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In 2008, Girl Guides of Canada-Guides du Canada received funding from the Government of Ontario implement the Girl EmPower Project in partnership with the Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence Against Women and Children (METRAC). Working with Ontario units, a Girl EmPower Challenge with training for leaders and activities for girls is being developed to promote healthy, equal relationships amongst GGC girls. The Challenge will be available in September 2009.
What is the Girl EmPower Project?
- build a strong sense of self-worth, respect, rights and responsibilities amongst diverse Brownies, Guides, and Pathfinders aged 8 to 14;
- provide girl members with the tools and space they need to create healthy equal, non-violent relationships in their own lives; and
- provide adult members with the skills they need to effectively engage with and empower Brownies, Guides, and Pathfinders, as well as facilitate activities to promote healthy, equal, and non-violent relationships.
The Girl EmPower Project prioritizes the needs, ideas, knowledge, and thoughts of GGC girls and Guiders in Ontario. As such, the input of girls and Guiders has been sought to direct project activities and inform the creation of a Girl EmPower Challenge toolkit in English and French, which includes:
- a comprehensive training guide for GGC Trainers
- an easy to follow resource guide for Guiders to help them comfortably facilitate and present the challenge material
- Girl EmPower challenge activities and resources for GGC units to engage in with Brownies, Guides, and Pathfinders; and
- a Girl EmPower Badge, designed by GGC girls themselves, which girls can get after successfully participating in the Girl EmPower Challenge
Why is the Girl EmPower Project necessary?
Violence against women and girls is an all-too-common reality in Canada. Statistics demonstrate that girls and boys are likely to learn unhealthy ways of relating from a young age, and this can lead to the continuation of the cycle of violence in their adult lives.
By proactively engaging girls in learning about healthy relationships and empowerment, the cycle of violence can be broken. The Girl EmPower Project also addresses the identified needs of GGC volunteers.
In a recent training needs analysis, Guiders indicated that they needed more training in facilitating girl programming, addressing teen pressures, and managing challenging issues within their units. The train-the-trainer module and facilitators’ guide will have a strong focus on giving unit Guiders the tools to do effective group facilitation and develop their youth engagement skills.
Guiders will also learn about common pressures and barriers that different girls face in their homes, schools, communities, and relationships. Such information will better equip them to handle challenging issues as they come up within the context of GGC participation.
More information about Girl EmPower
Please contact Rebecca Tye, Girl Program Coordinator, at 416-487-5281 x243 or tyer(@)girlguides.ca
METRAC is a community-based, not-for-profit organization that seeks to prevent violence against diverse women, youth, and children. For more information, visit www.metrac.org.
Girl EmPower Project
Girl Guides of Canada- Guides du Canada
Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence Against Women and Children (METRAC)
Funding provided by the Government of Ontario
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