It’s hard to believe that a century after women earned the right to vote in Alberta, they’re still making less than male counterparts. In Alberta, women earned 76 cents on the dollar in 2023 –ten cents less than the national average.
It’s one of many reasons why International Women’s Day was created in 1911: to raise awareness and forge action toward gender parity, reduce discrimination and advance women.
For Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta, progress to a more equal world comes through building a new generation of strong, smart, and bold female leaders. An international non-profit, it serves those who identify as girls from ages six to 18 through in- and after-school programs, workshops, summer camps, and more, partnering with all three regional school boards. Their programming is free of charge and focuses on the three pillars of their mission: strong, smart, and bold girls.
“We are the only non-profit that specifically caters to girls, giving them their own space where they can share, learn, and talk about difficult subjects,” says Katlin Okonkwo, Program Director at Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta. “We give them a space to feel welcome. I wish I could have had this when I was younger.”
Girls Inc. received a 2023 WBCF Community Grant to support economic literacy programming. Through education, the program is working to empower girls to feel confident to take on their own finances and navigate the financial world.
“This programming improves girls’ capacity and confidence in managing finance and understanding the economy, from as young as six,” says Okonkwo. “They learn about money, budgeting, saving, and thinking about gender implications, like pink tax.”
“A lot of the cases, girls don’t feel as confident with money, or don’t have access to the same finances or resources, so we are helping them learn the confidence to know they can do it themselves.”
From July 2023 to March 2024, WBCF’s funding supported 112 girls directly across eight in-school programs, one summer camp and one workshop. Since the start of this programming, the interest in economic literacy has grown, making it one of the most requested programs that Girls Inc. offers in the region. They also work with rural areas, helping bridge the gap in knowledge access.
“After the girls attended one summer camp, 97% of the students felt it was important to have a budget to keep track of money. Most didn’t even know what a budget was when they came into the program,” says Okonkwo.
They also bring in women who work in differently financial settings, from banks to investments, to show girls the career options available, and what is possible for them in their own futures.
“When we lift equity deserving groups, giving them what they need and deserve, it makes our community more resilient—it grows it and makes it stronger.”
Learn more about about Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta. Donate to WBCF to help Girls Inc provide more programming in our community.
