GREENSBORO, N.C. — A North Carolina group looks to empower young women through summer camps and other programs.

What You Need To Know

  • Empowered Girls of North Carolina serves more than 150 young women across the state and beyond. 

  • The group teaches girls ages six through 18 the important of integrity, self-worth and respect. 

  • 12-year-old Kyah McIntosh has been a part of Empowered Girls for three years, and went on to become USA National Miss North Carolina Preteen. 

 

Empowered Girls of North Carolina focuses on teaching girls age 6 through 18 integrity, respect and self-worth as they grow into young women. The group first started in 2000, as TechStart, Inc. led by Brenda Mewborn. It was a program to help girls learn computers and technology from professionals. 

Since then, it’s blossomed into a greater cause. The group puts a focus on literacy, financial empowerment, leadership skills and confidence building. Kyah McIntosh has been a part of Empowered Girls of North Carolina for a few years. 

“I would definitely say in the beginning I was very shy, and I was very jittery and I didn’t speak to a lot of people, and then after a couple of years with Empowered Girls, I’m very open and I love to talk to people and I’m very bright,” she said.

The 12-year-old says she’s seen a difference in herself. The confidence she found through Empowered Girls of North Carolina motivated her to compete in pageants. She went on to win USA National Miss North Carolina Preteen this year. She’s heading to the national pageant in Florida in July. 

“When I heard that I won, I was almost going to cry, but I didn’t, I held myself together,” she said.

The pandemic stopped Empowered Girls of North Carolina from holding in-person events and summer camps, but McIntosh is looking forward to taking part in it again this year. She says she’s learned a lot from writing and repeating positive affirmations, and spending time with morning devotionals.

“It definitely builds my responsibility, and it builds my character,” she said.

Empowered Girls of North Carolina holds a summer camp June 14 through August 6, 2021, with in-person and virtual options. Girls will be learning through hands-on STEM based activities. They’ll also be taking part in fun activities, like dance and drama classes. 

Aside from summer camp, Empowered Girls holds events year-round like Girls’ Night Out, Queen Day and self-care workshop. For more information on Empowered Girls of North Carolina, click here.