Why we’re here
Our Theory of Change
"Because when girls are given the resources and support to be Fearless, they don’t just change themselves – they change the world around them.”
We’re happy you’ve found us.
When we started Project Fearless in 2019, our wish was that no girl or kid should ever have to feel they’re lacking in any skills to empower themselves and the people around them. Since then, we’ve run countless, power-packed programs in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, and built an unshakeable team and community that goes beyond anything we could’ve dreamed of when we began.
But you can’t build a village without a vision, and ours has always been at the heart of every little thing we do. Behind every motivational moment is a thoughtfully designed methodology. Behind every program is a place in the world we want to carve out for our girls & kids. And behind every one of those kids is a circle of cheerleaders — Coaches, mentors and peers — making space for them to show up exactly as they are, no matter their starting point.
This is our how, our why, our vision.
This is our Theory of Change.
Why
What girls are up against
Girls, gender-fluid and polygender young people are disproportionately affected by mental health issues in their early teens. Between the ages of 9 and 14, they’re rocked by physical and emotional changes. (The only time in our lives when more change happens in our brains is when we're infants.) Additionally, they’re struggling with with stigma, stereotyping, gender-based discrimination and intense societal pressure to look and behave a certain way.
Because this is such a formative time, they often end up carrying these misplaced ideas of identity well into adulthood, affecting their relationships, their work and how they see themselves throughout their lives.
The more we researched it and talked to the women, girls and gender-fluid kids around us, the more it became evident that this was a pretty universal experience of girlhood.
At Project Fearless, we want to rewrite that story.
How
What we’re here to do
Build.
Build an inclusive and supportive environment. We cultivate a safe space where everyone's voice is valued, offering mentorship from accessible role models, and giving them the freedom to define success for themselves, on their terms..
Make.
Make an impact, make mistakes, get messy and think outside the box. By giving girls the resources and community they need, we empower the next generation to lead healthy, fulfilling lives and create impact in the world.
Be.
Be an authentic role model. We believe in leadership for positive impact. Our Coaches and mentors embody their values, share their stories, and show our kids what confidence and resilience can look like in everyday life.
Goal
The ripple effect
When a Fearlesser comes home from one of our courses — whether it’s Bouldering, ARTivism, Skateboarding or Rethink Fashion — we want them to feel proud that they’ve pushed themselves outside of their comfort zones, learned a new skill and made friends, but the bigger, more lasting takeaways are for them have found their voices, a forever community and a deepened sense of worth and belonging.
Through trial and error, collaboration, and a community that cheers them on and lifts them up, we hope our girls & kids can start to see themselves as change-makers, valuing themselves while supporting those around them.
Our goal is that the growth mindset we weave through our programs can become an integral part of their identities, improving their mental health and self-esteem long-term, and creating a future generation of women with the confidence and tools to live life on their own terms, within the inclusive, diverse communities they build around them.
