![The Park Manor Public School Go Girls group has spent the last seven weeks learning about body positivity, treating others with respect, healthy eating and confidence.[Submitted]](https://www.observerxtra.com/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/post_news_gogirls.jpg)
Park Manor Public School in Elmira has opened its doors to the Go Girls program, designed to empower girls and teach confidence and healthy habits.
The seven-week program is sponsored by Big Brothers Big Sisters and its goal is to teach young girls a positive self-image.
Caitlin Belle is a volunteer with the Park Manor Go Girls group, and says in the past seven weeks, she has seen a huge improvement in the girls who attend the sessions.
“The purpose is to get these guys together and foster communication, healthy eating, active living and just feeling good – boosting self-esteem,” she said. “I can see more confidence in bringing up the issue (of bullying) and some skills have been gained from that for sure.”
The group activities and mentoring sessions are geared towards girls who might need an extra leg up when it comes to communication skills, self esteem issues, decision making skills and general social skills, says Belle. The program achieves this by hosting weekly activities, discussions and snack sessions.
“Most of our active living portion was outside and that was mostly games and things like that. Just to get them moving and show them that it is fun,” she said. “Then we do a snack break and we try to pick something healthy and quick they might be able to prepare themselves. It is about getting them to feel good. A lot of the time would be arts and crafts. We used magazines one week to cut stuff out and make bags.”
The girls in the program also see the benefit of getting together with likeminded students every week.
“I would say that it was really fun. We get snacks, learn about healthy eating and active living and not to be ashamed of your body type or what you look like,” said Grade 7 student Megan Levely.
To other girls that aren’t in the group, but may want to join the next session, Rachel Forbes, Grade 7, says she would tell them to go for it.
“I would definitely tell them it was a great idea,” she said. “I learned a lot there and it is so much fun.”
The group participated in plenty of activities together, and Larkin Kitsemetry, Grade 7, says her favourite was hot potato.
“It was just fun because everyone was making up different moves to pass the ball around,” she said.
Sydney Chalmers, Grade 7, says the group brought her closer to her friends and she got some good food out of it as well.
“It is really fun,” she said. “It makes your friends closer and they are all amazing snacks.”
To learn more about the Go Girls program, visit www.bigbrothersbigsister.ca.
