This past Thursday was all about empowering women, as the world celebrated International Day of the Girl. Promoting girl empowerment and fulfillment of their human rights, while also highlighting the challenges girls across the world face is the goal of the day.

Here in Moose Jaw women don't necessarily have to worry about their right, but they do face challenges. Our local YMCA Girls Group was at Vanier Collegiate and A.E. Peacock Collegiate High Schools speaking to girls to try and empower them.

"Our goal is for these girls to feel inspired and valued in our community and we brought together a group of women who help build that confidence hopefully in these young girls. They're women that are in leadership roles and non-traditional roles and really are quite role models for any girls," explained Jenn Angus, a facilitator for the girl's group and the Manager of Educational & Community Initiatives for YMCA Moose Jaw. "We want to encourage young girls to be what they want growing up and to also support one another in achieving their dreams."

Angus, Jocelyn MacLeod, and Angela Sereda, the CEO & Deputy Chief for Moose Jaw and District Paramedics, all are facilitators of the YMCA Girls Group and spoke to the groups of girls at the high schools.

"I think everyone will take something different because everyone would've related with a different mentor but ultimately we just want all girls, all women to believe in themselves and choose the career and the path that makes sense to you and makes you happy," Macleod said. "That's ultimately what we want is people to be happy and respect other peoples decisions and the goals and the passions that they pursue."

Last year, the YMCA Girls Group went to speak to elementary schools, Sereda said it was a different experience speaking to high schools students.

"I think one of the biggest difference was the age groups," she said. "So you know it's different conversations that you have with the girls and different experience that they're facing today and I guess just preparing these girls today more [for] the workplace, where they're at in their life, and to help prepare them for the future."

International Day of the Girl happens every year on October 11th.