GirlSpace is an awesome free leadership program for any person who identifies as a girl ages 8 to 17. The program runs during the school year and often has special programming during March break and the summer.

How long have you worked for YWCA NWT? Two years as the coordinator, but I’ve been off 1.5 years maternity leave so nearly four years. Why do you work for YWCA NWT? The team is amazing and I like making an impact on society, and youth. You see that you’re making a difference every day. I love coming to work. I don’t think I’ve ever said that about a job. It’s a supportive network of staff you have. Brendan (Youth Team Lead) is very supportive, I also feel comfortable going to Hawa anytime (Executive Director). Everybody in the Y is so friendly and nice and supportive. Tell us about what you do as GirlSpace Coordinator? There’s a lot of program planning, scheduling activities, going to schools and doing program in school, running the after-school program. Each week is a different topic. We recently started ‘Women in the Workforce’ for youth to learn about different career paths. We talk about healthy relationships, self-esteem, and do lots of activities like go swimming, do moccasin workshops, go see northern lights, cake decorating class, make medicine bags. Wintertime we go dog sledding, snowshoeing, go to BDene Adventures. Why do you think the YWCA is important in the community? GirlSpace is the only program in town that’s doing different topics throughout life. It’s teaching youth different skills and the organization as a whole supports families, youth, and women and that’s really needed in the North. How does your work impact the people you work with? The youth are bettering themselves and building their self-esteem; they’re working with others and they want to be here. Even the older youth up to age 16 – they keep coming back because they enjoy the program and it’s having a positive effect on them. What’s your favourite thing about your job? All the crafts – learning how to sew, my beaver mitts have improved over the years. Seeing the youth grow – I’ve been off this past year on maternity and returning, I’ve seen them grow more into who they are, they’re more comfortable and have more confidence. They can come here and joke around and at the end of the day they know I’m here for them. Every day. What would the community be like without the program? I think there would be a lot of bored youth. When they come here, they’re so happy to be here. I’d be worried what they would be doing if they weren’t in this program.