Donation empowers girls through Waalitj Foundation program

Alcoa Foundation is empowering First Nations girls in Australia with a major donation towards a program to improve school attendance and education attainment.

The donation of more than $120,000 to the Waalitj Foundation will help with delivery of the culturally appropriate Deadly Sista Girlz program. It was announced at the recent Deadly Sista Girlz cricket carnival, a celebration of culture, sportsmanship and community spirit.

The donation is part of the Alcoa Foundation’s Community Impact Campaign. This initiative focuses on creating community impact and encouraging employee volunteering in the communities where Alcoa operates.

Over 100 girls from 12 Western Australian schools competed in the cricket carnival, which was supported by Alcoa employee volunteers.

Molly Beerman, Alcoa Foundation Board Member and Alcoa Corporation Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, who was in Australia at the time, attended the carnival where the donation was formally announced.

“Volunteering in the communities where we live, work and operate is incredibly important to our employees and amplifies the impacts of our financial contributions,” Ms Beerman said.

“The Alcoa Foundation’s Community Impact Campaign is providing grants to charitable organisations across Alcoa's global footprint and encouraging Alcoa employees to offer their time and talents to those charities.

“It was wonderful to see so many Alcoa employees out lending a hand.”

Waalitj Foundation’s Deadly Sista Girlz program is delivered by strong First Nations role models and participants are empowered to make informed decisions about their personal health, education and employment pathways.

The announcement of the donation builds on existing support by the Alcoa Foundation to the Waalitj Foundation that focuses on cultivating competitive First Nations businesses and improving employability for First Nations job seekers.

Waalitj Foundation Director Josie Janz-Dawson said girls’ programs are pivotal in nurturing a generation of young women who value learning, embrace their cultural identity, and make positive life choices.

“Empowered First Nations women are the heartbeat of our community, leading the charge to improve our health and education opportunities,” Ms Janz-Dawson said.

“By empowering our girls, we break cycles of adversity, paving the way for a new norm of strength, pride, and opportunity within our community.

“Creating generational change is our pathway to breaking cycles and closing the gap. By focusing on empowering First Nations girls to learn, grow, and achieve, we open doors to endless opportunities.”

Alcoa’s Australian Vice President Elsabe Muller, who also attended the event, said the Deadly Sista Girlz program had earned an incredible reputation for helping to shape the lives of young women.

“We are proud to expand our support of the Waalitj Foundation to include the Deadly Sista Girlz program and its work to educate, engage and empower Aboriginal girls to excel, both at school and in life,” Ms Muller said.