Stories that inspire

Created in 1995 by three University of Ottawa students, Girls Action Foundation is a national organization that aims to help girls, young women and gender minorities across Canada achieve greater autonomy. It supports the creation of programs by and for girls and young women that will build their confidence, develop their leaderships skills and increase their self-esteem, while helping them maintain a healthy lifestyle.

The populations served by Girls Action were hit especially hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a September 2020 survey (article in French only), 46% of youth aged 18 to 24 in the Montréal region were presenting symptoms of anxiety or depression. COVID-19 aggravated the difficulties many young people were already experiencing by throwing them into uncertainty. As well, finding mental health professionals who have experienced what you’ve experienced can be a particular challenge for those in the BIPOC (Black, indigenous and people of colour) and QTBIPOC (queer, trans, Black, indigenous and people of colour) communities.

Seeking to offer them additional support, Girls Action submitted a project proposal to the Emergency Community Support Fund (ESCF) in the fall of 2020. The project, “Le soutien est essentiel (Support is crucial)”, aims to attenuate the impact of the pandemic on young people’s mental health and give them access to mental health services — particularly individuals from marginalized communities — through the creation of support networks. The support provided can take several forms, ranging from discussion groups run by professionals to self-care kits to the creation of a “zine” in partnership with MassiMadi (an LGBTQ Afro film and arts festival). The latter is a self-published vehicle that will present and expand on stories and experiences of resilience and resistance from youth who have experience misogyny.

“I have gotten a lot out of the group therapy sessions so far. Using art as therapy has allowed me to externalize my emotions and thoughts into a visual representation. When I see my drawing, I can better understand what’s going on in my head, and most of all, I feel that a weight has been lifted off my shoulders at the end of each session. Having a non-judgemental space where you can express yourself, and being able to see yourself in the experiences of others in the group is reassuring, comforting, and has enriched my perspective on my own experience. It has also given me hope. I think it’s amazing to see the symbols and concepts in the visual representations, and to be able to make connections that help us help each other. Our therapist really contributes to this trusting and judgment-free environment. I am completely satisfied with this therapy,“ stated Yolène Mpouo, a participant in the francophone therapy support group guided by Éli Abdellahi.

The project, funded in the amount of $40,000 by FGM through ESCF, has as its ultimate goal the bringing together of young women or non-binary individuals who have experienced hardship or social exclusion due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and giving them the opportunity to build communities of solidarity together.