by Arub Syed
Hey Changemakers!
If you’re as infuriated as we are about the lack of opportunities for women of colour and acknowledge the need for systemic change, you’ve come to the right place.
We know exactly how it feels to have big ideas but be overlooked on the basis of your gender and ethnicity – which is exactly why GirlDreamer was born.
Here are 5 reasons you should join our movement of trailblazers and truly make a difference to women of colour everywhere:
Authentic human connection
In a post COVID-19 world, fostering genuine and sincere relationships with like-minded folk is far from easy. So we at GirlDreamer host various in-person events, day trips and excursions that allow us to connect, build friendships, and make sure no one ever walks alone. A few include:
- Supper Club – an evening of fun and feasting where we host dinners at restaurants owned by POC,
- Games Night – an exciting time to break the ice with our fellow GirlDreamers,
- Surf Club – the first ever women of colour surf crew.
Leadership opportunities
- Unlike many organisations, we encourage youth-led initiatives and don’t limit our leaders to those with heaps of experience. We are extremely intent on working with the communities that we serve, allowing all women to feel truly seen and heard. There’s no sense of hierarchy at GirlDreamer – we strongly believe that everyone has something to offer, and we value all opinions regardless of your experience.
Our most prominent example of this is our GirlDreamer Advisory Board, consisting of a team of 12 GirlDreamers from varying professional backgrounds who play a huge role in the direction that GirlDreamer is headed.
Funding
Our first ever event was funded entirely by ourselves, and believe it or not, we only had £40 between us. So we know all too well how frustrating it can be to have the drive, passion and willpower to make change, but lack the funds to physically bring that change into fruition.
Since we’ve built ourselves up and become much more stable, we’ve decided to provide grants of £2,500 to women of colour with organisations who we feel need it most via our Dream Fund.
We’ve already helped kickstart so many micro-businesses and nonprofits, including Uproot Productions – a Black-led production company working across theatre and film, and AKAYA – an NGO focusing on Africa’s next generation of female leaders.
Could your business be next?
GirlDreamer Blog
As women of colour, we’re accustomed to feeling dismissed, invaluable, and a burden to others in the mainstream. So we’ve set up our blog, a safe space where all of our voices are heard and granted the same importance as our white, male counterparts. The floor is yours, so make it count!
We value your hard work and words, so we always pay a fee for those who pen their ideas on our site.
Free resources!
Let’s face it, who doesn’t love a good freebie?
We know how important it is for women of colour to feel empowered, and the struggle to equality is an uphill battle. We offer several free resources to our members, providing information on creating change locally, breaking free from misogyny, and reclaiming your power, just to name a few.
You’ll also have exclusive access to our newsletter, where we provide you with unique job opportunities, book and film recommendations, and much, much more.
Simply click here and drop your email if you value social justice, human connection, and if you dare to dream.
And don’t forget to follow us on @itsgirldreamer on Instagram to stay up to date with all of our opportunities, events and messages from our founders, Amna and Kiran!
Love always,
GirlDreamer
