Giving Donor Support Enhances Participation at Ninth Annual Girls Conference On March 6, 2020, the Alexa McDonough Institute for Women, Gender and Social Justice at Mount Saint Vincent University welcomed more than 400 junior and senior high school girls from across Nova Scotia to the ninth annual Girls Conference. Participants attended workshops focused on confidence building, leadership skills, personal and professional growth, as well as developing stronger minds and bodies. The generosity of Girls Conference donors provided an opportunity for 40 girls to attend the conference who otherwise would not have been able. Grade seven student Domini Awoyiga from Madeline Symonds Middle School has attended the Girls Conference for the past three years and says it helped her find her voice and build confidence. “I presented in a big group of people last year and it gave me more confidence and self-esteem,” said Domini. “Before coming to my first conference, I
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MOUNT SAINT VINCENT UNIVERSITY DONOR IMPACT REPORT 2020
was quiet and never really spoke my mind, but now I can talk to almost anybody! I’m thankful to all the donors of the Girls Conference and for the things they have done to make it the very best.” Grade twelve students Tessa MacIsaac and Destinee MacInnis from Strait Area Education Centre have been attending the conference for the past five years. The conference has opened their eyes to new concepts and ideas. Last year, Destinee and Tessa presented a workshop on period stigma, discussing attitudes around menstruation in different countries, access to menstrual products, and eco-friendly and reusable options. They credit the Girls Conference with giving them a platform to spread awareness about topics that affect women around the world. “This conference has given me so many eyeopening opportunities,” said Tessa. “I’m really thankful to all of the supporters who make it possible each year.”
