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 that align 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 consists of four modules designed to reflect the varied experiences of young people. In the Healthy Relationships module, girls learn to identify, build, and maintain positive relationships by developing skills in assertiveness and healthy communication. The Personal Identity and Respect module offers opportunities for girls to explore how to show respect, fairness, and empathy in their interactions and decision-making. In the Wellness and Body Awareness module, girls develop critical thinking skills and practice making informed choices related to their overall health and well-being. They explore personal values and learn how to express themselves with confidence. The Media and Technology Influence module helps girls examine the impact of media and technology on their personal development. Through guided discussion and role-play, they explore values, boundaries, and safety in digital spaces.

In Our Own Hands engages 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