How to Empower Girls
Girls are powerful – both as individuals and as a collective. In the words of club girl Leonela, “For every girl going through a hard time, there’s a whole world of girls cheering you on to keep going.”
As Boys & Girls Clubs of America celebrate International Day of the Girl, we continue our year-round commitment to empowering girls to build positive relationships, raise their voices, and achieve their dreams as leaders and changemakers.
And girl empowerment is needed more than ever.
In recent decades, the experience of girlhood has changed dramatically. The internet and mobile phones have redefined how we socialize and learn. Then, in 2020, the pandemic exacerbated existing challenges for far too many young people, from learning disabilities to family health and financial struggles to rising mental health problems like anxiety.
According to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Youth Data 2022, today’s girls face challenges unlike any generation before them:
- 71% of the girls rate their ability to cope with challenges as medium to very low.
- Almost half of girls’ conflict resolution skills need improvement.
- 20% of girls say they have been bullied online and too many say they haven’t reported it to an adult.
Empowering girls to know their abilities, worth and potential gives them a foundation to fall back on when the going gets tough.
4 tips for girls to gain confidence:
As a woman in finance, I certainly know the feeling that a lot of girls have when they walk into a room – the need to prove themselves. But I’ve learned that girls and women just have to be themselves.
Here are the confidence-building tips I’ve learned over the years that apply from the classroom to the boardroom:
- Be brave.
Sometimes an opportunity comes along that you never expected – a potential hobby, a new person who could become a friend, a chance to be a part of something. It can be easy to play it safe, but I urge girls to be bold. Don’t let that voice in your head stop you from speaking out or stepping in – you’ve got it.
- Find your superpower.
We all have different strengths that make us unique. Sometimes it’s what we do – being great at soccer, math or art – and sometimes it’s what we are – being a good listener, a caring friend or a passion for a cause. Use your strengths. (But don’t let them define you. You’re constantly developing new strengths, and you might even discover that what you consider a “weakness” is actually a pretty awesome thing. You’re more powerful than you think.)
- Surround yourself with the right people.
Family, friends, teachers, club staff—whoever they are, find people who bring out the best in you. Make sure you have a caring adult in your life that you feel comfortable with when the going gets tough.
- Be yourself.
It can be tempting to act like everyone else to fit in. But I’m not a big fan of “fake ’til you make it” and potentially lose what makes you “you” in the process. My dad taught me that being humble, vulnerable, and authentic is a superpower, and it’s helped me throughout my life and career. show yourself as you
At Boys & Girls Clubs, girls’ leadership programs empower young women to fulfill their potential and use their voice. They also offer valuable lessons for becoming independent and confident women – from financial literacy (my passion and area of focus) to managing emotions and building self-esteem.
Because when girls are empowered and have the right people to support them, there is no limit to what they can achieve.
Give more girls a great future
Programs in Boys & Girls Clubs are helping more girls develop the confidence, courage and crucial life skills needed to make a difference in the world. In honor of International Day of the Girl, the Dove Self-Esteem Project is taking a bold step — matching all donations made to Boys & Girls Clubs of America through Tuesday, October 11, 2022, up to $10,000. Your gift can help bring brighter futures to more girls.