Welcome to
The Shona Project
Our aim is to educate, empower and inspire today’s girls in Ireland to become tomorrow’s strong, confident and curious young women.
Our vision is to have a future where women are happy, fulfilled and playing an active and equal role across our society.
What do we do?
For many teenage girls in Ireland, life is harder than it’s ever been.They’re navigating a perfect storm of pressure: mental health struggles, social media perfection, rising misogyny, and a deep sense of not being enough. They’re comparing themselves to impossible standards. They're afraid to take up space. And they’re often doing it in silence.
At The Shona Project, we see this storm every day. We hear the heartbreak in the messages they send us. We meet girls in schools across the country who are doing their best just to stay afloat.
But we also see something else. We see courage. We see resilience. We see sparks of strength.
With the right support, those sparks can light up a life.
When girls feel seen, heard, and supported, they don’t just survive. They thrive. They become leaders. They lift others up. They change the world around them.
This is a once-in-a-generation moment to reimagine the future for Ireland’s girls.
Join us.
The Perfect Storm 2025 Research
Our national survey, exploring the experiences of the young women and girls of Ireland. We listened to over 1,000 teenage girls; the message was loud and painful. This is their reality, but it doesn’t have to be their future.
Our 2025-2028 Strategic Plan
We’re have launched our most ambitious strategy yet. Our 3-year plan will significantly expand our reach, impact, and ability to help every girl in Ireland feel positive, safe, seen, strong and heard.
Join Our 500x500 Community
We believe in the power of women coming together to support and uplift young girls. Our 500×500 campaign is a bold movement to mobilise our generation of women to stand for the next.
Education Programmes
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We offer two workshops The first of focused on influence, kindness and goal-setting, and the second is focused on confidence, mindset and finding our voices.
To learn more about our workshops, click here.
To book a workshop, please fill out this booking form.
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Each year, we bring together thousands of TY girls to hear from amazing role models and celebrate International Day of The Girl in October.
Want a quick feel for what Shine Festival is really like?
We’ve popped together some short YouTube highlights so you can see the energy, the atmosphere, and what students take away from the day. Have a watch, imagine your students in the crowd, then book your slot while dates are still available. For more information click here.
To sign up for our 2026 in-person event, click here.
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Is there a young woman in senior cycle in your school who has shown leadership, kindness or a passion for social issues?
Why not nominate her to get involved in our Junior Ambassador Programme? Find out more here.
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MARK is a school-based pilot programme developed by The Shona Project. It is a facilitated space where boys and young men can speak honestly about growing up today, without performance, pressure, or prescription. Many boys carry unspoken expectations around strength, success, sport, appearance and fitting in.
MARK shares the same values and credibility as The Shona Project, with a distinct approach designed specifically for boys and young men. The programme is designed around what we know works best for boys from existing research: safe, respectful environments that focus on strengths, identity and real-life experiences.
MARK is not about fixing boys or telling them what kind of men to be. Instead, it uses calm, age-appropriate discussion to help students reflect on the pressures they face, including peer expectations and online influence, and to recognise that they have choices in how they respond.
Find out more information here.
Everything we do is rooted in lived experience, designed by young people for young people, and built around the belief that girls deserve more: more support, more celebration, and more space to grow into the strong and confident women we know they can be.
We are proudly Irish and fiercely committed to building communities where girls can thrive.
Check out the various ways we support schools! If you would like to talk to a member of our education team, please don’t hesitate to reach out to them at education@shona.ie or on 086 014 4728.
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In 2024, we launched our first-ever mentorship programme, pairing girls across Ireland with fantastic mentors for 1-1 support through senior cycle.
Our 2025 programme is already fully subscribed, but you can find out more here and let us know if you’re interested in signing up for future cohorts!
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Each year, we distribute 35,000 FREE Handbooks to 1st year girls all over Ireland.
Find out more about our handbook and how to order your copies here.
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We’re here to support young women every step of the way as they navigate the world as young adults and professionals.
This programme gives them exclusive access to some of Ireland’s leading women and incredible peer support opportunities.
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We want to turn your school halls and bathrooms into a safe and positive space by providing a free stencil kit, which can be used by your students in whatever way they wish!
All the details can be found here.
Why Now? Why Us?
This is a critical point in Ireland’s story. Young people are growing up in a world that often feels unsafe and uncertain. Girls are expected to keep smiling through it all. To be everything, to everyone, all the time.
But we know there is a better way.
When a girl is supported, she stands taller. When she sees others like her succeed, she finds her voice. When she learns how to be kind to herself, she learns how to change the world.
We are uniquely placed to lead this work. We speak the girls' language. We show up in the moments that matter. And we walk with them every step of the way.
We’ve already seen what’s possible when one girl feels empowered. Now imagine what we can do with thousands.
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In 2026, we are proudly supported by:
