Joanie X The Girls' Network

Ahead of International Women’s Day on 8th March 2020, we have launched the ‘Lada’ T-shirt, our first charity piece of the year! Joanie will be donating 50% of the proceeds of the Lada tee to The Girls’ Network.

As a female-led brand, we wanted to partner with a charity who raise up and support other women. With this year’s IWD theme, #EachforEqual, it seemed like the perfect o to collaborate with such a great charity who work hard to inspire the next generation of women, encouraging them to break down any perceived boundaries in achieving their ambitions.

What's The Girls' Network?

The Girls’ Network are a female-led charity who aim to inspire and empower girls from the least advantaged communities by connecting them with a mentor and a network of professional female role models. They believe that that all girls should be supported to realise their ambitions, to discover their self-worth, and to develop their capacity to shape their world and their future. They partner with secondary schools and colleges across the UK, to match girls aged 14-19 with a volunteer mentor who is a woman. All mentors go through an application process and are trained in mentoring and safeguarding. Once girls complete their year-long mentoring journey, they graduate and access membership to a lifelong ambassador programme. A donation of £750 pays for a mentee to be on the programme for a year plus lifetime membership to the ambassador programme. We caught up with Rucha, an ambassador for the charity to hear her story...

Rucha's Story

I first got involved with The Girls’ Network through my college. I was studying my A-levels in Harrow College where I came across this opportunity. Many girls were encouraged to apply and out of them just a few were selected, and I was thrilled to be one of them!

'Schemes like The Girl’s Network are important as they help empower usually underappreciated and overlooked young girls with massive potential!'

Rucha, Ambassador for The Girls’ Network

With the current wave of feminism, women empowerment often reaches the mass media, however without female role models, the mission of eliminating gender inequality cannot be achieved. The Girl’s Network provides young girls with a role model that they can relate to. Being matched with a female leader who works in the career they aspire to pursue provides the positive reinforcement a girl needs. The best part about The Girl’s Network is it is a lifelong journey and one can contribute and receive all kinds of support throughout their lifetime, which is amazing!

The Girls’ Network helped me gain insight into various sectors like parliament, The Metropolitan police and Sports England. Meeting with female leaders excelling in these fields introduced me to the world of infinite possibilities and helped me gain confidence to pursue whatever I want! Currently I am studying BSc Neuroscience at the University of Manchester whilst also carrying out the role of a PASS leader, student rep and an active member of AIESEC-iGT, where I liaise with companies and other international partners to set up internships for international students.

'The Girls’ Network was a life changing experience for me as I learned so much during my mentoring program, ranging from CV and interview skills to learning about my own goals and aspirations.'

Rucha, Ambassador for The Girls’ Network

Following the program I undertook a 12-week volunteering placement in Zambia, helping communities and schools on sexual and reproductive health. I also worked as a youth support worker in NCS before starting my University course. All this would not have been possible if I did not receive the exposure I did with The Girls’ Network and realised my potential.

Get your Lada Tee ahead of International Women's Day, 50% of the proceeds will be donated to The Girls' Network. For more information, please visit The Girls’ Network website: www.thegirlsnetwork.org.uk