Boys & Girls Town offers Mentor Program Aimed at
Helping Young Women Learn How to Make Healthy Choices
St. James, Mo. (July 30, 2007) – Life can be changed in an instant by simply seizing the moment. Boys & Girls Town of Missouri offers that opportunity with Changing Prisms – a program that gives an over-looked population of troubled young women, who rarely receive special treatment, the chance to interact with successful adult women typically inaccessible.
“Boys & Girls Town lacked a program that specifically focused on young women and the challenges that women face,” said Judy Hillyer, director of advancement and the woman behind the idea. “It has always been a dream of mine to launch an innovative, dynamic program that involved community volunteers. I knew the collaboration would be life changing.”
The Changing Prisms workshop launched in the summer of 2002 and focuses on the recovery issues of young women who have suffered from abuse and/or neglect. It takes place each summer at the St. James campus and brings together young women, ages 12-17 from Boys & Girls Town’s four campuses, with women from across the state of Missouri who have successfully met the challenges that face young women in today’s world.
“All of the children at Boys & Girls Town have the potential to be happy and lead productive and stable lives, but some just need extra encouragement or an extra light turned on for them and that is what Changing Prisms provides for these young, phenomenal women,” said Rachel Andreasson, community volunteer who has participated in Changing Prisms since its inception.
During two days of intense tasks, girls explore and identify personal beliefs and fears that have become barriers to their vision of personal success. The girls work in small groups to complete projects that reinforce positive coping skills, help build relationships with role models normally beyond their reach and experience and aid internalization of empowering messages regarding self worth and self determination.
The role of the mentor is to help each young woman understand that they are capable of achieving a healthy, successful life. Mentors listen to young women’s stories, sharing some of their own experiences and allow the girls to see that although each of the mentors may hold significant status they are basically just women with difficulties, dreams and challenges.
Though the program is aimed at providing young girls with an opportunity to realize the world is at their finger tips, everyone involved in the program walks away a different person. The girls learn that their dreams can become a reality and the mentors and learn what it means to be courageous and strong.
“I originally got involved because it sounded like a great program and if I could make a difference in a girl’s life then it would be worth it,” said Andreasson. “I’ve gotten back so much more than I have put in. It is amazing to me how special these girls are and what they have gone through. They inspire me. I think Boys & Girls Town is a gift and Changing Prisms is the ribbon on the package.” |
