Girls' Conference

YWCA | The Power of Being a Girl

Dear Week Without Violence® and Power of Being a Girl® coordinators,

In October 2006, the Power of Being a Girl® event was piloted by 14 member associations during the YWCA Week Without Violence®. Because of the success of this event in addressing issues affecting girls and young women and in developing programming to support and empower them, it was decided to make it a YWCA Canada signature event.

The following timeline is suggested for the implementation of the 2009 Power of Being a Girl® event:

Sign-up phase: Before September 15th, 2009
Member Associations interested in conducting the Power of Being a Girl® event will sign up with the National Office.
Implementation and execution phase: October 11th - 17th, 2009
Evaluation and feed-back phase:
Evaluation forms will be submitted to the National Office by December 1st, 2009. Feedback and recommendations will be examined to revamp/amend the signature program if necessary.

Please note that each conference is unique to the community; however the following programming principles are common to all:

  1. Hosting a girls' conference during the YWCA Week Without Violence® – 3rd week of October
  2. Using national YWCA Power of Being a Girl® and Week Without Violence® branding for all communication and marketing materials
  3. Doing outreach to encourage participation of girls / young women (ages 12–14 and / or 15–17) who are 'at risk'; for example, those who are living in poverty or have experienced / witnessed violence
  4. Planning the conference in partnership with local school boards and / or community agencies (for example child welfare agencies, Boys and Girls Clubs)
  5. Encouraging girls and young women to organize / lead events and workshops (for example, form a Girls Advisory Committee to support planning)
  6. Hosting either a full-day or half-day conference

The National Office will offer financial assistance to Member Associations to develop, implement and expand the Power of Being a Girl® signature program.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me by email at aroy@ywcacanada.ca or by phone at the following number: 416-962-8881 extension 225.

Amélie Roy
Manager of Projects and Programs