On the 47th anniversary of the phrase “the glass ceiling,” the Loretto College A-Team hosted Yes, Girls Do!—a day of free workshops, music, and fun designed to inspire young women to shatter the many societal and self-imposed limits they face.
Inspired by the words of Mary Ward, who hoped that “women in time will do much,” this dynamic female empowerment initiative offered 19 hands-on workshops covering a wide range of topics, including boxing, menstrual cycle awareness, life in STEM at the university level, self-defence, and support for newcomers.
One Grade 11 A-Team student, Victoria R., drew from her own memory of receiving Christmas boxes while living at Covenant House as a child to create a unique workshop called Build a Care Box. With the financial support of the Helping Hands grant, Victoria developed a plan to fill 75 care boxes for youth at Covenant House so that “Christmas could come another time.” With great care and love, she meticulously budgeted and ordered thousands of items for the boxes, including non-perishable food, toiletries, socks, and flat boxes. Staff and students also donated clothing. Throughout the day, workshop attendees carefully filled the boxes.
A highlight of the day was the keynote speaker, Nour Hachem, CEO of Build a Dream, a national organization committed to encouraging young women to explore careers in skilled trades, STEM, and leadership. Nour spoke passionately about the need for young people to change the system so that authentic feminine power has the freedom to take hold and change the world.
Female-identifying students from across the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) participated in this impactful event.
