PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Girls Inc. Friendly PEERsuasion is a two-phased program that develops the skills of girls to resist pressure to use harmful substances, such as drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and household chemicals. Friendly PEERsuasion targets the years during which girls begin to more fully experience and respond to influence and pressure from their peers to participate in risky behaviors.

Girls Inc. Mind+Body champions the holistic well-being of girls aged 6 to 18, acknowledging diverse factors influencing mental and physical health. Focused on four key areas, the program empowers girls to find enjoyable physical activities tailored to their lifestyle, culture, and schedule. It fosters body positivity, affirming that girls of all shapes and sizes deserve to feel good about their bodies. Addressing nutrition, girls identify healthy eating strategies aligning with their circumstances, budget, and cultural preferences. Stress management is emphasized, recognizing it as a normal part of life and teaching healthy coping mechanisms for a resilient body and mind.

The Girls Inc. Informed and In Charge program contains four modules and is designed to address the variances in young people’s experiences. In the Healthy Relationships module, girls learn to identify, establish, and cultivate healthy relationships through assertiveness and negotiation skills. The Sexuality Thumbprint module provides girls with opportunities to increase their understanding of sexuality, including ways to demonstrate respect, equity, and fairness. In the Sexual Health and Reproduction module girls have the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills and practice effective decision-making about their bodies. Girls explore their values and practice communicating about their choices. The Sex, Media, and Technology module provides support for exploring the role media and technology play in girls’ sexual development. Through critical analysis, discussion, and role-play, girls identify and address their feelings, values, and safety concerns.

In Our Own Handsengages girls in celebrating their heritage, investigating rights and responsibilities, practicing leadership skills, and tackling issues of concern. Girls deepen their understanding of girls and women as social change agents and of leadership as a collective process grounded in belonging to, and having responsibility for, one’s community. The first phase of the program focuses on strengthening girls’ skills and their knowledge of and appreciation for female leadership in the context of community. During the second phase, facilitators draw upon several activity toolboxes and women from the community as resources to continue building girls’ leadership skills. Girls go through a problem assessment process that helps them learn about a community issue, and then develop and conduct a community action project with the support of women partners.

Girls Inc. Operation SMART develops girls’ enthusiasm for and skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Through hands-on activities, girls explore, ask questions, persist, and solve problems. By interacting with women and men pursuing STEM careers, girls come to view these careers as exciting and realistic options for themselves. Thinking SMART This program links girls ages 12 to 14 with professionals (particularly women) in the STEM fields. These “SMART Partners” help plan and deliver the program, encouraging girls to think like scientists by thinking with scientists.

Girls also participate in field trips and hands-on learning experiences to expand their knowledge, learning, and understanding.

PARTNER SITES