On Friday, October 11th, 2024, Sisters in Sync hosts its fourth annual You Go, Girl! Awards at the historic Liuna Station in Hamilton. The event acknowledges the diverse accomplishments of young Black girls through eight awards dedicated to academic achievements, community involvement, artistic endeavors, and personal growth.

Guests to the awards ceremony will enjoy a lively evening filled with inspiring speeches, a silent auction, photo opportunities, food and drinks, music, and special guests, including MPP Arielle Kayabaga, CP24 personality Kayla-Marie Williams, and creator Jalen-Juwan Nelson from Lick My Fashion. The splendid gala will also feature a spoken word and music performance from Hamilton’s Akila Walcott and a dance performance by Studio of Purpose youth members.

I connected with the sensational founder and award-winning community engagement facilitator, Joëlle Kabisoso, to learn about the story of her nonprofit advocacy organization Sisters in Sync, its unique challenges, its immeasurable impact for young Black girls and its plans for the future. Below is a detailed summary of my Q&A with Joëlle.

What is the biggest inspiration behind Sisters in Sync?

Sisters in Sync was birthed from my experience as the victim of a racially motivated gang rape which was tweeted online, when I was 17 years old. Determined to seek justice, I approached the Hamilton Police Service, only to be told, “Maybe next time, you shouldn’t drink too much,” implying complicity and denying me protection. 

Which year were Sisters in Sync established?

Sisters in Sync was founded in 2018 following a successful campaign with the Black Youth Action Plan, addressing the need for access to comprehensive programs and services for Black youth following violence. Our mission is helping Black women and girls to be, become, and belong through programs, services, and advocacy efforts that promote self-esteem and self-efficacy to empower Black girls and women to access opportunities, resources, and justice, as well as addressing systems of social inequalities that contribute to the creation of barriers and a lack of available and accessible services.

How does the organization Sisters in Sync support Black Girls in the GTA?

Since our inception, we’ve witnessed firsthand the profound impact of engaging youth, their support networks, and caregivers in the development, implementation, and evaluation of our programs. This approach has directly influenced over 650 adolescent girls and counting. Over the past six years, 20 of these young women have taken on roles within our organization, either as employees, members of our youth advisory board, or volunteers. Notably, two have gone on to become Loran Scholars, recipients of Canada’s largest undergraduate merit award.

We support these girls through initiatives that foster self-esteem, emotional intelligence, resilience, and capacity building. Our programs, such as the BecomingHer program, Soft Skills for Soft Life program, including the You Go, Girl! Awards, are designed to guide them through the transition from girlhood to womanhood. Through mentorship, scholarships, financial support, and opportunities for social inclusion, we aim to offer the best “big sister” support possible. As our motto states, “we got you, sis,” and we are committed to making sure they always feel that we have their backs and their best interests at heart.

What would you say is the most challenging problem adolescent Black girls face in the GTA?

One of the most challenging problems adolescent Black girls in the GTA face is navigating low self-esteem, which is often compounded by the adultification bias—where they’re viewed as more mature and less in need of nurturing than their peers. This bias leads to harsher treatment, fewer opportunities for care, and greater societal expectations, often forcing them to grow up faster and miss out on formative girlhood experiences. These pressures, combined with damaging stereotypes that label them as “angry” or “aggressive,” further impact their emotional well-being and limit access to critical support systems. And because we work closely with adolescent girls, we try to mitigate these through our programs and various opportunities that we offer. 

How does Sisters in Sync work with Black Girls to address these problems?

As mentioned earlier, our programs—such as the BecomingHer program, Soft Skills for Soft Life program, and the You Go, Girl! Awards—are designed to guide girls through the transition from girlhood to womanhood. We are intentional not only in meeting the girls where they are but also in revisiting their girlhood, creating opportunities for them to relive some missed experiences.

Through our initiatives, we offer fully paid prom dresses and photoshoots to ease the financial burden of this important milestone. We also host monthly events, giving them a chance to disconnect from the expectations and realities of their homes, and provide a year-end retreat through BecomingHer. Many girls miss out on camp due to financial constraints, so this three-day experience allows them to enjoy what many of their peers often take for granted.

Additionally, we host the #MaybeNextTime Summit, advocating for better services and support for survivors of trauma while promoting approaches that move away from victim blaming.

What do you do to relax when you are not working?

When I’m not focused on serving our community, I find relaxation in self-care and travel. As changemakers and leaders in the nonprofit sector, it’s crucial that we prioritize our own well-being. Taking time for ourselves not only refreshes our spirit but also gives us the energy and clarity needed to make a lasting impact. If we neglect our personal needs, we risk becoming overwhelmed and less effective in supporting those we serve. So, whenever I can catch a flight or get out of town for a couple of days, I try to do that at least once a month to ensure I can always show up as my best for my community.

What challenges does the organization face in doing its work to support gender equality?

The biggest challenge our organization faces in supporting gender equality is securing consistent and reliable funding. Without necessary financial support from funders and government sources, we can’t continue providing the life-changing services that Black women and youth rely on. It truly breaks my heart to imagine a day when Sisters in Sync might not be available for the girls who depend on us. One of the toughest questions we get is whether we’ll still be here for them as they navigate a society that often presents significant obstacles. Our commitment to their growth and empowerment hinges on our ability to sustain these programs, making funding a critical concern for our mission.

What are the future plans for Sisters in Sync? Where do you see the organization in 5 years?

Our team hopes to expand Sisters in Sync and build a SIS community in at least one city throughout every province in Canada. We are certain that Black girls and youth outside of Hamilton and the GTA can benefit from a program like ours and a celebration like the You Go, Girl! Awards. We are also hoping to expand overseas, particularly reaching young Black girls in Republic of the Congo (DRC) and South Africa who experience high levels of gender-based violence daily and have had their girlhood stripped away from them. According to UNICEF, nearly one in three women in the DRC are affected by child marriage, often tied to early pregnancy. Alarmingly, one in four girls begin their reproductive lives before age 18, making the DRC one of the countries with the highest rates of early pregnancy. In rural areas, 40% of women marry before 18, and 11% before 15. In South Africa, over three children and 12 women were murdered daily in a 90-day period from October to December 2022, with 21,434 others suffering attempted murder or severe harm. Recovering from the physical and mental scars of such violence can take years, according to UNICEF.

At Sisters in Sync, we also aim to build partnerships with companies and donors for consistent and stable funding. We are grateful for every organization, donor, and grant that has supported us over the past six years; however, our funding typically lasts only 18 months. Our goal is to sustain our transformative programs without fearing being unable to help the next girl in need of support, community, and guidance. We have witnessed the profound impact Sisters in Sync has had on the lives of many Black girls and women, and it breaks my heart to think we might not be here for the next girl who seeks our help.

You can support Joëlle Kabisoso and Sisters in Sync to celebrate the achievements of Black girls ages 8-21 in Hamilton this October at the You Go, Girl! Awards. See below for event information.

As always, you can keep up with all the fun happenings in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area on efosa.

International Day of the Girl: You Go, Girl! Awards

When: October 11th, 5:30 pm – 10:30 pm

Where: Liuna Station, 360 James Street North, Hamilton

Admission: Priced. Tickets start at $41. Grab your tickets here