Young Girl/Savvy Woman
A YWCA Canada award winning program! This program was started by YWCA Lethbridge and District and is now a national program!
_____________________________________________________________________
 |
Support from the Women of Distinction Awards helps support future women of distinction through the Young Girl/ Savvy Woman/Power of Being A Girl Conference. This is a registration program offered in partnership with Lethbridge Public School District # 51. See your school Counsellor to register. |
 |
Annual Conference Goals
|
The proceeds from the annual Women of Distinction Awards Dinner help to ensure that this annual conference is available at no charge to high school girls. The removal of financial barriers to attendance is crucial to the conference's success.
What topics will be covered?
While the conference theme changes from year to year, some of the sessions may include information about:
• positive relationships • bullying/harm reduction in schools
• healthy communication and problem solving • internet safety for girls
• finding your voice • career choices
• self esteem • discrimination and sterotypes
• preventing violence in the lives of girls • body image
From Past Conferences
 Take Another Look... In this
powerful examination of the harmful effects of social labels, girls were asked to create artwork contrasting the ways in which they feel they are inaccurately stereotyped and the ways in which they wish others would perceive them. |
Jamie Medicine Crane, former YWCA Lethbridge and District Board Director and current YWCA Canada Board Director delivered an engaging keynote speech about the importance of following your dreams. What Inspires You? |
| The Young Girl/Savvy Woman (The Power of Being a Girl) conference encourages young women to find the power to speak up and make positive changes in their lives in the face of violence and adversity. The following stories are from girls who attended a conference session on the topic of violence against women. |
• "My aunt was dating this guy for about 4 years. He was always really mean to
her and sometimes he would even hit her. She said that he loved her, but I told
her that men don't hit women if they love them. The decided there were going
to get married and my whold family disagreed with it. On her wedding day,
right before she was about to walk down the aisle, I looked at her and said, 'It's
either him or me - you have to choose.' She chose me and decided not to marry
him. She's much better now that they aren't together."
• "My dad is an alcoholic and he used to be really mean and say hurtful things to my
mother and I . I would just go up to my room and cry into my pillow because I wanted
him to stop. He didn't seem to care about us or anything we did. Now he and my
mom are divorced so I don't have to live iwth it anymore. He hasn't really changed
much, but I'm happier now that I don't have to put up with it. Now I get to choose
when to see him and I can always leave if I don't want to be around him."
• "I have an aunt who stayed with her abusive husband for a long time. He would hit
her, push her, talk down to her and try to control everything she did. He wouldn't let
her see her friends. She finallly decided to go to the YWCA and get some help. She
went through their program at Harbour House and left him for good. She met a new
guy who is loaded and is my inspiration because she was able to get through her tough
times and stand up for herself. If she can get through that I know I can get through
anything."
• "I promised myself a long time ago that I would never put up with a boyfriend who
controlled me or hit me. I know somebody who had to run away and get a restraining
order from her husband because he was so violent. I try to tell girls I know that they
don't have to put up with that."