Dubai College is partnering with one of the UK’s leading social enterprises for young girls – Girls Out Loud, to facilitate a ground-breaking mentoring programme. The prestigious school will be running the acclaimed Girls Out Loud mentoring programme, which will raise the aspirations of year eight girls by partnering them with mentors, aka ‘Big Sisters.’
Girls Out Loud is a not-for-profit enterprise established in the UK in 2009 by entrepreneur, author, coach, speaker and female champion Jane Kenyon. The organisation is passionate about raising the aspirations of young girls and has more than a decade of experience in this space. Since its inception it has changed the lives of over 12,000 girls by working with more than 50 schools in the UK.
2022 sees Girls Out Loud’s international debut as they arrive in the UAE at the invitation of Dubai College. They will facilitate their frame-breaking ‘Big Sister’ 12 month mentoring programme along with their dynamic, speed mentoring ‘Role Model Relay’ event which will be hosted at the campus on 21 February 2022.
The landscape that young girls are attempting to navigate in these times is very challenging. Issues around social media and body image, mental health, bullying, complex friendships, academic pressures, the home environment, not to mention a global pandemic, can sabotage their aspirations and self-belief, which is where Girls Out Loud steps in. By introducing them to a diverse group of brilliant female role models outside of their normal adult circle who have journeys to share and wisdom to impart, they can help them harness their potential, and find their voice – true empowerment for the next generation of women.
Girls Out Loud and Dubai College are looking for 20 mentors / ‘Big Sisters’ from all walks of life to step up and be role models for year eight girls (ages 12-13). Following special training by Girls Out Loud, the Big Sisters will spend 12 months guiding, empowering their ‘Little Sisters’ by engaging in a non-judgemental, rich relationship that gives them space to share and grow emotionally and learn new coping skills particularly around mental health. The ‘Big Sisters’ will be selected by Dubai College and Girls Out Loud via an online application form process.
Jane Kenyon, CEO and Founder of Girls Out Loud comments: “Young girls today are global citizens and the internet and smart technology means whether they live in the UK, the UAE or anywhere else in the world their influences and challenges are mirrored. We need to show them a better way and help redefine their narrative, find their voice, their strength and potential.
“What we do now matters, young girls need our advocacy and at Girls Out Loud we provide this solution to help the next generation rise above the pressures they are facing and see that anything is possible. To do this they need role models with real experiences and real wisdom to share. I hope the women of Dubai are ready to rock because we are.”
Mike Lambert, Headmaster of Dubai College comments: “We know that representation matters in life, and we want to create opportunities for our girls to be mentored by successful female role models in a range of careers at this critical stage of their development. As such, we have asked the UK-based not-for-profit social enterprise Girls Out Loud, to help us introduce their multi-award-winning mentorship programme to our year eight girls at Dubai College.
“Over the next twelve months we believe that the Big Sister programme and the Role Model Relay offered by Girls Out Loud will open our girls’ eyes to career paths they may not have considered and provide them with the support and guidance of a female mentor during their formative years. This programme has the potential to be game changer for our students and the way we offer careers guidance as a school; it also allows us to combine our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion with an imaginative way to enhance our students’ workplace readiness. We can’t wait to get started!”
To find out more or to fill in a big sister application form, please visit
https://girlsoutloud.org.uk/dubai/
