Who we are
Our mission, our vision, and two ways of closing the same gap.
One program goes deep with a selected group of girls. The other works to widen awareness and access much more broadly. Together, they're how OPEN turns philosophy into practice.
Our mission
OPEN for Girls works to close the gap between girls and opportunity.
Our vision
A world where no girl's potential is limited by a lack of access to opportunities, pathways, education, or networks.
How we work
We work with girl-focused, community-based organizations, collectives and organizations, and people with proximity, experience and proven service delivery to girls and young women.
Our programs
Two ways of closing the same gap.
OPEN for Girls works at two depths at once — going deep with a selected group of girls, and working to make opportunity visible far more broadly.
Program 1
4 Girls Forward →
Intensive · Personalized · Girl-centered
A selective, cohort-based program for girls and young women who have aspirations but face barriers to accessing the opportunities that could help them move forward.
OPEN for Girls selects a cohort of girls and works with them over a defined period to understand where they want to go and what opportunities could help them get there.
The program then provides individualized support across whatever combination of each participant needs:
Opportunities
Mentorship
Resources
Pathways
Application support
Connections
Education
Networks
One girl may need a scholarship. Another may need an internship. Another may need help getting into university. Another may need a professional mentor. Another may need a fellowship and support applying for it.
Seven stages, from understanding her goals to advancing beyond the opportunity.
The program's basic journey
01
Identify
Understand the girl's aspirations, circumstances and goals.
02
Discover
Identify opportunities relevant to her.
03
Navigate
Help her understand the pathways and requirements.
04
Prepare
Provide the education, skills, guidance and support she needs.
05
Connect
Give her access to mentors, professionals and relevant networks.
06
Access
Help her successfully pursue and obtain opportunities.
07
Advance
Support her in making meaningful use of the opportunity and progressing toward her goals.
OPEN isn't promising to give every girl the same opportunity. It is helping each girl access the opportunities that are most relevant to her potential and aspirations
Who is a ForwardHer?
A ForwardHer is the girl or young woman in our 4Girls Forward program.
We call them ForwardHers because we believe they have the ability to move forward and take their lives forward.
They are not simply program beneficiaries.
The potential to create change already exists in the girls themselves. OPEN is not giving them potential or creating their change for them.
OPEN is an agent working with potential that already exists.
OPEN helps open a door for talented and resilient girls to create the change themselves.
"The potential is already there. We help open the door."
Program 2
OPEN4HER
AWARENESS · aCCESS · aCTION - OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL GIRLS
How do we make sure far more girls know that these opportunities exist in the first place?
Where 4Girls Forward goes deep with a selected group of girls, OPEN4HER works to widen awareness and access much more broadly.
This could eventually operate through:
Universities
Schools
Events
Mentorship
Youth organizations
Networks
Partnerships
Campaigns
To make existing educational, career, leadership and other opportunities more visible, understandable and accessible to girls who are often disconnected from them.
Girls & young women
Aspirations matter here. Reach out to learn where OPEN can meet you.
Opportunity Providers
Make what you offer visible, accessible and actionable.
Supporters
Help sustain the work of closing the gap between girls and opportunity.
Mentors
Opportunities often come through people. Be one of them.
Partners
Organizations working alongside OPEN to close the gap.