The forusgirls Foundation

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The forusgirls Foundation

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The ForUsGirls Foundation is an international, Montreal-based not-for-profit organization providing i

ForUsGirls is an international organization committed to the acceptance, celebration, and development of unique, fierce and daring young women. We create safe spaces for marginalized girls to be their authentic selves and to live their full potential. We work within a feminist, inclusive, sustainable framework. We value teamwork, creativity, and innovation as strong pillars of women's and girls empowerment. ForUsGirls was started in the Spring of 2015 as a community initiative with its "Brunch With Us" program for marginalized girls aged 10-17. We are committed to the celebration, acceptance, and development of unique, fierce and daring marginalized girls aged 13-17. Since it has grown into a community organization, high school girls' club, and international foundation empowering young women and girls across North America and the Caribbean. We have received international recognition from UN Goodwill Ambassador, Advocate and Actress Emma Watson, UN Women, Vanity Fair, One Young World Organization and locally, Global News Montreal for its grassroots approach to developing young feminist minds. Over the course of 2 years, ForUsGirls have seen a tremendous impact in the lives of over 3,000 girls we have worked with. Support us as we strive to make a greater impact in Montreal, Canada, and the world by educating, engaging and empowering young feminist leaders. Your support will provide school supplies to 6 primary schools in Jamaica; establish a scholarship fund for girls in Montreal; empowerment and leadership workshops and local programming.

08/19/2026

✨ A NEW REALITY: Animation 3.0 ✨

This summer, we brought together an incredible group of girls of colour for an unforgettable journey into animation, creativity, technology, and storytelling!

🎨💻✨

Through The ForUsGirls Foundation’s A NEW REALITY: Animation 3.0, participants explored the world of animation while building new skills, confidence, and connections in a supportive space where their ideas and creativity could shine.

From learning animation techniques and developing characters to bringing their ideas to life, our girls showed us what happens when young women are given the tools, encouragement, and opportunity to create. 💫

💜 We learned.
🎨 We created.
💻 We explored.
🤝 We connected.
✨ We imagined a NEW REALITY.

A huge thank you to our amazing participants, families, facilitators, partners, and supporters who helped make this summer program possible.

The future is creative. The future is diverse. The future is theirs.🌍💫

Swipe through to relive some of our favourite moments from the summer! 📸➡️

Thank you to our program funder City of Kitchener for their continual support of community programming.

07/20/2026

👾🤖We are excited to announce registration is now open for the New Reality Animation & Coding Camp, an engaging summer program designed to inspire girls ages 12-16 to explore the exciting worlds of animation, coding, creativity, and digital technology.

Through hands-on learning experiences, participants will develop valuable STEM and digital media skills while creating their own animation and coding projects in a fun, supportive, and collaborative environment.

Program Details

📅 Dates: Wednesdays, July 22 – August 12, 2026
🕔 Time: 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
📍 Location: SDG Idea Factory, 2 King Street West, Downtown Kitchener
👧🏽Ages: Girls 12-16 years old

Participants will:

🕹️Learn the fundamentals of animation and coding
🕹️Build creative digital projects
🕹️Develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills
🕹️Connect with mentors and peers who share similar interests
🕹️Gain exposure to future careers in technology and digital media
🕹️Spaces are limited and early registration is encouraged.

🔗 in bio.

A NEW REALITY: Animation & Coding Program is offered free of charge to participants thanks to the generous support of the City of Kitchener Community Grants Program. We are grateful for their investment in creating opportunities that empower girls through technology, creativity, and innovation.

03/04/2026

✨ Tomorrow, we’re excited to welcome Vanessa Simon as our guest speaker for the YGL Accelerator Program – Week 5 Session.

Our cohort participants will explore Branding & Marketing, gaining insight into building a purpose-driven brand rooted in community and impact.

💛 Vanessa Simon is the founder of Vanessa’s Cuisine, a community-centred food brand recognized with the 2025 Exceptional Small Business Award. Her work goes beyond food, focusing on giving back through patronage and supporting schools and community initiatives across the Waterloo Region.

💛 As her brand continues to grow, Vanessa’s bake mix products are now available in major superstores across the Tri-Cities and the GTA, with upcoming expansion as a vendor with Sobeys Ontario.

02/18/2026

✨ Tomorrow, we’re excited to welcome Rochelle Williams as our guest speaker for the YGL Accelerator Program - Week 3 Session.

Our participants will explore the Business Model Canvas, learning how to structure, refine, and grow a business with intention.

