Girls Future Ready
| Formation | 2016 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Zofia Kierner[1] |
| Type | Nonprofit organization |
| Focus | Youth empowerment, education, mentorship, leadership, gender equality |
| Headquarters | Warsaw, Poland / New York, United States |
Area served | Central and Eastern Europe, United States, United Kingdom, Canada |
Members | Over 91,000 beneficiaries supported to date |
| Website | www.girlsfutureready.org |
The Girls Future Ready Foundation (GFR) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to equip girls aged 14–24 with the skills, confidence, and networks necessary to thrive in a global, innovation-driven future.[2] [3]
Since its inception in 2018, the Foundation has supported the educational and professional development of around 91,000 girls, generated an estimated $28.3 million USD worth of social impact value with partners like BCG, Roche, Marriott International, KLM, Air France, DNB Bank, Stor9_, Swarovski.[4]
History
Girls Future Ready was founded by 15-year-old social entrepreneur and activist Zofia Kierner in 2018, initially as a small initiative aimed at bridging educational opportunity gaps for girls in Poland.[5] Drawing on her personal experiences growing up between Europe and the United States, Kierner identified systemic barriers faced by young women in accessing mentorship, international education, and skill development opportunities. [6]
Over time, the foundation scaled to 6 global programs opening initiatives like #HerStory Project, a mentorship program, and the Youth Advisory Board.[7] The Foundation was formally incorporated as a nonprofit in both the United States and Poland in 2018 and achieved 501(c)3 status by the IRS in 2019.[8]
Programs
#HerStory Project
The #HerStory program is a monthly one-on-one mentorship initiative where girls from CEE are paired with professional women from various industries. The mentorships are project-based and focus on developing tangible outcomes, such as publishing books, launching nonprofits, creating conferences, and developing podcasts. Final projects have been showcased in venues such as the Polish Parliament and Hotel Bristol in Warsaw.[9]
Girls Global Ready
Girls Global Ready (GGR) annually pairs girls from CEE with English-speaking mentors from countries such as the US, UK, and Canada to work on challenges aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals during the 6 month virtual program.[10] The program was recognized as a World Summit Awards European Young Innovators Champion in 2023.[11]
Youth Advisory Board
The Youth Advisory Board (YAB) initiative invites youth to participate in corporate decision-making by working directly with the executive teams of the largest global companies.[12]
#HerStory Masterclass
Monthly #HerStory Masterclasses feature women leaders sharing expertise on leadership, public speaking, mental health, sustainability, and media. [13] Guests of this series have included:
- Agnieszka Kulas, Managing Director of BCG Poland[14]
- Dianne Chipps Bailey, Head of Philanthropy at Bank of America
- Irma Veberic, General Manager at Roche
- Anita Werner, Polish TV Anchor
- Renata Bem, Executive Director of UNICEF Poland
- Magdalena Bogdziewicz, Former Ambassador of Poland to Singapore
The #HerStory Masterclass program has been patroned by Boston Consulting Group since 2023.[15]
Media and Public Presence
Television and Print Features
In 2024, GFR was invited to host a dedicated TV series on TVN24 Biznes i Świat, highlighting mentor-mentee collaborations. The organization also partnered with Vogue Poland to publish monthly profiles of #HerStory program alumni, elevating young female voices in print media.[16]
Impact
As of 2024, Girls Future Ready has impacted over 91,000 young women globally. [17] Its estimated social impact value exceeds $28.3 million USD.[18]
Awards and Recognition
The Foundation's programs and its leadership has been recognized with several awards in social impact.
- World Summit Awards – European Young Innovators Champion (2023)
- VOGUE Leader 2023[19]
- Forbes 30 Under 30[20]
- Forbes 25 Under 25 by Forbes and McKinsey[21]
- Digital Shapers Award by Fundacja Digital Poland[22]
- Top 100 Women in Data Science
- Global Student Prize Finalist – Varkey Foundation (2021)[23]
- Nominee, Warsaw Young Woman of the Year
See also
- Women’s empowerment
- Youth leadership
- STEM education
- Gender equality
References
- ↑ https://www.linkedin.com/in/zofia-kierner/
- ↑ "Aktywistka Zofia Kierner pomaga młodym Polkom w międzynarodowej karierze". 18 December 2023.
- ↑ "Girls Future Ready Foundation | About us".
- ↑ "Aktywistka Zofia Kierner pomaga młodym Polkom w międzynarodowej karierze". 18 December 2023.
- ↑ "Aktywistka Zofia Kierner pomaga młodym Polkom w międzynarodowej karierze". 18 December 2023.
- ↑ "Ambasadorka młodych Polek".
- ↑ "Youth Advisory Board: Most do przyszłości przywództwa".
- ↑ "Girls Future Ready Foundation | Charity Navigator Profile".
- ↑ "Girls Future Ready Foundation Annual Impact Report 2024". Girls Future Ready Foundation. 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- ↑ "Girls Global Ready".
- ↑ "Girls Global Ready".
- ↑ "Youth Advisory Board: Most do przyszłości przywództwa".
- ↑ "Girls Future Ready Foundation Annual Impact Report 2024". Girls Future Ready Foundation. 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- ↑ "Youth Advisory Board: Most do przyszłości przywództwa".
- ↑ https://medium.com/@girlsfutureready/from-local-roots-to-global-impact-my-journey-with-gfr-from-polish-schools-to-bcg-partnership-a44d3265f78e
- ↑ "Girls Future Ready Foundation Annual Impact Report 2024". Girls Future Ready Foundation. 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- ↑ "Girls Future Ready Foundation Annual Impact Report 2024". Girls Future Ready Foundation. 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- ↑ "Girls Future Ready Foundation Annual Impact Report 2024". Girls Future Ready Foundation. 2024. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
- ↑ "Aktywistka Zofia Kierner pomaga młodym Polkom w międzynarodowej karierze". 18 December 2023.
- ↑ "30 przed 30. Lista młodych Polaków, którzy podbijają świat".
- ↑ "Ambasadorka młodych Polek".
- ↑ "Fundacja Digital Poland ogłosiła Listę Digital Shapers 2023". 10 June 2024.
- ↑ "Zofia Kierner". 6 December 2022.
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