Ontario
Girls’ Fund Grants
Anishinaabe Racers, Niish Nobbie Girls Rock
Cape Croker
2009-2012: $75,000 over three years
Children at Cape Croker First Nations Elementary School and in the surrounding community are given positive year round experiences through cross country skiing and mountain biking on trails used by their ancestors. Anishnaabe Racers builds on the premise that the positive effect of skiing and cycling can be transferred to everything the children do, particularly their schoolwork.
Funding from CWF supports Niish Nobbie Girls Rock, a girls-only club which provides regular cross-country and mountain biking outings for girls. The program aims to expand the relationship between girls, women, sport, culture, and the land to other sports or physical activities. Girls can participate in a skiing and scrapbooking program, journal writing and traditional knowledge and crafts with the guidance of an elder. The program also includes an annual mother/grandmother/daughter ski and bike retreat.
Hamilton East Kiwanis Boys and Girls Club, Fit for Life
2009-2012: $114,600 over three years
Hamilton East Kiwanis Boys and Girls Club provides a safe, supportive place where children and youth can experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, build positive relationships and develop confidence and skills for life. They provide a wide range of programs including swimming, cooking, dance, homework help, art and drop-in recreational activities.
Funding from CWF supports Fit for Life, which engages girls, from low-income neighbourhoods in Hamilton, in a variety of active living activities that helps them learn more about themselves and their talents. Girls can participate in girls-only yoga and Pilates classes, water exercises and swimming lessons, discussion groups, outdoor adventure outings such as hiking, skiing, rock climbing and canoeing, and girls-only day camp groups. Each activity also includes facilitated discussions and skill-building exercises.
Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office, Something for the Girlz
Toronto
2009-2012: $120,000 over three years
Thorncliffe Park is about two square kilometres and home to the largest elementary school in Canada, with almost 2,000 students up to grade five and over 20 kindergarten classes. Given the high density of the area, there is a serious lack of quality programming in the community. Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office is a multi-service agency which offers a variety of programs to local residents.
Funding from CWF supports Something for the Girlz, which provides girls from the Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park communities in Toronto an engaging array of activities that foster leadership, empowerment, and social and community engagement. Participating girls come from a variety of backgrounds, including newcomer, refugee, and single-parent households. This initiative aims to reframe notions and existing stereotypes, and show both parents and young girls that fostering girl’s personal development is important.
YWCA Toronto, Safe Sisters
2009-2012: $118,000 over three years
YWCA Toronto offers a wide array of programs for women and girls and has developed a Girls Centre in the east end of Toronto. There are six neighbourhoods in the area that have been identified as having high incidences of violence and poverty and a lack of resources. The Girls Centre focuses on delivering girls-only programs, both in the centre and out in the community.
Funding from CWF supports Safe Sisters which grew from the voices of girls themselves and was developed in response to their concern about personal safety. The program helps girls feel in control of their environment and safe in their neighbourhoods through interactive activities and hands-on workshops. Participants learn about bullying prevention; family violence and sexual violence; internet safety; stress management; building healthy relationships; self-defence; First Aid; identifying safe spaces; being home alone safely; and children’s rights.
Girls Inc. of York Region, SMART Girls, Aurora
2006-2009: $75,000 over three years
Girls Inc. of York Region is dedicated to inspiring all girls to be strong smart and bold, and offers a range of programs at sites throughout York Region. This grant provides funding for SMART Girls, a program focused on science, math and technology, which also integrates leadership, economic literacy and physical activity. The program is offered at lunch time for girls aged 12 and 13 and as an after-school program for nine to 11-year-olds.
YWCA Toronto, Safe Sisters, Scarborough
2006-2009: $75,000 over three years
The YWCA Toronto Girls’ Centre increases opportunities for girls to build on their existing strengths and contribute to their communities. Safe Sisters was developed in response to girls in Scarborough concerned about personal safety in their neighbourhoods. Using a variety of approaches, the program helps girls develop the skills and confidence to feel in control of their environment. Topics covered include internet safety, healthy relationships, conflict resolution, violence prevention, first aid, and Wen Do (self-defence).