Nobody Succeeds Alone

Hello, I'm Eva Anchekova, the founder of SheCopes. I have a unique perspective as a Caucassian-Canadian, hailing from the North Caucasus region, and I've been immersed in both cultures from a young age, thanks to annual summer visits. My family resides in Nalchik, in the North Caucasus region, and what truly motivated me to create SheCopes was my experience attending school there.

In the North Caucasus, I witnessed and lived in a predominantly male-dominated culture. Women were expected to fulfill a limited set of roles: getting married, raising children, and managing the household. Comparing this to my experiences in North America, where I enjoyed the freedom to engage in various activities, including sports – essentially having the same opportunities as boys – I realized just how unequal the situation was. 

The disparity in opportunities and expectations between girls and boys is striking and deeply rooted in cultural traditions and beliefs. Girls often face a set of limitations that hinder their personal growth and access to opportunities compared to their male counterparts. Cultural norms dictate that girls should primarily focus on marriage, child-rearing, and household duties, while boys are encouraged to pursue a wider range of activities and career paths.

For example, it's not uncommon for boys to have the freedom to participate in sports, join extracurricular clubs, and explore diverse interests, while girls are expected to prioritize domestic responsibilities. This unequal division of roles can stifle girls' potential and limit their exposure to experiences beyond the home.

Furthermore, in the North Caucasus, strict guidelines and traditions often dictate how girls should dress, behave, and interact in public spaces, imposing further constraints on their personal autonomy and self-expression. These cultural norms reinforce the gender divide and make it challenging for girls to pursue their aspirations and dreams outside the prescribed roles.

Back home, my friends faced strict societal guidelines and entrenched traditions restricting their choices and ambitions. This disparity struck me as profoundly unfair in this modern era. This sense of injustice and my desire to provide even a fraction of my opportunities in North America inspired me to create SheCopes.

At SheCopes, we aim to empower young girls in the North Caucasus by providing them with valuable English education, fostering their sense of empowerment, and offering comprehensive sex education. We believe that every girl deserves the chance to expand their knowledge and seize the opportunities available to them, regardless of their gender or the cultural norms that surround them. Through our programs, we aim to bridge the gap and contribute to a brighter future for these girls, just as I was fortunate enough to have in my own life.