Introducing to SVP Vancouver: Flourish Education & Mentorship Society

Discovery phase: Approved for Initial Funding

About Flourish Education & Mentorship Society

Flourish Education & Mentorship Society provides transformative empowerment programs for pre-teen girls and gender-diverse youth. Founded in 2017 as Fire & Flower Girls, the organization’s mission is to create empowering spaces where youth can build resilience and grow with confidence through community-based, nature-connected, and mentorship-driven programming.

Their main goal with SVP is to scale and expand their programming to every community in BC.

Flourish envisions a society where the transition from youth to young adulthood is viewed with reverence, and where rite of passage support is restored and accessible. Through these rites of passage, the organization fosters confident, community-minded citizens who bring connection and awareness to themselves and others.

Why Their Work Matters

Girls and gender-diverse youth who face gender marginalization are more likely to be vulnerable to economic hardship, labour hardship, environmental hardship, and negative health impacts. Pre-teen youth frequently struggle with downward trends in self-esteem, difficulty setting boundaries, negative body image influenced by media, anxiety, and eating disorders.

By empowering girls and gender-diverse youth aged 10-14, the organization equips participants with skills to trust themselves, challenge societal barriers, and build a more equitable future. Post-camp surveys indicate that youth leave feeling more confident, with a greater sense of autonomy, power, and self-knowledge.

What Flourish Education & Mentorship Society Does

Flourish believes in helping young women and gender-diverse youth claim their right to be confident and unapologetically themselves. Their primary program consists of free, week-long empowerment camps, currently offered in seven different communities during Spring and Summer breaks. These camps are led by trained facilitators and supported by volunteer mentors.

The organization offers two themes for youth ages 10-12 and two themes for ages 12-14, allowing youth to join for one theme and return for another in a different season. Programs are named after birds of the Pacific Northwest to honor their relevance and symbolism to the Coast Salish peoples.

Key Activities 

• 5-Day Empowerment Camps: Week-long free programs focused on examining stereotypes, body positivity, navigating friendships, and understanding power dynamics.
• Nature Connection: Daily outdoor activities including Nature Games, Solo Sit Spots, and yoga.
• Mental Health and Inclusion Education: Facilitated learning on neurodiversity inclusion, combating body shame, and navigating anxiety and depression.
• Caregiver Connection Time: A unique program feature where a parent or significant adult is invited to join on Friday afternoons for special facilitated connection time.

With SVP Vancouver’s support, Flourish Education & Mentorship Society plans to accomplish the following over the next three years: 

• Complete their new brand roll-out and establish a new 3-year Strategic Plan.
• Build fundraising groundwork by hiring a part-time Fund Development Officer, investing in a new CRM, and launching a robust monthly giving campaign.
• Establish youth alumni engagement activities, encouraging youth from early programs to return as developing leaders.
• Double the total number of youth served and expand programs beyond the lower mainland.

How SVP Vancouver Will Help: 

SVP Vancouver’s partnership will focus on supporting Flourish through a dramatic period of transition and growth. This includes:

• Impact Measurement: Participating in SVP’s IMM coaching sessions and gaining access to peer organizations with robust volunteer programs.
• Strategic Planning: Providing a strategy and social impact coach, strategic planning expertise, and facilitation to support prioritizing goals.
• Fund Development: Participating in SVP’s fundraising workshops and receiving financial planning expertise.
• Rebrand Roll Out: Supporting the creation of a communications plan, assisting with digital assets like a testimonial video, and providing connections to Partners with relevant marketing experience.

This partnership will ensure that Flourish Education & Mentorship Society can stabilize its programs and achieve measured growth, ultimately securing long-term sustainability to continue making an inclusive, educational, and meaningful impact. 

Have questions about Flourish Education & Mentorship Society, want to get more involved, or learn more about them? Reach out directly with any questions, please contact Helen.