Girls-only career day encourages, empowers young women in Windsor

When Fahmo Ahmed arrived at a girls-only career day at Westview Freedom Academy Wednesday she wasn't sure what she wanted to do with the rest of her life, but when the Grade 12 student left shewas full of ideas.

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Ahmedtoured 20 stations with female professionalsto learn about different careers and listenedto motivational guest speakers along with dozens of other young women.

"It's a good opportunity," said Ahmed. "Grade 11 and 12 kids are talking topeople and they're trying to figure out what they want to become or knew what they wanted to become."

The fourth-annual event was hosted by Windsor Women Working With Immigrant Women.

Irene Moore Davis, manager of continuing education at St. Clair College, was one of the guest speakers who addressedstudents and said the event was about getting young women excited about career possibilities.

"At the heart of it is for people to find the career that they will enjoy, draws best on their skills and attitudes and that will keep them interested," she explained."I want them to know there are opportunities in management and whatever field they choose and that using your leadership skills can get you somewhere."

Nour Mandoris also in Grade 12 andsaid she found it helpful and inspiring.

"I want to be a fashion designer," she explained."I asked some peopleabout my job and they were very nice."

Possibilitiesfor women in Windsor

After her speech, Moore Davisspoke out abouta recent study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives that declared Windsor the worst place in Canada for women to live based on several criteria including education, health and leadership positions.

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Rather than focusing on the negative, she suggested using those findings as motivation.

"I think women in Windsor have a lot of opportunity actually, but we can take information like that and find out ways to make ourselves better as a community that really assists and empowers young women and women of all ages and propels them forward."