For immediate release

Presented by the Native Youth Sexual Health Network and Girls Action Foundation

As part of the Indigenous Young Women: Speaking Our Truths, Building Our Strengths project, a national gathering is taking place in Saskatoon November 18th to 21st bringing together self-identified Indigenous young women including those who identify as trans, Two Spirit, and gender non-conforming between the ages of 16 to 25; seeking to meet young women where they are at.

"It is a critical time for young Indigenous women to come together and make our voices heard through these important community leadership initiatives, on our own terms,” says Jessica Yee, Executive Director of the Native Youth Sexual Health Network.

A partnership between the Native Youth Sexual Health Network and Girls Action Foundation, this national gathering focuses on Indigenous young women’s leadership, empowerment, solidarity-building, and ending violence. Lead by a peer Advisory of ten Indigenous young women from all across Canada, it will also provide opportunities to learn teachings from Elders and other traditional teachers and mentors. Indigenous women’s strength has always existed in Indigenous communities, and it continues to grow.

The LIGHT A SPARK campaign creates an inspiring movement for positive change

"The belief that girls and boys should have equal rights and privileges is fundamental to what it means to be Canadian," according to over nine in ten (93%) Canadians in a newly released Angus Reid poll.   The national survey, commissioned by Girls Action Foundation, also shows significant public concern about the specific challenges faced by girls..."

To read the press release, click here.

 
Let's get critical about the panic! Everyone agrees that the contradictory messages floating around about the fate of girls and young women are enough to make anyone's head spin. On March 8th, Girls Action Foundation proposes we flip the script on the discourse and has created four Why Girls? resources to walk us through the maze.

read more...

Montreal, December 4th, 2009
 

A World Without Violence Starts With…?

On December 6, we commemorate the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. The fact is that violence exists. Twenty years after the tragic deaths in Montreal, it is still a reality for our daughters, our mothers, our sisters and our grandmothers. In our families and communities, violence is often so common that it is considered normal.

Yet this is only part of the story. Girls and young women are not only experiencing violence, they are also doing something about it. They are courageous and resilient and they are responding to violence in their lives and in their communities.

Ending violence must start with empowering young women. It means finding solutions with girls and young women – and not for them.

What are the strengths of young women? Can they imagine a world without violence? Watch our video to find out!