Meet the Team
Madison Huynh (Co-Founder)
Madison Huynh is a senior who attends JSerra Catholic High School in Southern California. She created a club at school and started teaching self-defense classes to her high school peers and local community. After realizing that many girls lacked confidence in their strength, Madison wanted to start this nonprofit to empower women of all ages. In her free time, Madison enjoys baking with her mother, volunteering, practicing martial arts, and teaching self-defense to young girls.
Sydney Huynh (Co-Founder)
Sydney Huynh is a senior who attends JSerra Catholic High School in Southern California. She is currently studying engineering, and plans to become a bioengineer in the future. After realizing the lack of women in the engineering field, Sydney wanted to start this nonprofit to encourage young girls to embrace their strengths. In her spare time, Sydney enjoys 3-D printing, going to the beach with her friends, reading, and exploring nature.
Backstory
In high school, Sydney and Madison Huynh sought challenges both in and out of the classroom. In doing so, they came across a problem in their community.
By coaching girls in jiu-jitsu and teaching sailing to young girls, the sisters realized that girls lacked self-confidence and were reluctant to join male-dominated sports. In AP STEM classes, where few girls attended, the sisters noticed the girls’ hesitation to join fields related to math and science.
Through these experiences, Sydney and Madison recognized the need to empower girls, especially those with limited opportunities, to explore their potential. So, they founded StrengthInHer, which fosters the untapped strength within girls and empowers women. Their goal is to build a community where girls can feel supported as they discover and develop their strengths.
Dragon Kim Foundation
We are incredibly thankful to the Dragon Kim Foundation, who awarded us a grant to launch StrengthInHer. Through their support, we were paired with an amazing mentor and provided invaluable resources, helping us grow our program and expand our impact. The Foundation’s dedication to empowering young leaders has been a key part of our journey, and we are honored to be part of their community. Read more about the incredible work they do!