Girls CHOICE / Choosing Hope, Opportunities, and Independence through Careers and Education

Through positive adult relationships and skill building activities, Girls CHOICE seeks to support 7th through 12th grade girls in Worcester, MA to develop the resiliency skills necessary to deal with and overcome many challenges, including absentee parents, interpersonal violence, insecurities, and look positively toward their futures. Girls CHOICE partners with the YWCA of Central Massachusetts and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass/Metro-west to offer forty participants up to six years of mentoring, social/emotional skills workshops, academic support, college and career preparation, and leadership development.

When asked what their favorite part of program is, more than half of the girls wrote that it was having a space to talk and be with each other, 40% of girls stated mentors were their favorite part, and all the participants thought that Girls CHOICE should continue. Comments included: “Program is a big part of me,” “Girls CHOICE is a shelter,” “It helps girls bring out their self and it helps in school,” “I love this program, ever since I’ve came to this program, I’ve been a success.”

As Girls CHOICE moves into the 3rd year of funding, the program is focused on continuing to provide quality mentoring and learning opportunities for participants and increasing our responsiveness to the needs of our participants, parents, and mentors.

Credits

Photos courtesy of Girls CHOICE

View More About This Grantee

> YWCA of Central Massachusetts, Girls’ Choice Website