Themes : Community Action and leadership / Young Women aged between 16 to 19 years old/ Funded by YWCA Canada / Partner with YMCA du Québec
Strong Girls, Strong World is one of 10 projects led by girls and young women across Canada to provide them with the means to become agents for change and make a difference in their communities. All 10 projects address the issues and barriers confronting young women. As a national initiative, Strong Girls Strong World intends to capture, address, and affirm both the diversity and similarity of obstacles and opportunities facing young women in Canada.

Strong Girls, Strong World group at the YWCA of Montreal

In 2017, the ten Canadian projects ended, but the group of girls from the YWCA Montreal decided to pursue the project independently, without government funding. The Strong Girls, Strong World group now has about 15 dynamic girls aged 17 to 21 who have joined the YWCA Montreal – young women concerned about social inequalities and looking for a validating and unique experience.

The launch of the Montreal Strong Girls, Strong World group took the form of a retreat in order to build relationships and discuss the different possible directions available to the group. During this enriching retreat filled with reflection and creativity, many initiatives emerged on various topics including self-esteem, domestic violence, sexual exploitation, sexual consent and solidarity.

Mobilizing, inspiring and feminist projects

Strong Girls, Strong World met and filmed eight inspiring women to create the documentary film IntersectionnELLES. This documentary highlights eight remarkable women of cultural and religious diversity who inspire the community. In the documentary, each woman discusses her life path, her achievements and her reflections on discrimination, and formulates a message of hope for the women of today and tomorrow.

In 2018, Strong Girls, Strong World (Montreal) became laureate of the Coup de cœur Women of Distinction Award, awarded by the Women’s Y Foundation.

A new impulse

Strong Girls, Strong World, the YWCA Montreal and its Foundation warmly thank Rogers Communications for donating $25,000 to support this project.

With this donation, Strong Girls, Strong World will continue to empower young women to bring positive change to their lives and communities by:

• fostering the development of their skills and leadership;
• encouraging them to exercise leadership on issues of concern to them and to to find solutions that would overcome the challenges they face;
• giving them confidence in their ability to become agents of change and to encourage others to do the same;
• promoting the active participation of these young women in the life of their community

In 2020, this project came to an end with the offer of a three days webinar about feminist, inclusive and non-oppressive approaches. In respect of the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, the event was carried out online.