💛 Rochelle Williams is a pastry chef and entrepreneur with nearly a decade of industry experience and the founder of The Dessert Artist. She has won several pitch competitions and earned multiple awards for her work.

💛 Rochelle Williams is a pastry chef and entrepreneur with nearly a decade of industry experience and is the Founder of The Dessert Artist. She has won several pitch competitions and earned multiple awards for her work.

Our cohort participants will explore the Business Model Canvas, learning how to structure, refine, and grow a business with intention.

02/12/2026

Week 2: Design Thinking & Innovation

After grounding our ideas in Social Impact & the SDGs in Week 1, Cohort 6 is now stepping into solution mode.

This week is all about creative, structured problem-solving. Participants are exploring challenges deeper, generating innovative ideas, and testing solutions through hands-on activities.

We’re moving from defining the problem to building the prototype.

Deliverable: Design Prototype
February 12, 2026 | Virtual

This is where ideas turn into tangible impact.

02/05/2026

The YGL Accelerator - Cohort 6 officially starts today ✨

Week 1 is all about Social Impact & the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

👩🏾‍🦱 Participants will explore real-world challenges, connect them to the SDGs, and begin shaping a clear problem statement they’re ready to solve. This is where purpose meets action and ideas start turning into impact.

Welcome to the journey - we’re so excited to build with you.

02/04/2026

✨ Tomorrow, we’re excited to welcome Danielle James as our guest speaker for the YGL Accelerator Program - Week 1 Session.

💛 Danielle is deeply committed to centring Black and Indigenous voices and creating spaces rooted in care, dignity, and empowerment-focused work that creates meaningful change in communities.

💛 Danielle James is a community educator, doula, and advocate with over 20 years of experience advancing equity, wellness, and education. She currently works in Truth and Reconciliation at the Legacy of Hope Foundation and serves as the Education and Learning Coordinator for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice at the Canadian Women of Colour Leadership Network.

💛 Danielle is deeply committed to centring Black and Indigenous voices and creating spaces rooted in care, dignity, and empowerment.

💛 Danielle is deeply committed to centring Black and Indigenous voices and creating spaces rooted in care, dignity, and empowerment.

02/02/2026

In preparation for our next YGL Cohort, we’re reflecting on the impact that continues to make this work possible.

Our Emerging Young Global Leaders Accelerator (Summer 2020 - Cohort IV) supported 100+ young BIWOC leaders across Canada and the United States through a 10-day entrepreneurship and leadership program focused on social innovation, community impact, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Participants:
👥 Built social enterprises, community projects, and businesses
🎓 Received leadership and entrepreneurship training
🎤 Pitched for seed funding
🤝 Gained 3–6 months of mentorship and real-world ex*****on skills

As we prepare to welcome our next group of young leaders, we want to sincerely thank the partners who continue to invest in youth-led change.

Thank you, Region of Waterloo and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC), for sponsoring our upcoming cohort and helping us expand access to opportunity, mentorship, and leadership development.

Learn how to support our next cohort: www.forusgirls.org/donate

Your support directly fuels impact!💛

01/21/2026

Registration Deadline Extended - Apply by January 30, 2026!

The YGL Accelerator: Entrepreneurship & Leadership Program is a 7-week hybrid accelerator designed for Black young women ages 17–22 in Ontario.

Participants will learn how to build a social impact business, strengthen leadership skills, and pitch their ideas for a chance to win up to $1,000 in funding.

📅 Program Dates: February 5 – March 26, 2026
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
📍 Location: SDG Idea Factory, 2 King St W, Kitchener (Hybrid)

✅ Eligibility:
• Ages 17–22
• Black and racialized young women (binary, non-binary, LGBTQIA2S+)
• Ontario residents

Apply by January 30, 2026:
👉🏾 https://forusgirls.org/emerging-leaders

01/20/2026

Dear Community Members,

Our collection drive officially concluded on December 1st,
and we are now eagerly awaiting the arrival of our shipment to Wakefield Primary School in Trelawny, Jamaica.

While the collection phase has ended, we will continue to accept ongoing monetary donations to support long-term relief efforts for students and their families at Wakefield Primary School. These funds will help us respond to evolving needs and provide sustained support beyond the initial delivery.

Donations can be made:

🫶🏽Online through our website

🫶🏽By cheque: payable to ForUsGirls Foundation and mailed to:

🫶🏽105–2 King St W, Kitchener, ON, N2G 1A3

Thank you for your continued generosity and commitment to uplifting communities through education and care.

Address

2 King Street West
Kitchener, ON
N2G1A3

Website

http://www.forusgirls.org/

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