A Program Is Empowering Girls Before They Enter High School
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
Do you know a SisuGirl?
If you’ve ever watched toddlers, they tend to be incredibly determined when it comes to learning new things and accomplishing tasks. Yet, that can-do attitude often wanes during formative years and early puberty. Based upon her work with Peaks Foundation, an organization that provides empowering mountain adventures for women and girls, Chloe Chick realized the message of strength and belief in one’s own abilities needed to begin at a younger age. She founded SisuGirls to educate and inspire girls ages 5-13 through athletics. The concept is that “confident girls make confident choices.”
SisuGirls, much like its name (“sisu” is a Finnish term that means “having bravery”), is a worldwide organization with global ambassadors and programs, like SisuDay, to create a safe worldwide environment for young girls to realize their capabilities.
Stories are an important method for sharing lessons throughout the world, and books are a key to SisuGirls’ sharing stories of strong role models. The first book, Fearless Frosty ($14, amazon.com), tells the story of New Zealand mountain runner Anna Frost and how she had the personal strength to overcome injury and doubt to become a successful mountain runner. Frost’s journey to the podium, to an extended break, back to the podium again exemplifies the Sisu ideal of “I can do it.”
“Whatever it is, go after it.
Find the thing that makes you fly!
Because one thing is for certain:
You’ll never know unless you try.”
In January, the program is launching SisuDays, a day full of fun, brave, affirming and gutsy activities for young girls. For a small fee, girls can officially become a SisuGirl and receive a t-shirt, mentor call with a global ambassador, monthly stories and more.