Our Story

Amanda McDowall and Jacqueline Raymond Wegman founded IGE following a transformative volunteer trip to Thailand in 2018. Having met in their BFA Acting Program at the University at Buffalo and working as teaching artists and actors in NYC, they were profoundly inspired by the voices of the girls and women in the communities they visited. Those voices were bold, honest, and unstoppable, Amanda and Jacqueline knew they wanted to create a space where girls and women could dream big, connect across differences, and have conversations that honor their unique experiences, all through creative expression.

Using theatre as a catalyst, participants don't just explore and express themselves—they build leadership skills, confidence, and collaboration: the pillars of IGE. Every program centers participant voice, culminates in a community performance or sharing, and creates opportunities for young women to embody the leadership skills they already possess.

Since its founding, IGE has grown from NYC classrooms to a truly international stage. Our Female Ambassador Program has expanded from Thailand to Kenya and now South Sudan, empowering girls and women across the globe to discover, amplify, and trust their voices as agents of change in their communities.