MIT Solve

Step 2

Our Solution

The Pearl Project

Our solution's stage of development:

Pre-Seed

Our solution:

Created by young women for young women, The Pearl Project is a centre that aims to empower and inspire girls in low-income communities and provide programming, tools, and opportunities for girls to take into the workplace, classroom, and take over the world.

Our pitch:

Many mentorship programs exist, but there is a need for programs with the goal of actively assisting students and providing them with resources to accomplish their goal. The Pearl Project exists as a safe space for girls to be girls and voice their aspirations with the expectation that they will be encouraged and receive help towards accomplishing their goals.

There is a gap in programming for girls in low-income areas that are career- and goal - focused. Many programs exist for girls, however, there is a lack of goal-orientated programs for all girls, no matter the field. Programming that works to encourage and empower young girls, and assist them in accomplishing their goals.

In low-income communities, programs like the boys and girls club run, but do little to inspire ambition towards a brighter future. I am particular about girls because while all children within these communities face obstacles, girls are subject to more limitations than those of their male counterparts. Girls are discouraged from careers that require higher education like those of a doctor or engineer and are often told not to pursue their own careers. Girls need positive messages that inspire their ambition and individuals driven to help them accomplish their goals.

There is also a lack of opportunities for students. We resolve this issue by running a pairing program that pairs students with opportunities in other organizations. For example, if a girl says she's interested in business, we are partnered with Rotman Commerce Women in Business, to bring in speakers, and to have girls volunteer and job shadow within the organization. This way, not only is the student making valuable career connections, she is gaining employable skills and experience she can use on her resume for future opportunities long after she graduates from the Pearl Project.

The problem:

Youth in low - income communities face issues such as drugs, prostitution, high dropout rates and a lack of positive mentorship and opportunities

There is a gap in programming for girls in low-income areas that is career- and goal - focused. Many mentorship programs exist for girls, however, there is a lack of goal-orientated programs for all girls, no matter the field they may be interested in. Programming that works to encourage and empower girls, and help them to accomplish their goals.

Why our solution will solve the problem:

Growing up in a lower-income community myself, my peers and I faced a lack of support, opportunities and resources to succeed professionally, academically,and even have the confidence to aim high personally. Because of the absence of these necessities in their lives, many students I grew up with did not complete their education or join skill - based positions in the workforce. I know through experience running a drop-in centre for youth, and personally in my own life that providing support to youth through encouragement and opportunities to build skills and professional connections can change a student's life.

Who recommended you to Solve - or - how did you find Solve?

VICE Media

Step 3

Our target outcomes:

We want to ensure that girls ages 12 - 17 from low - income communities are equipped with the opportunities, skills, and connections to succeed personally, professionally, and academically. We hope that through the Pearl Project; girls:

- Understand the importance of their education and the negative effects drugs, violence, and dropping out, can have on their education.

- Have opportunities within fields that they are interested in and are able to gain skills they can use both today and in the future to enter the workforce.

- Are inspired and motivated to start initiatives with other young women in their communities.

How we will measure our progress:

Remaining in contact with the the girls' parents, teachers, and guidance counsellors, sending out online survey to measure performance and attitude both in class and at home to track possible changes in attendance, and test performance. - Girls understand the importance of their education and the negative effects drugs, violence, and dropping out, can have on the prospects of their education.

Have two - way survey system (potentially an app) which pairs girls with opportunities in other partner organizations. - Girls Have opportunities within fields that they are interested in and are able to gain skills they can use both today and in the future to enter the workforce.

Mentor evaluations note what is discussed in reflection after programming and workshops. We will also track the number of girls who sign up for community outreach opportunities. - Girls Are inspired and motivated to start initiatives with other young women in their communities

The populations we will benefit initially:

Adolescent
Upper middle income economies (between $3976 and $12275 GNI)
Lower middle income economies (between $1006 and $3975 GNI)
Secondary
Female

The regions we will benefit initially:

Sub-Saharan Africa
Europe and Central Asia
US and Canada

Step 4

The technologies we employ:

Consumer-facing software (mobile applications, cloud services)
Management & design approaches

Why our solution is unique:

Our solution is unique because it is individualized to tailor to the needs of each girl, and is grassroots based to give the girls resources they can use personally, professionally, and academically both today and in the future. Our app will create a profile and plan for each girl to succeed. The Pearl Project is different because not only are girls receiving positive mentors, they are gaining the professional network and skills they need to take on the workforce and succeed academically, along with programming that seeks to empower them to aim higher despite the situation they may be in.

Why our solution is human-centered:

Because we run a centre aimed at assisting girls to gain confidence and skills applicable to the workforce, our method is personalized to the student. We aim to have an app that gives the girl a profile and matches aspects of her profile to volunteer positions our partners have available,what programs we run that would best fit her interests and aspirations, and influential leaders within our network she can connect with. This way, we are able to provide the support that best helps the student thrive, and track her experiences and the skills she gains through the Pearl Project.

How people will access our solution:

Our group will run a 3 hour, after - school, weekly drop in centre for girls in grades 7 - 11. Mentors will be university students and in exchange for their time in the centre they will receive credit on their co-curricular record. Programming will be offered to all girls for free, and space will be either paid for by the Pearl Project or donated by the community.Topics of programming will be centred around personal, professional and academic goals. Lastly, we will facilitate a pairing program that pairs girls with opportunities in other organizations that pique their interest.

Technology-Readiness Level:

0 (Concept)

Our website

https://pearlproject.ca/

Step 5

Our organization:

Non-Profit

Where we are located:

Canada

How we will sustain our team financially:

To sustain ourselves, we are currently applying for multiple grants and partnering with local community centres and universities to provide necessities such as a physical space at no cost for us to operate in. We have also been able to secure some funding from the University of Toronto to operate. We especially intend to host a speaker series or conference with prestigious women from our network speaking to raise money. We are currently in the final stages of securing a 2 year government grant, and in the future, hope to have the organizations give a donation to the Pearl Project in exchange for the student's volunteer work. This way, we are able to continue to supply resources and provide opportunities for students.

The factors limiting our success:

- Funding Issues: Run fundraising events, set up a funding page, and apply to grants.

- No available space: Speak with community centres, schools to see if they could provide us with space, speak with city councillors

- Difficulty attracting interest: use social media, speak at high schools, connect w/ guidance counsellors, and create online ads.

- Difficulty finding volunteers: Advertise on university campuses and with partner organizations.

- Finding opportunities for girls on a consistent basis: Consistent check-ins with organizations on and off campus, reaching out to mentor involvement in other organizations.

How long we have been working on our solution: