FEARLESS Women is a not-for-profit organisation that helps girls and young women thrive, not just survive, says CEO Glenda Stevens.

“We have lots of programs here in the ACT for the girls who are the real high-flyers, and we’ve got programs for the girls who really need strong, intense support,” she says.

“But for that group in the middle, there was nothing.”

Former accountant Glenda, 60, says Fearless Women began through a combination of ANU research in 2018, along with anecdotal comments about girls not being important enough to have this support.

“Menslink are doing it for the boys, but there was no counterpart for girls,” she says.

“The ANU found only eight per cent of young women in the ACT felt their wellbeing and health was balanced, and 20 per cent of young women had negative feelings about their future.”

Fearless Women has recently launched Fearless Future, a 50-minute school wellbeing program for girls and young women in years five to 10.

“We go into schools and talk to girls about their emotional wellbeing and where to go for help. There are a whole lot of supporters out there, people who are on your team,” says Glenda.

“We ask what the girls want to know and what it is they want from their life, and with our research we found that what girls want is a girls-only space; they feel safer.”

As Fearless Women continues to grow, they have also officially begun a mentorship program.

“We have been trialling it for six months, but we recently had it evaluated and it received lots of gold stars and green ticks so we feel confident in continuing it on,” says Glenda.

“The mentor program runs for two years, with mentors and mentees meeting once a fortnight for two hours.

“They go out and do something that interests them, but the focus is chatting, and the mentor is to be a non-judgmental, independent person.”

The mentorship program caters to girls and young women aged between 10 and 25, who may need additional support due to internal or external factors, including anxiety, being from a single-parent home, not having a positive female role model, are carers, or for whatever reason, are displaying negative or neutral social behaviours.”

At the moment, Glenda says, Fearless Women is without government funding, and is yet to receive any.

“We exist because of the generosity of the people of Canberra. We have not yet secured government funding, but we have been trying and there’s a submission round coming up shortly. So we would be really thrilled if it came through,” she says.

“And, given that Menslink is funded by the government, we think there would be a level of parity required.”

Growing up, Glenda says she didn’t have a mentor, but wishes she did.

“My parents divorced when I was in my early teens. I had a fairly large family which was reasonably dysfunctional. I had an older sibling with addiction issues and I took refuge in books and sport,” she says.

“I really wish there was someone there who told me I could do more. It took me a long time to learn that, but it puts me in a good position now, to be able to help everybody else. I understand it now.”

After raising a daughter and two sons of her own, Glenda says she wishes she knew then what she does now.

“I worked really hard when raising them, because my teen years were disruptive,” she says.

“I tried to teach them to figure out what is important, what is worth the fight, and figure out who you are. Being kind is so important to my core values and so is forgiveness, both kind and forgiving to yourself and others. We’re all still learning and we all make errors.”

Glenda says it’s crucial to find what helps you be a good person, and give that to yourself.

“You don’t have to work all the time, take some time to walk in the sunshine, and understand what helps you to be a good, strong person because everyday is not roses, there is going to be rain as well as sunshine. You need to choose to give yourself time and give yourself a chance to explore the depths of yourself,” she says.

“For me it’s sewing, I find it connects me with my creative side, and I can get lost in pieces of colour and fabric, and it enriches me, and so does reading.”

The meaning of the word fearless is important, says Glenda, and worth diving into.

“It’s a quite common but complex word. It’s not just bold, it’s not just brave, it’s actually understanding all the challenges, and stepping forward anyway, into a life where girls and young women can thrive, not just survive.”

Donate, become a mentor, or for more information, fearlesswomen.org.au