Real World Opportunities
Workplace Field Trips
GCW organizes career-specific field trips during the semester that are based on the requests and interests of our students. For instance, in 2008 the girls visited Chef Nikki from the television show Top Chef Chicago, at her restaurant 24 Prince in NYC. The field trips reinforce the girls' knowledge about career options and provide a unique opportunity to experience how particular industries work.
Career Shadow Days
Established in collaboration with our network of volunteers, the Career Shadow program provides girls with the opportunity to experience first hand what it is like to be in the workforce. By shadowing women who work in the fields in which our participants are interested, girls will learn more about the industry, explore career options available to them and identify skills they need to succeed. They see first hand a typical day in the industry they think they'd like to work in, dispelling myths or misperceptions – either positive or negative – about the field and the workplace.
The Career Shadow program follows some aspects of the tool kit developed by the Junior Achievement Program as part of its partnership with Job Shadow 2008.
GCW Paid Internships
Aside from providing educational and career learning opportunities, GCW helps to foster leadership skills. Each year, GCW offers paid internships at each school site. Girls who have successfully graduated from our program and who still have one more year before graduating high school are eligible to apply. Under the direction of the Executive Director, GCW interns or Youth Organizers help with outreach in school, attendance and provide overall support for the programs. Most importantly, the youth organizers make sure the girls are a part of the decision-making process, the direction of GCW programming, and building the alumni network.
GCW Scholarships
GCW provides two small scholarships to students determined to pursue higher education after high school. Students who have successfully completed the GCW program, who graduate from high school and are enrolled in college are eligible to apply.
