Empowered to Grow: Thank You Jumpstart for Fueling Confidence, Strength, and Resilience
At Beat the Streets, we believe in unlocking the potential within every girl. Thanks to the generous support of Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, we delivered five You Grow Girl programs across three Toronto high schools this year, reaching 118 girls with an unforgettable experience that left a lasting impact.
These weren’t just after-school activities. They were safe spaces to move, explore, connect, and grow. Through boxing, wrestling, team games, and powerful discussions, girls built their confidence, found their voice, and discovered their strength.
Program Snapshot
5 programs delivered
4 diverse school communities
118 girls served in Grades 9–11
32+ hours of physical activity and skill-building per cohort
Delivered at John Polyani CI, Harbord CI and West Humber CI
Thematic Impact: What Girls Told Us
We analyzed post-program reflections from participants to understand how You Grow Girl is impacting their lives. Here’s what we found:
1. Emotional Resilience & Stress Relief: Many girls shared how the program helped them process feelings, cope with stress, and feel emotionally supported:
"It helped me release emotions I held in."
"I loved being able to express my anger."
"It made me feel less stressed."
2. Confidence & Self-Belief: Participants consistently cited a boost in their self-esteem, strength, and pride:
"I’m proud of myself and feel like I can protect myself now."
"I realized I’m capable of more than I thought."
"I didn’t give up and I kept pushing myself."
3. Physical Empowerment & New Skills: Trying something new was a major milestone. Many had never stepped into a gym setting, let alone tried combat sports:
"I learned how to throw a proper punch."
"I thought I couldn’t do a pushup. Now I can."
"Wrestling made me feel strong and powerful."
4. Safe Space & Supportive Community: Girls deeply valued the encouragement, trust, and inclusivity from the coaches:
"The coaches made it fun and were really supportive."
"I felt safe opening up in the group discussions."
"I liked how no one judged anyone."
5. Mindset Shift & Motivation: You Grow Girl sparked important inner shifts—a willingness to grow, show up, and keep going:
"I learned that trying is what matters most."
"I started to look forward to coming each week."
"It changed my mindset to think more positively."
Why This Matters
Adolescent girls, especially those from underserved communities, face enormous barriers to well-being, self-worth, and sport participation. By meeting them where they are, in trusted school environments, You Grow Girl breaks down those barriers and builds up something better.
Thanks to Jumpstart, we reached girls who are so often left behind. Girls who needed space to grow, movement to heal, and coaches who believed in them.
A heartfelt thank you to Jumpstart; your support made this possible. Your belief in community-based, girl-centred programming helped 118 girls step into their strength and leave feeling empowered.
Because of you, they grew. And we’re just getting started.
About Beat the Streets:
At Beat the Streets, our mission is to advance the education of low-income children and youth in the Greater Toronto Area through fun and unique wrestling, life skills, and employment-based development programs. Since 2015, we have served over 28,000 young individuals through our Wrestle 4 Fun, Level Up, You Grow Girl, Work it Girl, After-School and Open Mat Sessions programs, providing them with opportunities to develop their physical, mental, and social well-being. We believe in empowering the next generation by breaking down barriers and creating pathways to success.
Join us in our mission to impact youth:
Join us in making a difference by supporting our cause and learning more about how you can contribute to the education and growth of children and youth in need. Together, we can shape a brighter future for all.
