Fact: 81 percent of 10-year-old girls are afraid of being fat.
Fact: A girl is bullied every seven minutes in the schoolyard, playground, stairwell, classroom or bathroom.
Fact: Suicide is the third leading cause of death among adolescents and teenagers.
“These struggles women are facing are getting out of control, specifically basing so much of their self-worth on stereotypical labeling. They are constantly trying to fit into a mold that society is telling them is beautiful.”
Those are the daunting words of Deb Myers president of the Women Like Us Foundation and director of One Girl at a Time program. She has committed her life to motivating women to better themselves.
The Women Like Us Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging, empowering and engaging women and girls to make a difference globally and locally. Through programs like One Girl at a Time the association helps to shape confident, informed young women. They help women take a path in their lives that is both productive and healthy.
This is accomplished by collaborating with local schools to select 10 girls who receive the One Girl at a Time program award. Those ladies participate in a three stage, semester long program. The first phase is It’s All About Me, centered on life coaching, team building, and learning about their own strengths and weaknesses.
“They get a handle on those things that will propel them forward,” said Myers.
The next stage of the program is Myself and My City. They attend cultural events, dine, tour and volunteer throughout the city. During this period, Myers says a sisterhood is created among the participants.
The beauty of this program is these ladies are not chosen amongst the popular groups. These are women that may have slipped under the radar.
“It’s that very factor that triggered me to participate,” said Julie Bradshaw assistant director of the foundation. “I love that they are young women that may not get noticed, yet are still phenomenal. This puts them in a well-deserved spotlight.”
She went on to explain some girls live in single parent homes, assist with raising a mentally ill sibling, volunteer, and still maintain their grades. These girls won’t be the champion of the sports team or perform the lead role in a play. However, they may be the girls in a small after-school club.
According to Myers, the foundation also hosts programs in Hollywood, Calif. There, Catt Sadler of E! News is the international spokesperson for the organization.
“We would like to get this internationally and in every state. This is about being the best woman you can be. It teaches women they can do whatever they want,” Myers said.
Recently Women Like Us kicked off their year-long, citywide campaign Girls Are Worth It at North Central High School. Teens participated in dress for success, self-discovery, leadership, career and empowerment workshops. Olivia Risk, award winning teen speaker on bullying and author of It’s Okay to be Different was one of the guest speakers.
“The program offers opportunities and mentoring for girls in hopes the experiences will spark a passion to lead them in their future paths. Our community is filled with young women who have bright ideas that can flourish if they are nurtured. It is also calling on the girls to help others in their community and the world, it’s through helping others that we best help ourselves become better people,” said Sharon McCarthy reading specialist and Bridge Coordinator at North Central High School who also volunteers with the organization.
In addition to the kick off, the campaign will host a citywide event in October. The foundation expects about 600 women will unite to support the change they want to see.
“The only things they have to do is come out of their comfort zone and expose themselves to new opportunities. These will be the young ladies that change the world. When they get encouraged, equipped and confident they will make the change. That’s why I love this foundation,” Bradshaw said.
Not only do the girls volunteer locally, but they travel to a country each year to lend a helping hand. Last year they journeyed to Costa Rica.
“These will be the future forerunners in Indianapolis. They want to be your physicians, teachers or directors. Through them other women will rise. We have a lot of males in the light, but we need some females there too,” Bradshaw said. “It’s time for us to make new Madame C. J. Walkers.”
For more information about the Women Like Us Foundation and to donate visit Womenlikeusfoundation.org or call (888) 958-3678.
