Strong Women, Strong Girls 2022

What is Strong Women, Strong Girls?

Strong Women, Strong Girls (SWSG) is a nationally recognized mentoring organization that offers programming in Pittsburgh and Boston. With college women as mentors, the program strives to support positive mentoring relationships between college women and pre-adolescent girls in under-served local communities to help raise ambition and combat the dangers of low self-esteem. SWSG provides a safe, nurturing after-school program for girls in grades 3-5, giving them the opportunity to learn from positive role models—role models they may not have in their personal lives.

Strong Women, Strong Girls at Duquesne University

As mentors of the Duquesne University Chapter of SWSG, we aim to cultivate the self-confidence and aspiration of 200+ elementary-aged girls within the Pittsburgh community. During weekly sessions, the girls read the biography of a female role model—one that is recognizable at the historical, national, or local level—and then apply one of the role model’s specific, positive attributes to a structured activity. We also incorporate semester-long service projects within our programming, hoping to foster a sense of community awareness among the girls.

Why is it important and where will my donation go?

SWSG is led, implemented, and financially supported entirely through the efforts of our chapter. Funding would help us provide the materials we need to fully implement our program to the girls we serve. Through funding, we could be assisted with the provision of healthy snacks, paper for printing biographies, and necessary craft materials to support each lesson—including crayons, markers, poster board, pencils, scissors, pipe cleaners, and glue sticks. Funding could also aid in the planning of our annual field trip. As the number of girls in SWSG grows, the amount of needed materials—and therefore funding—subsequently grows.

What it Means to Be A Strong Women, Strong Girls Mentor

SWSG is unique from other service organizations because it allows us, as mentors, to not only serve our community, but become fully immersed and integrated within it. When one becomes a mentor in  SWSG, she exceeds the definitional boundaries of a volunteer—she becomes a leader, she becomes an ambassador, and she becomes a role model. She is forever changing the life of a girl, one who has never felt a sense of empowerment. There is an activity in the semester that requires the girls to share the name of a strong woman in their own lives. When we see a mentor’s name written on the line, we know that our mission has been advanced.

Please Support Us by Donating and Spreading the Word Today!

Please consider joining us in our mission to empower our young mentees and change their lives forever. Make a donation today and help to spread the word about this campaign by sharing on social media. Make sure to include the hashtag #DUQSWSG! Don't forget to follow us on Facebook (Strong Women Strong Girls Pittsburgh) and Instagram (swsg_duq).

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND SUPPORT!