About Bizzy Girls
Bizzy Girls was created in 2013 by Deborah Kanafani to celebrate and empower tweens and young teens. Our programs, products and books are designed to help girls build self-confidence, develop creativity, teach financial literacy, leadership and social emotional intelligence.
Bizzy Girls entrepreneur and empowerment programs start as young as age six, and go through age 14. The core of our proprietary curriculum is based on social emotional learning. In an entrepreneurial environment girls create their own product lines, learn business skills, hold a pop up store and learn how to engage with customers. We empower girls by helping them respond to situations through role playing, practicing positive "self talk", and learning to manage fears by creating an environment that encourages supportive peer feedback, collaboration and kindness.
Bizzy Girls began with the book series Kate Kate & The Bizzy Girls, about a tween fashion designer and her entrepreneurial friends. After much feedback from moms saying their daughters wanted to be like the characters in the books, we started an entrepreneur camp for girls in Santa Monica, CA. Moms and girls asked for more programs so we developed our curriculum and began growing. We recently completed our 150th camp and have helped over 2000 girls start their first business.
Our new online community allows girls to have their own web page so they can sell their products to family and friends. They can also have a page to share charity work or causes that they are actively involved in. This Girl Power community also has biz tips and interviews with female entrepreneurs. It is filled with positive role models and opportunities to build life skills through SEL games.
Our product line includes "girl power" clothing, home accessories and books. An entrepreneur kit and a 'girl power kit' designed by our students is currently being produced.
The Bizzy Girls brand caters to today’s teens and tweens, who want to be empowered, capable and have a positive effect on their community.
About the Founder
Deborah Kanafani, LCSW, is the founder and creator of Bizzy Girls. Trained as a psychotherapist, Deborah has worked with girls and women on issues of empowerment both in the United States and abroad.
Deborah Kanafani served as Executive Director of Women in Film and Television, Washington, D.C, and was Director of International Productions for PBS Overseas, where she produced educational programs for women and children.
In 2009 Deborah’s memoir Unveiled, was published by Simon and Schuster. The book is an account of her three year stay in the Middle East working as an activist with the wives of Arab leaders to stand up to oppressive regimes. Deborah is also the author of Kate Kate & The Bizzy Girls, a tween chapter book series about Kate, a tween entrepreneur who provides an empowering role model for young girls.
Deborah has a Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work from Adelphi University, NY.
She attended The New School for Social Research where she received a Bachelor in Psychology and completed her post graduate work at the Institute for Gestalt Therapy and The Albert Ellis Institute of Rational Emotive Therapy focusing on cognitive transformation and leadership training.
Press
Bizzy Girl Press
Deborah Kanafani Press
