentoring, and guiding girls in an affirming, pro-girl environment. Here, girls learn to value their whole selves, discover and develop their inherent strengths, and receive the support they need to navigate the challenges they face.

Girls Inc. girls live healthy and active lifestyles and are less likely to engage in risky behavior; they are eager to learn, successful in school, and more likely to graduate from post-secondary education; and they display diligence, perseverance and resilience.

STRONG: Healthy Living

Program activities and experiences that provide girls with the knowledge, skills, and encouragement to develop and sustain a healthy lifestyle leading to a healthy diet, physical activity, positive body image, sports team participation, avoidance of risky behaviors, and mental health support. Examples of healthy living programs are:

• Friendly PEERsuasion for assertiveness and refusal skills and stress management.
• Healthy Sexuality for learning about one’s body. This includes: Informed Together, Informed and In Charge, and Growing Up Body Basics.
• Sporting Chance components for physical activity, understanding the body and what it can do, positive risk taking, team building and support. This includes: Steppingstones, Bridges, Girls encourage, and Bonezone.
• Mind + Body components for referral to health service, stress management, nutrition, physical activity, and body image. This includes: Mind + Body Toolkit, and My Girlfriend Zelda.

SMART: Academic Enrichment and Support

Program activities and experiences that expand on and support girls’ school-based learning and engagement leading to education aspirations, school engagement, school performance, reading interest, STEM interest, and post-secondary readiness. Examples of academic enrichment and support programs are:

• Operation SMART for hands on activities, experiments, use of math concepts, and more. This includes: Operation SMART, Build IT, Gear Girls, and Material Girls.
• Other academic enrichment and support programs include Literacy Guide, Art Expedition, Girls Make HERstory, I, Too, Have a Dream, LEAP, and Magic Within.

BOLD: Life Skills

Program activities and experiences that build the knowledge, skills, and behaviors that enable girls to function independently and live a productive and fulfilling life leading to the ability to bounce back (resilience), leadership, stands up for fairness/beliefs, diligence and perseverance, financial responsibility, social responsibility and volunteering. Examples of life skills programs are:

• Economic Literacy Programs include: She’s On the Money, Dollars, Sense, and Me, Equal Earners, Savvy Spenders, Job Ready, Money Talks, and Exploring Entrepreneurial Experience (E3).
• Leadership and Community Action programs include: Discovery, In Our Own Hands, and She Votes.
• Media Literacy components for body image and media influence on self-perception. This includes: Media and Me, Media Smarts, Girls Take Another Look, and Girls Get the Message.
• Project BOLD components for appropriate options for avoiding or handling violence, handling stress and managing anger, and getting help/support.  This includes: Be BOLD, Action for Safety, Living Safe and Strong, and What A Girl Wants.
• Post Secondary Readiness programs including visits to colleges and guest speakers from colleges and universities.
• Other life skills programs include: Building Better Citizens, Magic Within, Photovoice, and Scrapbook of FAME.