December 2nd , 2009
Pemberton Girls
This October, Pemberton High School partnered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sea to Sky Corridor to develop Pemberton Girls, a visionary program that promotes the healthy development of adolescent girls. Run by the Squamish satellite office of Big Brothers of Greater Vancouver (BBGV), the program provides girls with a safe environment to learn about positive body image, drug and alcohol abuse, violence and exploitation prevention and healthy well-being.
In the pilot project, girls spent 75 minutes each week during school hours learning how to make healthy and safe choices. With the help of speakers from the community and Nicole Talosi, Mentoring Coordinator for the mentoring agency, the girls were given a voice and the ability to support each other in a safe environment.
“The girls developed an incredible amount of trust in each other. The program is really about interaction and encouraging girls to make healthy, informed decisions,” says Talosi.
Guest speakers included representatives and councilors from the Ministry of Children and Family Development, Alcohol and Drug Prevention program through Sea to Sky Community Services, Howe Sound Women’s Centre and other experts in the Pemberton community. This March, the second half of the grade 8 cohort from Pemberton High School will be participating in Pemberton Girls. While the program is currently considered a pilot project only offered at Pemberton High School, the hope is it will eventually become a readily offered program.
The program evolved from the Go Girls program developed by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada. While the programs have similarities, Pemberton Girls was developed and tailored to meet the specific needs of grade eight girls in the Pemberton area. Managing several similar satellite offices offering both Big Brothers and Big Sisters programs, BBGV strives to promote the healthy development of children across the Lower Mainland, the Sea to Sky Corridor and the Sunshine Coast.
Naturally, the development and implementation of such programs requires funding. Mackenzie Financial was generous enough to sponsor this session. Should you be interested in funding a future session of the Pemberton Girls program, please call the Vancouver office at 604.876.2447. As part of our Adopt a Program initiative, the Pemberton Girls program can be supported through a $2,500 donation.
BBGV offers a menu of programs to encourage the healthy development of children and youth. They also offer volunteer opportunities for men and women who are looking for a fun and flexible way to give back to their community.
To learn more about how you can get involved, visit www.bigbrothersvancouver.com or call 604.876.2447.
