By Khadidja Ba
In 2015, two women who grew up in Linden – Collette Venture and Daneile Hicks – launched Girl Stand Up! with a mission to empower teenage girls by boosting their self-esteem and confidence. Their inspiration stemmed from a deep desire to give back to their hometown and address the challenges and pressures faced by young girls.
Sunday Stabroek caught up with the duo in an email interview and it was explained that initially, Girl Stand Up! began with week-long camps attended by groups of 25 girls. These camps covered a wide range of topics including self-esteem building, jiu jitsu training, goal setting, financial literacy, poetry, and more. The immersive nature of these camps allowed for deep engagement and meaningful connections among participants.