45
Days
12
Hours
44
Mins
29
Secs
left to apply
Across the vast prairies of Saskatchewan, where rural communities often sit hours apart and opportunities for youth can be scarce, Isabella Grajczyk saw a gap, and stepped into it. She imagined a world where every girl and gender-diverse young person, no matter their postal code, could access confidence-building, leadership development, and mental health support.
What began as a small initiative five years ago has now grown into 40+ free programs, 1,400+ participants, and 100+ communities reached across the province.
As a 2025 Global Fellow in Courage, Isabella is sharpening her leadership, expanding partnerships, and preparing Sask Girls United for its next chapter of growth — ensuring that youth in even the most remote communities have what they need to thrive.
Her courage lies in starting something from scratch, sustaining it through challenge, and choosing to believe in the power and potential of young people.
After only a few months, I already feel more supported and inspired than ever. Each meeting reinvigorates me. The GFIC team is incredibly encouraging, and the sessions are deeply impactful. I’ve learned how to harness AI, attract funders, and grow as a leader.
Being surrounded by inspiring leaders from around the world has been life-changing. Hearing their stories and seeing their impact constantly motivates me to keep serving my community. I have new ideas for how Sask Girls United can grow — and I can’t wait to put them into action.
Courage means taking risks and standing up for what you believe in, even when you’re scared. I didn’t always consider myself courageous — the word felt too big. But after meeting people from around the world and hearing their stories, I see things differently.
It is courageous to start an organization from scratch, and it is courageous to keep going five years later.
Sask Girls United offers free programming to girls and gender-diverse youth ages 8–18. We prioritize rural communities, where leadership and confidence-building opportunities can be extremely limited. By offering virtual programs, we can reach youth who might otherwise have no access.
Leadership development, confidence, and mental health support are essential for young people — and especially critical for rural communities.
We work with both rural and urban communities across Saskatchewan. We’ve partnered with local school divisions and are expanding our connections with libraries across the province. We also collaborate with organizations that share similar goals, so that we can amplify their mission while amplifying ours.
Our five-year report shows:
Reaching this many youth in five years is beyond anything I could have imagined. Accessing rural communities can be challenging, so knowing our efforts are working is incredibly meaningful.
Funding is our biggest challenge — especially for scaling and hiring staff. While we operate comfortably with grants and support from corporate partners, growth requires additional resources.
We’re exploring new avenues for funding and developing stronger connections. It’s time-consuming, but I believe it will pay off.
My team. I’m surrounded by a group of passionate, dedicated women, many of whom have been with me since the start. Their ideas and excitement keep me going.
Networking is key. So many opportunities come from meeting the right person and having the right conversation. Now, I never shy away from meeting someone new — you never know where it will take you.
Isabella embodies the spirit of GFiC — building community, expanding opportunity, and leading with courage. From rural Saskatchewan to the global GFiC network, she’s proving that investing in young people creates ripple effects that last for generations.
