Madam Speaker, recently I attended Girls World, an annual celebration of the United Sisters program based out of west Ottawa that was founded in 1994 by the Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre.
This year's theme, “I Am Who I Am”, was about identity, a key part of the program's mandate to empower young girls aged 10 to15. During weekly sessions, girls, with their team leaders, learn and share about healthy self-esteem, confidence, and teamwork.
I want to thank the organizer, Faduma Yusuf, for inviting me to join in the Girls World celebration in our community and the Minister of Status of Women for joining us and taking the opportunity to inspire the young girls by telling them that they are leaders not only of the future, but also of the present. It is our job to ensure that these girls can achieve their full potential.