BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS LAUNCHES GROUP MENTORING PROGRAMME ‘GO GIRLS!’ AT JOHN GRAY HIGH SCHOOL

18^th February 2019 George Town –Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of the Cayman Islands, in partnership with John Gray High School (JGHS), has launched a new group mentoring programme for young females: ‘Go Girls!’.

Go Girls! is a group mentoring program for girls ages 11-13 that focuses on physical activity, balanced eating and self-esteem. The program will help young women build a positive self-image – setting them on a path to reach their full potential in life.

“We are very excited to be partnering with JGHS for this new initiative. Life for all young people is becoming more and more complex” said Jacqueline Schofield, BBBS Programme Director. “BBBS is continually looking for ways to help the youth of Cayman cope with these increasing pressures and become more resilient when faced with the challenges of growing up in today’s society” she added.

Social pressures for girls to be perfect are at an all- time high. Young women face difficult statistics, including the fact that girls’ self-esteem typically peaks at the age of nine and only 14% of girls in year 10 say they are self-confident*. Go Girls! helps young women overcome these pressures by building the necessary confidence and self-awareness to thrive in a media and technology-driven world.

Go Girls! strives to help young females:

• Learn the tools and information they need to lead and maintain a healthy lifestyle
• Enhance their competence, confidence and self-esteem regarding active living and healthy eating
• Build their leadership and life skills

The program is being piloted at JGHS, with the hopes of roll out to other schools in the near future. The program consists of 7 mentoring sessions, held over a 7 week period, after school hours within school facilities. Each 1.5 hour-long session is loosely structured around four themes: physical activity, healthy eating, self-esteem, and communication skills.

“JGHS have been so enthused about Go Girls! from the start, as have our female mentor volunteers. We know that with our mentors and the support of the staff at JGHS we are going to make a big impact on the girls in the programme.”

If you would like to learn more about becoming a mentor visit the Big Brothers Big Sisters website www.bbbs.ky or contact them via email [email protected] or social media @bbbscayman.

ABOUT BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS

Our mission is to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported, one-on-one relationships that change lives for better, forever.

For more than a century, Big Brothers Big Sisters worldwide has been helping change kids’ perspectives and giving them the opportunity to reach their potential. Globally we have more than a century’s worth of volunteers, donors, and advocates to thank.

In the early 1990s, under the leadership of Pastor Stanwyck Myles a group of concerned residents had been organized and were providing mentoring to children and teenagers.

In 1995, with the help of the Lions Club of Grand Cayman, Big Brothers Big Sisters was formally incorporated in the Cayman Islands.

We support children who are at risk of not achieving the basic knowledge, skills and competencies to access the opportunities necessary to realize their potential and become productive adults.

At risk can be contextual – individually at risk of not achieving their potential, the family environment puts them at risk or the immediate community does.

There are 3 ways people can get involved

1. Community Based Mentoring: 1 to 1 mentoring, usually on weekends
2. School Based Mentoring: 1 to 1, after school and takes place at school as part of the after school programme
3. Group Mentoring: 2 mentors to 8 children, at a particular school or community site

(W) www.bbbs.ky @bbbscayman @BBBScayman