Working at non-profits to break the 'giant glass ceiling'

A program on P.E.I. for women who work in the non-profit and voluntary sectors is helping create a network of support and knowledge.

Fifteen Island women are participating in the 15-week TORCH program, which focuses on leadership skills.

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Program facilitator Michelle MacCallum said she feels there is still a "giant glass ceiling," and that by supporting each other women can work to break it.

"There was no real training for being an executive director or being the leader in an organization," said MacCallum.

"I started to take note of where are the gaps, what are the hard skills and the soft skills, that are needed to run a not-for-profit organization."

Participants may continue to meet

The program includes writing funding proposals, learning to deal with stress, public relations and networking.

The networking may last beyond the program itself. It is scheduled to end before Christmas, but the participants have expressed an interest in continuing to meet.

Funding for the program came from the P.E.I. Interministerial Women's Secretariat.

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