Here are the three parts of my project:
My project, titled “Free To Be Me,” for girls in my community will focus on running workshops to help younger children (grades K-3) learn about making and keeping friends. Children at such a young age don't realize what being a good friend really means. Being a good friend is standing up for your best friend when another child is picking on them on the playground ... not standing there watching it happen. Being a good friend is not daring your best friend to do something they wouldn't normally do. Being shown at such a young age the qualities of being a good friend may help children realize that there are ways to stop peer pressure before it begins. Learning how to make and keep friends is empowering.
For older girls (grades 4-5) my workshops will focus on working with the girls on how to deal with the realities and aftermath of being bullied or the pressures of fitting in ... how to stay true to who they are and not change just because someone else doesn't like something about them. Helping the girls realize how special they are, that outside appearance isn't everything, who to turn to when they are feeling pressure, how to be a real friend, and analyzing and discussing different scenarios will all be part of my workshop. Staying true to who you really are is empowering.
The last part of my project is my goal of making and donating 200 handmade pillowcases (100 to local shelters and 100 to the One Million Pillowcase Challenge which can be found at www.allpeoplequilt.com) for children in crisis. Children in shelters or who are homeless are not there by choice. It is not their fault. They suffer from low self-esteem and low self-confidence. Many times, they have no material possessions. They need to know that people care about them. By running workshops to make these pillowcases, and by making them myself, I can give these children something special to call their own and at the same time, help children attending the workshop understand how something as small as one pillowcase can make a difference to a child who has nothing to call their own. Helping others is empowering.
Until I blog again. . .
Rachel ;)
My project, titled “Free To Be Me,” for girls in my community will focus on running workshops to help younger children (grades K-3) learn about making and keeping friends. Children at such a young age don't realize what being a good friend really means. Being a good friend is standing up for your best friend when another child is picking on them on the playground ... not standing there watching it happen. Being a good friend is not daring your best friend to do something they wouldn't normally do. Being shown at such a young age the qualities of being a good friend may help children realize that there are ways to stop peer pressure before it begins. Learning how to make and keep friends is empowering.
For older girls (grades 4-5) my workshops will focus on working with the girls on how to deal with the realities and aftermath of being bullied or the pressures of fitting in ... how to stay true to who they are and not change just because someone else doesn't like something about them. Helping the girls realize how special they are, that outside appearance isn't everything, who to turn to when they are feeling pressure, how to be a real friend, and analyzing and discussing different scenarios will all be part of my workshop. Staying true to who you really are is empowering.
The last part of my project is my goal of making and donating 200 handmade pillowcases (100 to local shelters and 100 to the One Million Pillowcase Challenge which can be found at www.allpeoplequilt.com) for children in crisis. Children in shelters or who are homeless are not there by choice. It is not their fault. They suffer from low self-esteem and low self-confidence. Many times, they have no material possessions. They need to know that people care about them. By running workshops to make these pillowcases, and by making them myself, I can give these children something special to call their own and at the same time, help children attending the workshop understand how something as small as one pillowcase can make a difference to a child who has nothing to call their own. Helping others is empowering.
Until I blog again. . .
Rachel ;)