I love hearing about organizations formed with the mission to help improve girls lives. Hardy Girls, Healthy Women is a nonprofit created to do just that.
I first learned about HGHW a few weeks ago, on Twitter. It was there that I saw that the group had started an online petition voicing concern over a contest run by a clothing company. The complaint was against American Apparel’s “Best Bottom” Campaign, something I wholeheartedly supported, since I felt the campaign was sending a negative message to young girls who might shop AP. I signed, and then I visited HGHW’s web site and learned what they are all about. I found something wonderful.
The organization describes itself as “dedicated to the health and well being of girls and women.” Its mission is to create opportunities for girls to help them “experience equality, independence, and safety in their everyday lives.” They do this through programs, workshops and conferences, and by developing resources (such as guides and manuals) to help adults develop a blueprint for guiding them.
Many organizations have been created to help girls focus inward: on building self-esteem and improving the way girls think about themselves. HGHW is different in that the group looks not to change the way a girl looks at herself, but to improve the way society looks at girls. Their goal is to create a healthier environment in which girls can live and grow and use their innate talents and abilities to flourish. Girls don’t need fixing; but our culture does.
Photo from a 'Hardy Girls, Healthy Women' Conference
Though based in Maine, HGHW’s programs and stance on many issues have a wide-reaching impact. Through workshops, seminars and multi-media kits available through their library, they help schools and communities enact programs that help girls tackle issues such as bullying, body image, relationships and representation of females in the media. They call attention to issues like the American Apparel campaign through petitions and letter writing to organizations they feel have negatively affected females.
HGHW’s goal is to help people and schools create “hardiness zones” for girls (hence the “hardy” part of the organization’s name). This concept of creating safe communities in which girls can thrive was based mainly on the extensive research of HGHW co-founder Lyn Mikel Brown. What Mikel Brown recommends is to arm adults—parents, teachers, and community members—with the tools they need to become mentors (or as HGHW calls it , a “muse”) to girls. By getting girls active in their communities and by allowing them to discuss and explore issues important to them, girls will become stronger and empowered. A wonderful mission and purpose for an awesome organization!
To learn more about all of the programs and resources Hardy Girls, Healthy Women has to offer, check out their site at hghw.org.
