2026 - 27 GEM Mentee Application

1. Please read the following prior to beginning your application:

The GEM Mentorship Program
GEM is a 9-month (September to May) program for self-identified girls designed to help you grow, explore your interests, and build skills for the future. You’ll be matched with a female career mentor for monthly one-on-one meetings, either virtually or in person. Through mentorship and hands-on experiences, you’ll develop professional skills, gain guidance on your goals, and access scholarships and job opportunities through the GEM network.

Eligibility Details:
To qualify as a GEM Mentee, you must live in the Toronto, Greater Toronto Area, Hamilton, Waterloo, Kitchener or Cambridge and be enrolled in high school at the start of the program in September 2026.

Ready to start your mentorship journey?

How to Join GEM:

1. Tell Us About Yourself
We’re looking for girls who are curious, ambitious, and ready to grow—especially if you’ve had to overcome challenges along the way. Tell us about your interests, your dreams, and why you want to be a GEM mentee. Submit your application by May 4th!

2. Virtual Interview
Some applicants will be invited to a quick virtual interview on the Kira platform—this is just a fun chance for us to get to know you!

3. Acceptance
If you’re selected, we’ll send you an email letting you know in early July.

4. Matching & Program Kickoff
Accepted mentees will fill out a short survey in the summer to help us match you with your mentor. The GEM program officially starts in September!

Your privacy matters! Any demographic information you share will be kept anonymous and may be shared with our donors. All your data is safely stored and only seen by the GEM Team.

Questions? Email our Mentee Lead Erika Keys at erika@girlsementorship.com

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* 1. Contact Information

First Name

Last Name

Residential address

City/Town (City of Toronto, Hamilton, Durham, Halton, Peel, York, Waterloo, Cambridge Kitchener)

Postal Code

Your Personal Email Address (NOT School Email Address)

Your Cell Phone Number ( If you do not have a cellphone number please provide your home phone number)

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* 2. Please provide us with the email address you check most often:

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* 3. What are your preferred pronouns?

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* 4. Do you live in the Toronto, Greater Toronto Area, Hamilton or Waterloo region?

Yes

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* 5. What grade will you be entering in September 2026?

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* 6. What high school do you attend?

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* 7. What cultural/ethnic group(s) do you identify with? Check all that apply.

Caribbean (e.g. Bermudan, Bahamian, Jamaican, Guyanese, Trinidadian, etc.)

African (e.g. Ethiopian, Ghanaian, Nigerian, etc.)

European (e.g. British, German, French, Italian, Greek, etc.)

Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, Metis, Multiple indigenous identities, etc.)

Latinx (e.g. Central American, South American, etc.)

Middle Eastern (e.g. Israeli, Lebanese, Palestinian, Syrian, etc.)

West Asian (e.g. Turkish, Armenian, Azeri, etc.)

Central Asian (e.g. Iranian, Afghani, Kazakhstani, Uzbekistani, etc.)

East Asian (e.g. Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc.)

South Asian (e.g. Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri-Lankan, etc.)

South East Asian (e.g. Vietnamese, Filipino, Malaysian, etc.)

Pacific Islander (e.g. Polynesian, etc.)

North American (e.g., Canadian, American, Mexican, etc.)

Prefer not to disclose

Other (please specify)

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* 8. Do you identify as a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community?

Yes

Prefer not to disclose

Other (please specify)

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* 9. What is your status in Canada?

Refugee

Lives in Canada permanently, but isn’t a citizen

Student Visa

Born and raised in Canada

First Generation Canadian Citizen (Born outside of Canada)

Second Generation Canadian Citizen (Born in Canada to parents born outside of Canada)

Third Generation (+) Canadian Citizen (Born in Canada to parents born in Canada to grandparents born outside of Canada)

Prefer not to disclose

Other (please specify)

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* 10. Do you have a disability (a physical or mental condition that limits your movement, senses, or activities)?

Yes

Prefer not to disclose

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* 11. Do you have an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) ?

Yes

Other (please specify)

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* 12. As per the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), GEM endeavors to support all Mentees and ensure that they are able to participate fully and get the most out of our program. If you require additional accommodations to participate, please indicate them below.

No accommodations required

I require additional accommodations (Please specify)

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* 13. Why are you interested in being a GEM Mentee?

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* 14. We want to learn about your goals so GEM can support you in the best way. Use the prompt below to help guide your answer:

What is one goal you want to work on? This can be a short-term goal for this year or a long-term goal for the future.

For example: Building self-confidence, exploring a new interest, starting a new routine, getting a part-time job, or graduating from high school.

It's perfectly okay if your goals are small or if you're still figuring things out. We just want to know what matters to you.

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* 15. To help us find the best mentors, tell us which career field interests you the most. Select all that apply.

It’s totally okay if you’re not sure—we have mentors in lots of different fields!

Creative Industries (Ex: Writer, Performing Arts, Graphic Designer, Film, TV, and Media, Music, Painter)

Social Sciences (Ex: Non-Profit, Education, Urban Planner)

Technology and Engineering (Ex: Software Developer/Engineer, Data Scientist)

I’m not sure / I don’t have a career field in mind

Hospitals and Healthcare (Ex: Doctor, Psychologist, Vegetarian, Nurse, Dentist, Physical Therapist, Social Work)

Law and Government (Ex: Lawyer/Attorney, Paralegal, Police Officer, Policy Analyst)

Business and Finance (Ex: Marketing, Accounting, Entrepeneur, Real Estate)

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* 1. Contact Information

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* 2. Please provide us with the email address you check most often:

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* 3. What are your preferred pronouns?

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* 4. Do you live in the Toronto, Greater Toronto Area, Hamilton or Waterloo region?

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* 5. What grade will you be entering in September 2026?

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* 6. What high school do you attend?

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* 7. What cultural/ethnic group(s) do you identify with? Check all that apply.

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* 8. Do you identify as a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community?

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* 9. What is your status in Canada?

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* 10. Do you have a disability (a physical or mental condition that limits your movement, senses, or activities)?

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* 11. Do you have an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) ?

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* 12. As per the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), GEM endeavors to support all Mentees and ensure that they are able to participate fully and get the most out of our program. If you require additional accommodations to participate, please indicate them below.

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* 13. Why are you interested in being a GEM Mentee?

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* 15. To help us find the best mentors, tell us which career field interests you the most. Select all that apply.It’s totally okay if you’re not sure—we have mentors in lots of different fields!

* 15. To help us find the best mentors, tell us which career field interests you the most. Select all that apply.

It’s totally okay if you’re not sure—we have mentors in lots of different fields!