Our Impact
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Our Impact
Learn about how the Jean Augustine Centre for Young Women's Empowerment is transforming the lives of girls and young women in Etobicoke and the GTA.
Our Approach to Empowerment
At the Jean Augustine Centre, we believe that girls have limitless potential. But we also recognize that they face unique challenges that prevent them from becoming their best selves.
By giving girls and young women the opportunity to learn new skills, express themselves, and discover their strengths in a supportive and encouraging environment, they develop the confidence, self-knowledge and practical skills they need to thrive and reach their full potential.
“The years between nine and 13 are a critical time for their healthy development [...] Tailored interventions such as girl-focused programs can make a big difference in their health and well-being, sense of connection and belonging, participation and learning, leadership, and healthy relationships as they grow.”
Participant & Alumni Stories
Since 2014, the Jean Augustine Centre has proudly empowered hundreds of girls and young women through our free and subsidized programs, workshops, and camps. Hear first-hand from the girls and young women whose lives have been impacted by Jean Augustine Centre.
When Amira first started attending programs at the Jean Augustine Centre, she was just 11 years old. Now 18, Amira is a two-time camp counsellor and dedicated member of the 'Youth Visionaries' program, where she serves as a role model and leader to younger participants. As she prepares to embark on her post-secondary journey and sets her sights on pursuing a career in law and politics, Amira credits her time at the Jean Augustine Centre for giving her the opportunity to do things she wouldn't have otherwise and inspiring her desire to pursue law and politics. Her biggest takeaway from her time here? "Step out of your comfort zone and do things that you don't know."
Amira's Story
Gabby's story
Since first starting at the Jean Augustine Centre in 2024, Gabby, 11, has become an avid participant in programs such as Craftastic and the Look Up! Lift Up! Peer Mentorship Program. From her Look Up! Lift Up! mentor Liz, Gabby says she learned the importance of “believing in yourself and caring about yourself and others.” Her favourite program? CashApp Queens, a financial resilience program where Gabby and her peers learn about financial concepts like budgeting and investing through games and challenges. If Gabby could tell people one thing about the Jean Augustine Centre, she would say "you would make a lot of friends and learn new things and meet new people."
Deki’s journey at the Jean Augustine Centre started in 2014, when she was just 7 years old. An active participant in programs like Reader to Reader and JAC Genius, Deki was even featured on our very first brochure. Fast forward to 2025, Deki’s impressive resume of achievements allowed her to receive the $5,000 ‘Women in STEM’ Scholarship (presented by the Jean Augustine Centre in partnership with CIBC) which she says will help reduce the financial burden of her post-secondary studies in health sciences at the University of Western Ontario. The scholarship, Deki says, will encourage more young women to pursue STEM, a field in which women are underrepresented. Deki recalls her time here fondly, praising the Centre's unique atmosphere for allowing girls "to create such strong relationships and bonds with other young girls" that they may not have otherwise met.
