Thank you, MLSE Foundation, for championing the next generation of strong, confident, and career-ready girls
The future of work is changing fast, and for many girls in low-income communities, the path forward remains uncertain. With over 25% of children in Toronto living in low-income households and 62% of adolescent girls in Canada not participating in any sport, the gap between potential and opportunity continues to grow. But thanks to the generous support of the MLSE Foundation, our Work It Girl programme is flipping the script – equipping girls with the confidence, skills and self-leadership they need to thrive in the workforce of tomorrow.
What Is Work It Girl?
Beat the Streets Employment and combat sports program: Work It Girl in action at Weston Collegiate Institute
Work It Girl is an innovative 16-session programme that fuses combat sports with career development. It gives girls a powerful space to build both physical and professional literacy. Through boxing gloves and elevator pitches, we’re helping girls discover their strength, inside and out.
Participants engage in activities like:
Mock interviews
Goal setting
Self-marketing exercises
Combat sports drills
Team-based communication challenges
The programme is designed to develop the four key workforce skills identified by McKinsey: cognitive, interpersonal, self-leadership, and digital fluency. While many of these – particularly cognitive, interpersonal, and self-leadership skills – can be cultivated through sports, the reality is that most low-income girls are not regularly involved in sports. That’s why Work It Girl goes a step further. It combines physical activity with experiential learning to create a uniquely effective space for skill-building and empowerment.
Real Impact, Real Growth
To date, we’ve delivered two programmes at Weston Collegiate Institute, reaching 40+ girls and one program at West Humber Collegiate Institute, reaching 32+ girls and counting. Each cohort has followed a powerful arc – while initial engagement can be slow, students show real enthusiasm and commitment as they grow more comfortable and confident.
“The content of this program is great, and the girls found the skill-building very useful. It simply covers a good deal of some of the things we aim to address in student leadership.”
One breakthrough moment came during the elevator pitch activity, where girls applied for fictional jobs at a summer camp. With creativity and laughter, the room shifted – walls came down, and confidence came up. Girls explored their future selves in a supportive, low-pressure space that encouraged bold thinking and self-expression.
“Their excitement to be talking about jobs, skills, and potential career pathways in a manner other than the typical resume typing was amazing to see.”
“The communication combine was an example of girls encouraging one another and pushing their limits.”
We also witnessed incredible personal moments – like one participant who began the programme shy and withdrawn, using her headphones as a shield. By the final sessions, she led with pride, headphones off, fully engaged.
And this is exactly what we love to see – involvement at their own pace, discovering the joy of showing up and trying something.
Why This Matters
According to RBC’s Future Skills report, 50% of jobs will require new skills within a decade. Yet, many youth employment programmes still overlook soft skills like confidence, adaptability, and emotional regulation, skills that are not taught in classrooms but lived and learned through experience.
Work It Girl fills that gap.
By fusing physical movement with hands-on learning, we are creating an environment where girls can practice being bold, taking risks, failing safely and growing. This is how we build the workforce of the future and ensure that low-income girls aren’t left behind.
Thank You, MLSE Foundation
We are so grateful to the MLSE Foundation for recognizing the potential in these young women and investing in a model that prioritizes their growth, well-being and futures. Together, we’re not just delivering a programme, we’re helping build a generation of leaders.
About the MLSE Foundation
Since its launch in December 2009, the MLSE Foundation has been instrumental in supporting communities across Ontario. With a vision to change lives through the spirit and power of sport, it has invested over $45 million in various initiatives. The foundation's mission is to improve the lives of youth by building facilities, supporting sustainable programmes, and empowering young individuals through sport and recreation.
About Beat the Streets:
At Beat the Streets, our mission is to advance the education of low-income children and youth in the Greater Toronto Area through fun and unique wrestling, life skills, and employment-based development programs. Since 2015, we have served over 28,000 young individuals through our Wrestle 4 Fun, Level Up, You Grow Girl, Work it Girl, After-School and Open Mat Sessions programs, providing them with opportunities to develop their physical, mental, and social well-being. We believe in empowering the next generation by breaking down barriers and creating pathways to success.
Join us in our mission to impact youth:
Join us in making a difference by supporting our cause and learning more about how you can contribute to the education and growth of children and youth in need. Together, we can shape a brighter future for all.
