Family Violence Initiative

COMPENDIUM OF PROMISING PRACTICES TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AND INCREASE SAFETY OF ABORIGINAL WOMEN IN CANADA

INTERACTIONS WITHIN COMMUNITIES

Healthy Relationships: Children and Youth

Program Name:

Especially for GIRLS (Girls Initiative Regarding Life Skills)

Organization/Community:

Status of Women office

Location:

Makkovik, Newfoundland

Website:

http://www.vplabrador.ca/home/11

Goals and Objectives:

To have a safe place for girls to learn about the world around them and to be able to touch on subjects that aren't discussed in schools, including reducing violence and personal safety.

Target Group Description:

Girls between the ages of 10 and 16

Program Description:

The program created youth groups that would meet once per week. Each session would focus on a different area of learning. The areas explored were: self-esteem, influence of the media, gender power and dating violence, bullying, communication conflict resolution and assertiveness, peer pressure, making healthy choices and leadership. The program had seven coordinators, each being responsible for a community participating in the program.

Program Successes/Impact:

N/A

Key Lessons/ Challenges:

Having the program take place in the summer made it difficult to gain participant enrolment due to family vacation plans and other summer programs in the areas detracting from involvement of potential clients.

Program in operation since:

2011.

Program:

Ceased Operation.