ABOUT US
OUR STORY
Girls Action was founded as a start up in 1995 by three young women fresh out of school with an entrepreneurial spirit. We had no funding and no limitations.
Accessible to underprivileged girls, POWER Camp (as it was called then) encouraged girls to discover their power and create positive change in their lives and communities. Really listening to girls was the cornerstone of our success. Young women facilitators built trust with the girls. Girls came out of their shells and got smart about topics like media, discrimination, health, violence prevention, and body image.
Soon communities across Canada were contacting us, eager to exchange. We realized that with so many people wanting to make a difference for girls, a national organization could create a ripple effect benefitting even more girls. The founders of Girls Action imagined a strong force of girls’ initiatives across the country, and that is precisely what was built.
Since 2003, the Girls Action Network has grown from 20 to over 300 members in every province and territory. Girls Action has been a catalyst – seeding and training over 100 start-up girls’ programs. Today, together with local partners, Girls Action builds the skills and confidence of girls from coast to coast, including inner city, remote, and Northern communities.
HOW WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE
INNOVATION
Our programs tackle the most relevant and important questions that concern girls and young women.
LEADERSHIP
We support the development of girls' and young women's leadership by facilitating access to resources, to a network of mentors, as well as developing new skills.
INCLUSION
We reach out to girls and young women that need it the most, everywhere in Canada: 90% of our participants come from marginalised communities, either in the North, remote areas or in urban environments.
CHANGE
We encourage the understanding and breaking down of all barriers, especially the ones of poverty, racism and violence.
CREATIVE FORCE
Our work encourages the reinforcement of girls' and young women's empowerment in their everyday lives and communities.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Iana Lanceta (she/her)
Mississauga, ON
Iana is a policy and research professional who currently lives in Treaty 13 Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. She has worked in diverse sectors (including municipal finance, affordable housing, education, and immigration) for almost 5 years. She is passionate about community advocacy and civic engagement and believes in leveraging marginalized voices throughout all her roles. Iana holds a BA in Sociology from the University of Toronto and a Master of Public Policy from Hertie School in Berlin, Germany- where she called home for over 2 years. In her spare time, Iana enjoys exploring nature, trying new restaurants, board games, working out, and playing with her dog.
Linda Bùi (she/her)
Linda is a Vietnamese-Canadian who grew up in Treaty 13/19 or Toronto/Brampton. She’s also called Sri Lanka and most recently, Tiohtià:ke/Montréal home. Passionate about amplifying BIPOC voices and experiences through the arts, especially women of colour, she co-created groups like the Girls Empowerment Movement and Empowered Phụ Nữ. Linda holds a BA in international development studies from the University of Toronto Scarborough and a Master of Public Policy from McGill University. Linda is currently the Radical Education Coordinator at Yellowhead, an Indigenous-led research and education centre based in the Faculty of Arts at Toronto Metropolitan University.
Montreal, QB
Amanda Joy (she/her)
Amanda is a policy analyst, researcher, writer, and activist, living on unceded Algonquin land. She works as a strategic foresight analyst for the federal government, helping decision-makers to envision and prepare for possible futures. She speaks and publishes on social movements, activism, and democracy, and has organized with groups including the Council of Canadians, Gender & Sexuality Resource Centre, Food Not Bombs, and Ontario Public Interest Research Group. Amanda holds a PhD in Cultural Anthropology and an MA in Sustainable Development.
Ottawa, ON
Janine Ayoub (she/her)
Janine is co-founder and consultant at YAMM Services, where she supports impactful organizations to grow. She has spearheaded nonprofits programs and organizations for more than 15 years, with a focus on youth, education, DEI and civic engagement. She coaches and leads on fundraising, business development and program excellence, she also consults on anti-oppression and multicultural dialogues. When she’s not working, she sings in a no-audition choir, or play (and invents games).
Toronto, ON
OUR FUNDERS AND SUPPORTERS
Girls Action is grateful for the many companies, foundations, individuals, and agencies that support girls', young women's and gender diverse youth's empowerment. The following funders and donors have made our work possible through financial and in-kind contributions.
