The organizer of the Northeastern Ontario girls self growth project says she’s overwhelmed with the program’s continued success and popularity. Andreane Blais (Ondrea-Ann Blah) says 20 girls aged 8-15 from Hearst to Timmins took part in the event at the Centre de Loisirs in Kapuskasing over the weekend. She adds that various organizations offered hands-on presentations in areas like drumming, self defense and dance.
“I taught them about self-acceptance, positive body image, natural beauty, leadership, girls supporting each other,” she said. “I can say that it’s truly mission accomplished from this year because everything I wanted to promote happened and the girls really had a great time.”
Blais says as part of the program the girls raised $11,163 for the Bumblebee of Joy project.
“The girls will be preparing some boxes of toys and activities for children age zero to 18 when they get admitted,” she said. So the girls had to fundraise for that, they will have to build the boxes with that money.”
Blais says some of the girls held bake-sales, bottle drives, and even participated in the Rotary Bay Dip Challenge earlier this year. The boxes of toys will be donated to hospitals in Hearst, Kapuskasing, and Smooth Rock Falls.