Alberta
Girls’ Fund Grants
Girls Incorporated of Northern Alberta, Media Smarts and Friendly PeerSuasian
Fort McMurray, Janvier and Fort MacKay
2009-2012: $120,000 over three years
Girls Inc. is dedicated to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. They provide innovative programs that help girls confront subtle societal messages about their value and potential, and prepare them to lead successful, independent, and fulfilling lives.
Funding from CWF supports two programs: Media Smarts and Friendly PeerSuasian. Media Smarts helps girls develop critical thinking skills to wade through the media messages they encounter on a daily basis. Friendly PeerSuasian focuses on leadership and substance abuse prevention. Participants acquire knowledge, practice skills, and develop attitudes that will help them make good decisions about substance use. As part of the program they develop oral presentations, skits or media presentations that they take to younger grades to share what they have learned about substance use and abuse. Both programs are offered in three communities: Fort McMurray, Janvier and Fort MacKay. Many of the participants in these programs are Aboriginal girls.
Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta, Discovery Leadership, Fort McMurray
2006-2009: $75,000 over three years
Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta is dedicated to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Using research-based informal education programs, girls are encouraged to take risks and master challenges. The Discovery Leadership program fosters leadership skills and effects lasting change by pairing girls up with women volunteers to design and carry out a community action project. The program is offered in Fort McMurray and two other nearby communities: Anzac and Fort McKay.
Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS), On the Move
2006-2009: $75,000 over three years
Currently running in Alberta, New Brunswick and Newfoundland
CAAWS is a national organization working to ensure that girls and women have access to a complete range of opportunities and choices, and have equity as participants and leaders in sport and physical activity. On the Move is a fun, girl-directed, sport and physical activity program aimed at reaching inactive girls who have either never had an experience in sport, or who have had a negative experience. The CWF grant supports three On the Move program sites: Miramichi, New Brunswick; St John’s, Newfoundland; and Calgary, Alberta.