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Empowering Girls

The power of ‘us’

 

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
– Helen Keller

DonateAbout YWL

A large group of girls together at a YWL event.

Changing teenage girls’ trajectories

By giving, you help us continue to give high school girls an opportunity to discover their confidence and abilities, and pursue their dreams.

The need to develop leadership skills in teenage girls is staggering:

  • Only 3.3% of organizations’ charitable gifts and 1.6% of individuals’ giving went to nonprofits dedicated to women and girls.
  • 27% of workers in STEM-qualified industries are women. Women made, on average, 19% less than men in STEM-qualified industries in 2019.
  • 39% of girls said they want to be leaders, when asked.
  • 63% of women identified weight as the key factor in determining how they felt about themselves – more important than family, school or career. Other research suggests that 86% of all women are dissatisfied with their bodies and want to lose weight.
  • 25% of high school girls have been abused physically or sexually. Teen girls who are abused this way are six times more likely to become pregnant or contract a sexually transmitted infection.
  • 33% plus of teenage girls experience a first episode of depression – and that’s almost three times the rate for boys.
  • 26% of girls who spent six hours a day or more on social media reported being unhappy. For many, social media is how they measure and compare their popularity, social acceptance and appearance.

Expanding the horizons of teenage girls

“When I was a girl, I had limited possibilities. But that’s different for you. That’s because of the thousands of women who have come before you.”

Sally Schott

YWL Founder and CEO

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Two girls hugging

Live! Events

Join our live Young Women LEAD events both virtually and in person.

Live! Events

500 CLUB

Our 500 Club members are providing high school girls with opportunities to explore careers, and develop leadership skills and self-confidence.

500 Club

OUR SPONSORS

Thanks to our sponsors’ commitment to developing strong girls, we provide free programming to all girls!

VOLUNTEER

Behind every amazing nonprofit is a legion of dedicated volunteers. We welcome your expertise, skills and passion.

Volunteer
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Two girls hugging

Thank you

What girls learned through YWL Live! presented by Toyota

Contact Us

For life-changing experiences to inspire & empower.

Get in touch
6 young women posed at a YWL event