Our Story
IT STARTED WITH A SIMPLE IDEA: NO YOUNG WOMAN SHOULD HAVE TO FIGURE IT ALL OUT ALONE.
Girls of Impact was founded in Trinidad and Tobago in 2022 by Attorney, Youth Advocate and former CARICOM Youth Ambassador Reneé Atwell, inspired by her own experience of navigating education, career and early adulthood without the mentorship, networks and resources that could have made the journey easier.
Growing up in a marginalised community, Reneé understood from an early age that education could create opportunities. But being the first in her family to pursue law and a professional career meant navigating unfamiliar territory largely on her own.
University brought new challenges. Concepts such as GPA, professional networking, financial literacy and career planning were unfamiliar. There was no roadmap and, more importantly, no mentor to help make sense of it.
That experience continued beyond university and law school. Entering the professional world meant learning everything from preparing a strong CV to interviewing, networking and building a career, often through trial and error.
Eventually, one question emerged: What if young women did not have to navigate these journeys alone?
That question became Girls of Impact.
FROM AN IDEA TO A COMMUNITY
Girls of Impact was created to provide girls and young women with something its founder wished she had earlier: a community, access to opportunities and people invested in helping them succeed.
What began in Trinidad and Tobago has grown into a platform for young women to develop personally and professionally, strengthen their leadership, access mentorship and opportunities, and turn their ideas into meaningful action.
Through leadership development, career preparation, mentorship, advocacy, volunteerism and community-based programmes, we create spaces where girls and young women can learn, connect, lead and contribute to the communities around them.
At the heart of our work is a simple belief:
Talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not.
A young woman’s circumstances should not determine the size of her aspirations or her ability to pursue them. With access to the right knowledge, networks, opportunities and support, girls and young women can shape not only their own futures, but the future of their communities.
ROOTED IN TRINIDAD & TOBAGO. BUILDING FOR THE CARIBBEAN.
Our story began in Trinidad and Tobago, but our vision has always been bigger than one community.
Across the Caribbean, girls and young women are navigating changing economies, unequal access to opportunities, barriers to leadership and complex social challenges. At the same time, they are leading businesses, building movements, serving their communities, creating solutions and reimagining what leadership can look like.
Girls of Impact is building a regional community that helps more of them do exactly that.
As we expand our work across the Caribbean, we are creating opportunities for young women to connect across borders, develop their skills, participate in decisions that affect them and contribute meaningfully to the development of the region.
We are developing the next generation of Caribbean women leaders.
MISSION
To equip girls and young women with the skills, mentorship, networks and opportunities to lead, thrive and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
VISION
A progressive society where gender equality is prioritized through advocacy for economic autonomy, equitable access to essential services and full participation of women in society.
VALUES
Leadership: We believe leadership begins with the courage to take initiative, serve others and create positive change.
Community: We believe young women thrive when they have supportive communities, meaningful relationships and a sense of belonging.
Opportunity: We work to expand access to the knowledge, networks, experiences and opportunities that help young women move forward.
Impact: We believe empowerment should lead to action. We encourage young women to use their skills and experiences to make meaningful contributions to their communities.
Inclusion: We believe opportunity should not be determined by geography, socioeconomic background or circumstance. We intentionally seek to reach girls and young women from diverse communities and experiences.
Integrity: We are committed to responsible leadership, accountability and acting in the best interests of the girls, young women and communities we serve.
OUR STORY IS STILL BEING WRITTEN
From our beginnings in Trinidad and Tobago to our growing Caribbean vision, Girls of Impact continues to evolve, but our purpose remains the same: to ensure that more girls and young women have access to the support, opportunities and community they need to become who they are capable of becoming.
And as we grow, we are building something bigger than an organisation.
We are building a community of Caribbean women ready to lead, serve and shape what comes next.