2023 FEMS Award Applications are now closed

Deadline to apply: Monday, January 15, 2024 at 11:30 PM

$1,055 Raised for the FEMS Award Fund

Thanks to your support, our 2023 holiday basket fundraiser was a massive success! We simply could not have done it without you.

Congratulations to the 2022 FEMS Award Recipient: Brontë Campbell!

FEMS is delighted to announce its 2022 award recipient! 🎉 

We would like to thank all the young women who applied for our mentorship program and went through interviews. Your hard work has not gone unnoticed! KEEP GOING!

A few words from our award winner:

"I'm Brontë, a creative sixteen-year-old artist who transformed my passion into a small business I love. I paint on used vinyl records recycling them into unique pieces of art."

We are so excited to begin this journey with you, Brontë! 

Here is a photo of Brontë with the record that started it all!

2021 FEMS Award Winner : Destiny Picken

Congratulations, Destiny!

As most entrepreneurs can attest, the path from idea to reality can be a long and challenging one, but with a little guidance, FEMS hopes to spark an interest in young womxn* from the Townships to nurture a passion and see where it can lead…

Almost one year after launching the FEMS Award, the group of female entrepreneurs behind the prize is celebrating winner Destiny Picken for all that she has accomplished.

In true entrepreneur fashion, Destiny applied for the award with a variety of interests in mind. From writing to photography, to baking and working with children with special needs, she hoped to gain some insight into each field. After reviewing an application that showcased her creativity, curiosity and work ethic, FEMS was thrilled to announce Destiny as the first ever FEMS Award recipient!

Throughout the mentorship period, FEMS members put Destiny in touch with professionals and amateurs from various fields to provide hands-on experience and opportunities for discussion. The goal was to deepen her knowledge and help her better understand which idea she may want to pursue as a business. 

“My experience with the FEMS was really fun! From playing around with what ideas interested me hands-on. All while giving me tips and tricks that I could try, which I thought was super helpful! I'm just surprised it went so fast, it was truly a blast to work with them!” says Destiny.

When asked what she would like to do with the award money, she replied that she would like to save the funds for her future business.

Having gone through their own journeys, each member of the FEMS Team approaches their involvement in the award through the lens of : “What would I have liked to know when I was first starting out?” The goal is to lighten some of the more daunting elements and amplify the FUN. Composed entirely of volunteers, we have been hard at work trying to learn how best to serve Destiny. Everyone agrees that a lot has been learned this year!

We thank Destiny for embarking on this adventure with us and wish her the best of luck in her future projects. We simply cannot wait to see where her curiosity leads her!

Operating since January 2021, the FEMS mission is to ignite the entrepreneurship spark in *young people who identify as female through the FEMS Award. The award consists of six months of mentorship guided by our team after which a $750 cash prize is granted. Each year, this award goes to an individual who demonstrates passion for an idea, hobby or skill and enthusiasm for exploring the world of entrepreneurship.

Applications for the 2022 award are now open! Visit our Facebook page, Instagram, or website for more details.


Text written by Jessica Adams

Translation by Robin Badger