Build a dream

 

Windsor women are receiving help from a non-profit organization in order to close the gender gap between industries.

Build a Dream encourages women on different career pathways. The non-profit organization grew steadily  after becoming a province-wide organization Founder Nour Hachem-Fawaz knew it was necessary to expand the movement across Canada.

Elisa Quaggiotto, provincial outreach and community coordinator, said Build a Dream tackles a community need.  There are labor shortage gaps across the country. By tapping into the other 50 per cent of the population they hope to see the shortage shrink in the future. To build diverse workforces people need to be encouraged to choose their own pathways.

“Specific career pathways in the skilled trades, science, technology, engineering, math, emergency response and  entrepreneurship are so male-dominated,” said Elisa. 

Build a Dream encourages these women to pursue a pathway to fill the gaps in the market.

Build a Dream started in 2014, with a small project We Succeed in Windsor West.  In the past five years, the organization has hosted around 1000 parents and daughters. They are expecting that their sixth annual project  in Windsor will host 1500 parents and daughters and fifteen exhibitors at the event will offer lots of activities and a chance to explore new career consideration. 

Quaggiotto said growth is very slow, but steady. If they can empower young women at a young age, we can inspire them to go and try new things. The Carpenters union is a male-dominated organization who previously had one woman on their force, currently they have 10 women. 

Build a Dream event is geared towards a girls in Grades 9 to 12. 

“I’m Build a Dream first co-op student so, it’s a great experience for me, I’m gonna see how the organization runs from grassroots,” said Quaggiotto. 

Jana Jandal studies at Vincent Massey Secondary School and she came to know about Build A Dream two years ago when she attended a skilled trades spring camp, she heard about the event from one of her teachers.

“I was interested to see non-conventional career choices and learn about how I can be a part of different industries,” said Jandal. 

She said she will attend this year’s events and is excited to hear the panel talk about other girls’ experiences. 

“Build a Dream is a sign that our world is changing for the better and that I could be whatever I want to be and have people support me, Build a Dream is a confidence machine for young women like me,” said Jandal.