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A Program I Wish Existed When I Was a Young Girl
Every generation is faced with challenges of the "ideal" body. How these ideals are presented come in many different forms, and as we make progress in some areas, we are met with new obstacles. Through The Power Within, we have a powerful and much-needed program that helps our youth build a stronger sense of self, love themselves from the inside out and support their community to do the same. I wish I had the opportunity to participate in The Power Within Program when I was a
soniadong
Mar 101 min read
The Power Within Program Renewed for a Second Year!
Girl. Strong. has officially been renewed for a second year as a proud community partner with Plan International Canada! This fall, we’re offering a fully funded 6-week workshop series designed to help youth ages 10–14 (girls and gender-diverse youth) build body-confidence and self-esteem. Thanks to the support of Women and Gender Equality Canada and the Dove Self-Esteem Project by Unilever, there’s no cost to parents — making it accessible to every family. Learn more and sig
Girl Strong
Oct 1, 20251 min read
Beautifully Unbroken
Yesterday was World Bipolar Day and I shared about my top 5️⃣ lessons from 25 years of lived experience. Today, I want to share something personal—my very first keynote speech. In 2023, I delivered “Beautifully Unbroken” keynote in front of 600 people at the 40th Anniversary Gala for Hong Fook Mental Health Association, an organization that supports Asian Canadians navigating mental health challenges. But what most people don’t know is that before this keynote, I had a depres
Yollanda Zhang
Apr 1, 20251 min read
PA Day Friendship Skills Camps
Girl.Strong. is thrilled to be hosting PA Day Friendship Skills Camps —the perfect day camp for female identifying youth ages 9-13! What’s it all about? Who has control over your feelings? Circle of Control What do you need in a friend? What's a "marble" friend? What are these feelings? Jealousy, left out, best friend? How to work out issues between friends Friendship Vision and next steps Why Join Us? Friendship skills are for life! At our camp, girls learn how to navigate f
Girl Strong
Jan 7, 20251 min read
Tips for Friendship Troubles
Feeling excluded, managing virtual friendships, bullying, and popularity, are just a few of the issues that have come up in our sharing circles and conversations with concerned parents. We love our girls but we don't always know how to help them with these challenges. That's why we'll be hosting a free virtual workshop for parents on " Tips for Friendship Troubles: Helping Our Daughters Build Strong Friendships " on Dec. 3. You'll learn : - 3 key steps to stronger friendships
Yollanda Zhang
Nov 19, 20202 min read
Back-to-School Newsletter
Everything will be ok. I'm not just saying that. It really will be. Everything will be ok for your kids if you're ok. Truly! That's why I'm focusing this newsletter on tips and resources to help you be ok. 🤗 The tips below are gathered from recent conferences I've attended on supporting children and families during the pandemic such as the Superpowered Summit and the Parent and Caregiver Masterclass on Stress Management. 1. Do what you need to do to make sure that you’re ok
Yollanda Zhang
Sep 15, 20203 min read
Girl. Strong. is now featured in "Girls on the Edge" by Dr. Sax!
When you read all the books by an author to get ready for your girl empowerment program. Then, you reach out to him on LinkedIn because you love his work so much. And now, my program, Girl. Strong., is featured in his new book!! Thanks so much, Dr. Leonard Sax, for your amazing work on gender issues and for featuring me and my program in your new edition! This is definitely a must read for any parent with girls. Important lesson learned - you never know what’s possible until
Yollanda Zhang
Aug 25, 20201 min read
Live Virtual Program - Fall Registration Open
In this unprecedented time, we need to strengthen and support our children's mental health and mindset above all else. As the only private program in Canada licensed by Franklin Covey to offer the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People for young children, Girl. Strong. will be offering live virtual classes focused on mindfulness and positive habits for the 2020/21 school year! 10% of the proceeds will be donated to Toronto Foundation for Student Success supporting programming i
Yollanda Zhang
Aug 25, 20201 min read
Summer Camp - "Discover My Superpowers"
It sure feels like Summer these days! This photo below is of my daughter two years ago running around the neighbourhood in her Super Girl cape without a care in the world. She doesn't do that anymore and it makes me feel sad... Looking at this photo (and watching a kids show about superheroes) inspired me to create a Summer camp theme all about "rediscovering" and "strengthening" the superpowers that are already in our daughters. Yes, camp is only for girls (8-12 years old)
kathleenmoyana
Jun 2, 20202 min read
More Virtual Girl. Strong. Classes!
