Our Regional Vision

Rooted in Trinidad & Tobago. Growing Across the Caribbean.
Girls of Impact began in Trinidad and Tobago with a simple belief: when girls and young women have access to opportunities, supportive networks and the tools to lead, they can create meaningful change in their lives and communities. Today, that belief is shaping a bigger vision. We are working towards building Girls of Impact Caribbean, a connected regional network that brings together young women, community leaders and partners across the Caribbean to advance leadership, empowerment, advocacy and community action. Our ambition is to create opportunities that extend beyond national borders while remaining grounded in the unique needs, cultures and realities of the communities we serve. We envision a Caribbean where every girl has the opportunity to thrive and every young woman has the confidence, resources and support to lead.

From One Island to a Regional Vision

Our roots. Our future.
Founded in Trinidad and Tobago in 2022, Girls of Impact has grown through the commitment of young women, volunteers, mentors, partners and supporters who share a belief in the power of youth leadership. Through programmes focused on career development, girls' empowerment, climate advocacy, civic participation and community action, we have created opportunities for girls and young women to learn, connect and contribute. As our work has developed, so too has our understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing young women across the Caribbean. Although our islands have distinct cultures, histories and national priorities, many of the barriers young women encounter are shared, including unequal access to professional networks, leadership opportunities, resources and meaningful participation in decision-making. Our regional vision builds on the experience and lessons of Girls of Impact Trinidad & Tobago while creating pathways for young women across the Caribbean to collaborate, exchange knowledge and drive positive change.

Why the Caribbean?

Different islands. Shared aspirations.
Across the Caribbean, girls and young women are demonstrating leadership, creativity, resilience and a commitment to improving their communities. Yet access to opportunities remains uneven. Geography, socioeconomic circumstances, institutional barriers and limited access to networks can influence the opportunities available to young women, particularly those living in rural and underserved communities. We believe regional collaboration can help bridge some of these gaps. By connecting young women and organisations across borders, we can share resources, exchange ideas, strengthen leadership capacity and create opportunities that may be difficult to access independently. Our vision is not simply to expand an organisation into more countries. It is to build a connected community of young women who can learn from one another, lead within their own societies and collaborate on issues affecting the wider Caribbean.

What We Want to Build

A connected Caribbean community of young women leaders.
Our regional vision is guided by four ambitions.

01 | Expand Access to Opportunity

Bring leadership, mentorship, empowerment and development opportunities closer to girls and young women across Caribbean communities, including those that are traditionally underserved.

02 | Strengthen Regional Connections

Create spaces for young women from different Caribbean countries to build relationships, exchange perspectives and collaborate across borders.

03 | Develop Young Women Leaders

Equip emerging leaders with the skills, confidence, knowledge and practical experiences to contribute meaningfully to their communities, professions and countries.

04 | Amplify Caribbean Women’s Voices

Strengthen opportunities for young women to participate in conversations and decision-making processes on issues affecting the region, including gender equality, climate change, sustainable development and youth participation.

Our Regional Model

One shared mission. Locally led impact.
We believe that meaningful regional expansion must balance a shared organisational identity with local leadership and community ownership. Our proposed model for Girls of Impact Caribbean is built around a regional coordinating body and locally led country chapters.

Girls of Impact Caribbean

Girls of Impact Caribbean is envisioned as the regional body responsible for advancing our shared vision, supporting collaboration between country chapters and strengthening the organisation’s collective capacity.

Its intended functions include regional strategy, organisational standards, partnerships, resource mobilisation, programme development and opportunities for cross-country learning and collaboration.

Country Chapters

Country chapters will be led by teams of young women who understand the realities, priorities and opportunities within their respective communities.

Chapters will work within a shared organisational framework while developing initiatives and partnerships that respond to local needs.

Shared Priorities Across the Caribbean

Five areas of work. One regional commitment.
Our regional vision builds on the core areas of work established by Girls of Impact Trinidad & Tobago.

Leadership & Career Development

Expanding access to mentorship, career-readiness opportunities, professional networks and leadership development.

Girls’ Empowerment & Wellbeing

Supporting confidence, wellbeing, self-advocacy and access to development opportunities for girls, particularly in underserved communities.

Climate & Sustainable Development

Strengthening young women’s knowledge, leadership and participation in climate action, advocacy and sustainable development.

Civic Leadership & Advocacy

Creating opportunities for young women to develop their voices and engage meaningfully with issues, institutions and decisions affecting their communities.

Community Action

Mobilising young women to contribute their time, skills and leadership to initiatives that address local needs and create positive change.

Regional Programmes & Collaboration

Local experiences. Regional possibilities.
As Girls of Impact grows, we aim to create opportunities for programmes and initiatives to connect young women across countries. This may include adapting established programmes for new communities, developing shared regional learning experiences and creating spaces for cross-country mentorship, advocacy and collaboration. Our existing programmes provide a foundation for this work, including: [1] Accelerate Her: Career mentorship, professional development and leadership. [2] Empower Her: Community-responsive empowerment and development opportunities for girls. [3] She Leads Climate Advocacy: Climate education, advocacy and leadership development. [4] International Women's Day Initiatives: Opportunities for leadership development, dialogue and community engagement. While programmes may share common goals and approaches, implementation will be shaped by local needs, partnerships and available resources.

Building Responsibly

Growth with purpose. Leadership with accountability.
We recognise that regional expansion requires more than establishing a presence in new countries. It requires strong governance, clear organisational standards, responsible resource management, safeguarding, effective partnerships and the capacity to deliver meaningful programmes. Our approach to regional development will therefore be phased and intentional. We aim to establish clear governance and operational frameworks, identify committed local leadership, build sustainable partnerships and develop appropriate systems for programme delivery, monitoring and accountability. Our measure of success will not simply be the number of countries in which we operate, but the quality, relevance and sustainability of the opportunities we create.