Girls Forward is thrilled to share that we’re partnering with Nike Toronto to power girls’ sport programming in Toronto, ON!
Thanks to the support of Nike Toronto, Girls Forward will deliver sport and physical activity programs for over 400 girls across the Greater Toronto Area from 2025 until the end of 2026. The programs funded include our Built to Run and Built to Play Soccer programs. The funding will ensure that our women coaches (aged 15 and above) involved will have access to education and resources to support their leadership development and sports journey, while also ensuring they are compensated for their time. It will help our participants (girls, ages 4-14) access high-quality programming, free from many barriers, and equipped with the necessary resources to participate in sports and movement. Both Programs will have the following components:
Program Structure: Each week, participants will:
- Be introduced to different life skills, such as body confidence, goal setting, focus, resiliency, and advocacy.
- Connect with inspiring women role models (coaches) from their communities who will share their experiences and help motivate participants.
- Participate in fun physical activity sessions designed to develop their skills and overall fitness.
- They will work towards an event (tournament/run) at the end of the program to celebrate their success, come together with the community, and put their skills into action!
Key Features:
- Inclusive Environment: our programs welcome girls of all backgrounds and skill levels, fostering a sense of community and belonging. We adapt our programs based on the unique needs of our participants, coaches, and community members and work alongside them to co-develop a welcoming and brave space.
- Role Models: Girls are connected with inspiring women who serve as role models and coaches, sharing their experiences and motivating participants. These role models come from within the communities, are diverse in experiences and identities, and are representative of our participants. Our coaches, site leads, and physical activity facilitators are our role models.
- Life Skills: Each session focuses on a different life skill, providing a holistic approach to physical and mental development. We integrate these skills into our physical activity sessions and provide the participants with workbooks and tools to support their continued development.
Our Built to Play Soccer program is a collaboration between Girls Forward and Girls & Women in Motion. The program runs once a week for 8 weeks, with a minimum duration of 90 minutes at two different sites. At the end of the 8 weeks, both sites will come together for an end-of-year tournament and fair, where they get to spend the morning playing against one another and other community members their age, be coached by women from their community, and have an afternoon of fun activities like face painting, boxing, henna, bracelet making and more.
This program has been running since 2022 and will be in its fourth year of delivery. Since then, it has engaged and empowered over 400 girls in the Scarborough and East York communities. Our 2024 evaluation findings revealed that 63% of our registrants were returnees, with 88.6% of them giving the program a 5/5 star rating. 97% of our participants say they would want to return next year and enjoyed being in a space with just girls and women. 89% of our participants identified as being a visible minority and/or from a marginalized population. We’ve been a proud program partner and trustee since 2023. Check out photos from the 2024 tournament here.
Our Built to Run program aims to create a lasting impact by instilling a love for running and physical activity in young girls. By connecting them with relatable role models and focusing on life skills, the program empowers participants to develop healthy habits and a positive mindset that will benefit them throughout their lives. At the end of the 8 weeks, we celebrate the girls’ dedication and achievements, reinforcing the value of hard work and perseverance.
This program was piloted last year in Scarborough, ON and Strathcona, AB with a small group of participants. We saw great success and delivered 5 programs in Alberta this year in preparation for our annual Girls Run in Canmore, AB! We hope to bring that same energy and momentum to the program in Toronto this year.
A HUGE THANK YOU to Nike Toronto for their ongoing support and belief in our mission and impact. Stay tuned for more details!