With the success of the free Virtual Girl. Strong. classes, we're happy to continue with virtual classes under a "Pay What You Can" model.
Yollanda Zhang
Apr 1, 20202 min read
Free virtual classes for kids
Are you looking for something meaningful for your child to do for the next 3 weeks? Join me for our FREE Girl. Strong. Virtual Classes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11am to 11:45am. For this special series, we welcome boys and girls between 6-12 years of age and any interested siblings! Topics covered include: Growth mindset Mindfulness Gratitude 7 Habits of Happy Kids (children's version of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People) STEM And more! Sign up here! After
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Mar 17, 20201 min read
Empowering girls is an equal mix of passion and performance
Social media use is a major deteriorating mental health in girls. See how Girl. Strong. is setting up our daughters to tackle their futures.
Yollanda Zhang
Sep 10, 20194 min read
Interview with Claudio Rojas
Thanks so much, Claudio Rojas, for the great discussion about Girl. Strong.
Yollanda Zhang
Jun 4, 20191 min read
Fairchild TV Interview - Yollanda's Entrepreneurial Journey
Original video aired on Fairchild TV
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Apr 12, 20191 min read
Girls with a Voice are Girl. Strong.
By Yollanda Zhang Original publication was printed in the Neighbours Of Lawrence Park South Magazine and Neighbours of Leaside & Bennington Heights A little while ago, I was walking my daughter to school and, as usual, she was talking a hundred words a minute! She’d had an idea that was, in her words: “really, really, really..." But before I could find out just how "really" it was, she stopped talking. Why? She overheard a boy on the other side of the playground fence we wer
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Apr 10, 20193 min read
Teaching the Languages of Home and Self-Confidence
By Heather Rosen Original publication was printed in the Neighbours Of Lawrence Park North Magazine With a population of over 1.3 billion and a burgeoning middle class, China is fast becoming one of the world’s largest economies, and is now a popular destination for tourists. It’s no surprise that a growing number of parents – including many who are not of Chinese heritage themselves – are eager for their children to learn Mandarin so that they can take advantage of the multi
Yollanda Zhang
Dec 1, 20185 min read
People of Toronto: Yollanda Zhang
By Sanela Kurtek Original article appeared in Torontoism Yollanda Zhang is the founder and the leader of Panda Mandarin , a Mandarin school for children and adults in mid-town Toronto. Panda Mandarin is unique in that it aims to make the language fun, engaging, and authentic. Zhang's newest venture is Girl.Strong ., a girl empowerment program for young girls to gain confidence and to take charge. Girl.Strong. is a project that is inspired by Zhang's late grandmother, who wa
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Aug 1, 20186 min read
'Good Girls Are Quiet': How Society Tells Our Daughters To Self-Silence
Our girls internalize values that tell them to be silent, rarely seen and a good listener above all else. By Yollanda Zhang Original article posted on Huffington Post Have you ever had an experience like this with your daughter? We were walking to school together one day and she was excitedly telling me about a new idea: "... this is really, really, really..." But before I would know just how "really" it was, she stopped talking altogether because she overheard a boy imitatin
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Jun 6, 20186 min read
When Yollanda Zhang lost her grandmother she gained a purpose
By Yollanda Zhang Original post from CBC Radio Many things in life make more sense when you look back in time. It's been nearly two months since my amazing grandma, Kang Zhi-Min, the woman who practically raised me from birth to three and a half, passed away. After she died I was overcome with motivation — but I had no idea why. Just weeks after losing my grandmother, I decided to start a girls empowerment program called Girl. Strong. to honour her. I realize now that I need
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May 6, 20182 min read