empowering girls to take the lead
What is Ophelia's Voice?
Who We Are
Ophelia's Voice is a nonprofit organization based out of Sherwood Park, Alberta, with a focus on empowering girls and young women to use their leadership potential to affect social change in their community through self-initiated social justice projects. The organization is led by youth, for youth, and was started by the 17-year-old founder, Joanne Cave, with assistance from her graduate student mentors at the University of Alberta. Ophelia's Voice is in its third year of operation.
The name Ophelia's Voice was inspired by Mary Pipher's book Reviving Ophelia: Saving The Selves of Adolescent Girls (1994), which describes the significant challenges girls face navigating adolescence in an age of hypersexuality, pervasive media messages, and an exceedingly narrow definition of beauty. Ophelia's Voice emphasizes that teenage girls don't need "saving" if they are equipped with a supportive network of other girls, the opportunities to reach their leadership potential, and the resources and mentorships to make positive choices. Ophelia's Voice is directed by girls, and focuses on prevention and the strengths girls already possess! We know that girls are capable of changing the world.
Ophelia's Voice is involved with Girls Action Foundation as one of their associate members. We also maintain partnerships with other community organizations and represent girls on a provincial and national level!
Latest News
Look for Intergenerational Voices: Letters From Girls and Women being released on www.amazon.com this fall!
Our resource library has been donated to the Strathcona County Library so the resources can be accessible to all community members. We have over 80 books in addition to newspaper articles, brochures, zines, and multimedia resources for program facilitators, educators, parents, and girls. The subject matter ranges from body image, healthy sexuality, feminism, and everything in between. Click here to view a partial online catalog.
We are gearing up to launch a new speaker's bureau program with a great group of girls in the fall! Watch the blog, calendar, and the Latest News section for updates on the cool projects, activities, and workshops we are planning!
Ophelia's Voice has just launched our new blog, available here that will be frequently updated with our organization's news, program information, as well as resources for girls and other organizations! Check it out!
Ophelia's Voice is pleased to announce some new funding sources! Thank you to Strathcona County Council, Government of Alberta Children's Services, Family Violence and Bullying Prevention and Youth Strategies, Sherwood Park Rotary Club, University of Alberta Community-Service Learning Program, Edmonton International Women's Day Committee and County Clothes-Line Foundation!
