Jean Augustine Centre for Young Women's Empowerment
- KPM Power Inc.
- Apr 15
- 3 min read
Updated: May 16
Our President and Founder, Karen Lai is always looking for organizations to support. She is a firm advocate in specifically supporting local businesses around the area. Karen started following the @jacentre4girls account for the Jean Augustine Centre for Young Women’s Empowerment (JAC) which was significant to her because it was located in Etobicoke. She was inspired by all the meaningful work they were doing to help empower young girls and women ages 7-17 years old. What hit home for Karen was not only is this specific age group a critical time for growth, but also these are the vital years to expose girls to STEM opportunities. It was in that moment that KPM Power started making monthly donations in August 2022 in hopes of making a difference.
However, it was not until we attended the “Into the Light” fundraising event on November 22, 2022, where we witnessed first-hand the astonishing work that JAC does for our community. Hon. Dr. Jean Augustine established a space where girls and young women, ages 7-17 years can thrive and be supported to reach their full potential. JAC’s program pillars center around financial literacy, academics and STEM, community engagement, and empowerment which was showcased all throughout the spaces at the Centre. We were inspired by the Craftastic program where girls learn how to sew, craft, make lip balms, and design clothing that they can wear or sell to the community. We were also in admiration of their fully equipped kitchen where participants learn the prep work that goes into making a meal while also understanding the benefits of growing your own garden through their Chef’s Catering initiative. The Centre has an established vegetable garden in the summer where participants can directly harvest from and use it in their recipes. At KPM Power, we truly believe that all these life skills are necessary to navigate the world as independent learners.
Additionally, there are educational programs in STEM through Create Coding, Fun with Numbers, Let’s Experiment, and programming that assists with reading and art. We were given the chance to read through testimonials and listen to current participants that night talk about their experiences at the Centre, and we can confidently say that girls and young women who get to participate in the great work that happens at JAC are involved in life-changing work. The best part is that there is something for everyone and that makes all the possibilities endless!
At the Earth Day event on April 22, 2025, KPM Power was proud to host a hands-on, interactive booth called “KPM Power Presents Pinning Power.” Focused on environmental sustainability and justice, the activity invited participants to explore how lithium-ion battery technology can be used to store clean energy and reduce pollution in vulnerable communities. Youth engaged in a team-based “Crimp & Connect Challenge,” where they learned how batteries are built—from connecting wires to understanding why proper battery design matters for a greener future. Through this fun, STEM-based experience, participants were also introduced to a variety of cleantech career paths—many of which don’t require an engineering background. It was all part of KPM Power’s mission to spark curiosity, empower the next generation, and show young girls that there is a place for them in the clean energy movement.
We are envisioning a world where we get to see more girls and young women thrive and be able to take on leadership roles in STEM careers and we know that JAC is doing their part. As Hon. Dr. Jean Augustine said herself, “’Into the Light’ because these girls are lights of the world, and we want them to shine as bright as possible.” We are proud to be supporting an organization that cares about empowering girls and young women for a better tomorrow – for a brighter future! Click to learn more about JAC: https://jeanaugustinecentre.ca/
Instagram: @jacentre4girls Facebook: Jean Augustine Centre for Young Women’s Empowerment Twitter: JACentre4Girls LinkedIn: Jean Augustine Centre for Young Women's Empowerment
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