More Than Technology: Supporting the Next Generation of Storytellers with Girls’ Voices Now

Every great story starts with a voice that deserves to be heard.

For more than a decade, Women’s Voices Now has worked to empower women and girls through film, storytelling, and advocacy. One of its programs, Girls’ Voices Now, has spent nearly nine years helping young women discover and develop their voices through media arts, mentorship, and storytelling.

Through hands-on filmmaking experiences, participants learn how to share their perspectives, explore issues that matter to them, and build confidence in the process.

For Program Manager Bonnie Ayala, the mission is deeply personal.

Ayala first connected with Girls’ Voices Now as a guest speaker, sharing her own story of becoming a mother as a teenager and building a successful career in television and film. The connection she formed with the students quickly grew into a larger role with the organization. Today, she leads programming and serves as a mentor, helping participants develop not only their storytelling skills but also the confidence to find and use their voices.

CREATING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH ACCESS

At Girls’ Voices Now, technology is more than a classroom resource—it’s an essential part of the creative process.

From researching stories and connecting with interview subjects to collaborating with teammates and producing films, students rely on technology throughout their journey. Access to these tools allows participants to focus on creativity, collaboration, and storytelling without being limited by resources.

We could not do any of the things that we do without access to technology. The computer is the vehicle that changes these girls’ lives.
– Bonnie Ayala, Program Manager

That belief is one of the reasons SmartSource is proud to support the organization. By providing the technology that helps power the program, we’re helping create opportunities for students to learn, create, and share stories that matter.

BUILD CONFIDENCE THROUGH STORYTELLING

While the films students create are impressive, the impact of the program extends far beyond the final product.

Through the process of interviewing, collaborating, and sharing personal perspectives, participants develop skills that will serve them throughout their lives. They learn how to communicate effectively, work as a team, and gain confidence in their own ideas and experiences.

For many students, storytelling becomes a pathway to self-discovery—one that helps them recognize the value of their own voice.

LOOKING TOWARD THE FUTURE

Girls’ Voices Now continues to expand opportunities for participants through mentorship and career development initiatives that help young women prepare for what’s next.

Whether exploring careers in media, building professional skills, or learning how emerging technologies are shaping creative industries, students are encouraged to think beyond the classroom and imagine new possibilities for their futures.

As the organization continues to grow, SmartSource remains proud to support a mission that empowers young women through creativity, connection, and opportunity.

Because when young people are given the tools to tell their stories, the impact reaches far beyond a single project—it helps shape the next generation of leaders, creators, and changemakers.