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Girl
Institute is a homegrown program developed for girls and initially
designed from the input received from focus groups with adolescent
girls. Girls expressed the need for a support group to deal with
life issues. Girl Institute is structured as an informal time
that allows girls to lead the discussion in talking about real
everyday issues.
Since
Fall 2006, the program has been conducted at Keshequa and York
Middle Schools. These groups meet throughout the school year and
work on issues such as: academics, self esteem, friendships, relationships
and other personal concerns. The girls have also had the opportunity
to volunteer and support events brought to their schools by other
collaborations. As an example, Reality Check for Livingston County
coordinated a family fun night. The girls helped design flyers,
distribute information, etc. |
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the close of the first school year, the girls expressed the desire
for their groups to continue. With the girls input, we developed
and piloted the Girl Institute Summer Program for 2007. Girl Institute
met for seven weeks during the Summer and worked on various projects
with discussions about life topics continuing. The girls helped
prepare and volunteered for our Annual Dime Carnival. After the
Carnival, the girls participated in skill building workshops on
various topics. The girls also created and sewed their own purses,
made coffee mug flower arrangements, and traveled to Conesus Lake
for a photography scavenger hunt. The Girl Institute Summer program
concluded with a reward/celebration trip to a local amusement park.
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