Girl‘s Circle Program
This is a new program that was piloted
within the school setting for targeted girls for one year. It
will be running for all girls in the age group as an afterschool
program for the 2007-08 school year starting October ’07.
The Girls Circle is a model of structures support groups for girls
9-18, we focus on the 12-15 age groups. It is designed to foster
self-esteem, help girls maintain authentic connection with peers
and adult women in their community, counter trends of self doubt,
and allow for genuine self-expression through verbal sharing and
creative activity. The program will run after school in each of
the elementary schools, each module is 12 weeks. There are nine
modules to work with which can be mixed and matched for the target
groups. Group size is no larger than 15 girls. Each meeting is
for two hours every week, during this time the girls take turns
talking and listening to one another about their concerns and
interests. They also express their selves through movement, drawing,
collage, clay, and computer and so on. Often the themes are introduced
which relate to the girls lives – such as being a girl,
trusting ourselves, friendships, body image, goals, competition
and decision making.
The Girls Circle program has been applied to programs
in such areas as juvenile probation, schools, peer leadership,
health education, positive youth development, pregnancy prevention,
gang prevention and substance abuse prevention. The focus of these
general groups will be in three areas as follows;
Foundations
Friendships
Being a Girl
Body Image
Unity
Relationships with Peers
Who am I
Paths to the Future
Community
Honouring our Diversity
Mind, Body, Spirit
Expressing Individuality
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