Girl's Club
♦ addressing the needs of young women in a safe, fun, energetic, female-centred environment
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GIRL'S CLUB IS A
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GIRL'S CLUB IS FREE TO JOIN!
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GIRL'S CLUB ALLOWS
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THE GIRL'S CLUB VISION is to be a community leader committed to collaborative partnerships in the provision of accessible prevention, intervention and support programs and services for the enhancement of women's lives.
WHAT ELSE SHOULD I KNOW?
♦ This program is funded by the City of Lethbridge Family and Community Support
Services (FCSS).
♦ Girl's Club is a national YWCA initiative and is presently expanding to offer
programming in other YWCAs across Canada.
♦ Through personal empowerment workshops and education about healthy
relationships, Girl's Club is workign to reduce the occurrence of future violence
against women.
♦ Group leadership opportunities are available to girls once they turn 18.
In the girls’ own words…
- “I love it here. It's the one thing that keeps me from wanting to turn 18.”
- “The most amazing people that are always here. I love the way the leaders care about us and the positive environment.”
- “I enjoy meeting all the other girls and the fun things we do. The best thing about Girl’s Club is being able to talk about anything- from boys, to socks, to school, to chocolate. Girl’s Club rules!”
- "I remember the days we laughed so hard we couldn't stand. I remember the days when we cried. I remember how, no matter how difficult my life seemed at the time, I was able walk into that room and put it all behind me, even if it was only for two hours. I remember that every moment I spent in that room was free of the peer pressures and judgments that followed me every day in my classrooms and hallways."
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" I learned how to respect myself and the other women around me. I learned to love myself. I learned to love the person I used to be as well as the person I am growing into. I learned that you can not take care of anyone unless you take care of yourself first. I learned that we all have strengths, and weaknesses, and we need to accept each other for those. I learned that it is okay to cry, it is okay to be hurt, and it is okay to be angry. I also learned that from these emotions come strength. I learned that I am me, and I am okay. I am proud to say that I was a member of the YWCA Girl's Club. I am proud to say that I cried on the day I was too old to attend anymore. I am also proud to say that the YWCA Girl's Club has helped me define who I am and who I want to become. I am blessed with all of the connections and wonderful friends I have made within that building, that room, and in that group. I am also honoured to continue to be in contact with them. I hope, for the sake of girls everywhere, that this group continues far into the future."
In the words of parents and caregivers…
- “I am a single mother and I feel Girl's Club has provided my daughter with opportunities I would not have been able to offer her without your support, so thank you!”
- “My daughter is continuing to mature into a very independent, intelligent young woman, and I know the time she has spent with Girl's Club has contributed to this.”
- “I think it's great that you get such a cross section of different girls from different areas of the city because it provides a nice mix. Girl's Club is a wonderful way to spend Friday afternoons because of the skills and knowledge the staff has to offer and I would recommend it to any parent. I like that it is run by such a young, energetic staff and that the girls are exposed to a female-oriented environment. It's about time that girls in the city had a program like this!”
Contact Kendra for more information by phone at 329-0088 or by email at kbishop@ywcalethbridge.org
(Click here for Girl's Club Information Sheet)