At the YWCA Hartford Region, we believe the young women of our community hold limitless potential. But for many girls in urban communities, normal teenage difficulties are often paired with serious burdens, like teen pregnancy and substance abuse, which put them at risk for low achievement, poor school attendance and high school drop out. That's why we provide the Young Women's Leadership Corps (YWLC), an after-school program that gives girls the power to persevere -- both personally and academically.
Young women in grades 7 through 12 meet each week after school 90-minute sessions to discover -- and connect with -- a world outside their own. Through community service projects, guest speakers and educational workshops, young women in YWLC learn about wellness, personal safety, money management and sexual decision-making, gain communication and job readiness skills, explore college/career possibilities and more.
A Summer Institute is offered for four weeks during the summer. The young women have the opportunity to take rowing lessons on the Connecticut Riverfront, take a course and become certified in babysitting, take part in a photojournalism project, and attend educational workshops.
YWLC expands into the community, including trips to local landmarks; college exploration tours; required community involvement projects to build leadership and activism; and racial justice activities that help fulfill our mission of eliminating racism.
Program Outcomes:
A total of 73 young women completed the 2008-2009 school year program and 25 completed the 2009 Summer Institute, a retention rate of 80%.
· 100% completing the 2008-2009 school year program advanced to the next grade level.
· 84% completing the 2008-2009 school year program and 96% from the 2009 Summer Institute were engaged in school or community service learning experiences.
· 86% completing the 2008-2009 school year program and completing surveys indicated an increase in positive attitudes with respect to self-worth as measured by the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale.
· 80% completing the 2008-2009 school year program demonstrated improvement in their public speaking and displayed effective communication skills as measured by staff observation.
· 71% completing the 2008-2009 school year program and 79% completing the 2009 Summer Institute increased their knowledge on workshop topics.
In the past five years, YWLC has led 300 young women on this journey to self-discovery. To become a YWLC mentor, or to learn more about how YWLC can change your life -- or the life of someone close to you -- please contact:
Susan Dawson
Youth Development Director
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