WHO WE ARE
OUR MOTIVATION
WHY WE CREATED PROJECT VOICES
Confident women are vital to our society. Through their contributions, women have been shown to elevate every aspect of our lives.
In the business world, diverse teams including women have been shown to be more creative, more innovative, and more financially successful.
Female economic empowerment is associated with better health in children and communities
Female leadership in government leads to more peaceful and secure international relations
Unfortunately, the stress and pressure of schoolwork, extracurriculars, relationships, social media, and societal expectations also affect younger girls’ self-esteem. Confidence levels drop 30% in girls from the age of 8 to 14 years, much lower than in boys of the same age range. This lack of confidence can influence how likely a young woman is to speak out, try new things, or take on leadership positions.
A study from Dartmouth showed that men speak 1.6 times more than females in college classes, and women who did speak up tended to use apologetic language.
Educating, engaging, and empowering young girls is more important now than ever.
Project Voices recognizes the challenges facing young girls today and is dedicated to promoting confidence and communication skills for the leaders of tomorrow.
A fundamental step in empowering girls is developing their voices. Every girl’s voice is unique and essential, and every girl deserves to be heard. By developing speaking skills and other forms of expression in young women, we hope to empower girls to speak confidently, engage in conversations, and contribute to their communities.
A Letter From Our Founder:
Hi! My name is Caroline Bae, and I founded Project Voices to help girls develop the skills and confidence to speak and succeed.
As a high school student, I have witnessed first-hand the challenges that female students encounter in today’s society. But being a part of an all-girls school, I have also experienced the benefits of a community where confident girls can lead and be heard.
The inspiration for Project Voices came from two recent experiences that were truly transformative. At an international speech competition, I was fortunate to be recognized for talks I gave on female mutilation and the dangers of nuclear energy. Although taking on these challenging topics was daunting, I am extremely grateful for the support and encouragement I received along the way. Perhaps most importantly, this experience made me realize the impact our voices can have in educating and motivating others about pressing issues.
I also had the incredible opportunity to attend the national Student Diversity Leadership Conference. The conversations about race, gender, and society with people from all over the country were extremely educational, moving, and inspiring. I left that conference determined to share the vital diversity work and leadership skills that I had gained with others.
In addition to Project Voices, I enjoy playing field hockey and singing with my school choir (another way voices can come together and elevate a community!). I deeply care about social justice and female advocacy and contribute to my school’s equity board, Asian affinity group, and philosophy and ethics clubs. When not typing on my computer or going to field hockey practice, you can find me posting on my philosophy and feminism blog, streaming Netflix movies with my friends, and searching for the perfect scoop of chocolate ice cream.