In 1975, the United Nations officially designated March 8 as International Women’s Day (IWD). The annual event celebrates the advancement of women’s rights, but also highlights that we have a long way to go to achieve true parity.
At the Centre for Sexuality, IWD is an opportunity to call for advancement in gender equality as we continue our year-round work, offering workshops and education to create more inclusive environments.
The Centre is a leader in the areas of sexuality, healthy relationships and human rights, and we recognize IWD as an important call to action. This year’s theme is “Accelerate Action,” an international call to acknowledge the strategies, resources and activities that can help us move more quickly toward parity. At the Centre, we teach, train and advocate, knowing that education helps create better understanding and safer spaces for all.
This IWD – and every day of the year – we are accelerating action with our evidence-based programming.
Equipping Girls with Knowledge
The Centre’s school-based Girls Program promotes healthy bodies, healthy relationships and healthy development. This 25-session program covers mental health, puberty, friendships, relationships, self-esteem, body image and media literacy as girls in grades 4-6 prepare for their next big step into puberty and young adulthood.
For pre-teen and adolescent girls, puberty can be a challenging and confusing time. Our Girls Program addresses these issues head on to deliver positive outcomes, helping young girls transition through their pubescent years in healthy ways. We equip them with the knowledge and tools to confidently navigate the challenges that come with adolescence and build healthier futures.
Education for the Whole Family
For girls who don’t have access to our in-school programming, our Raising Girls workshop is a three-part series delivered to girls aged nine to 12 years old and their parents or guardians during evenings and weekends. Girls and their parents learn about puberty, healthy relationships, body image and media literacy. These workshops offer a safe and comfortable space to create dialogue on topics that can sometimes feel uncomfortable to approach.
As girls near puberty, many will navigate new issues that relate to body image, friendships, relationships and pressure from the media. We aim to preemptively tackle these issues with social-emotional learning and self-esteem promotion. Our staff brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to equip young girls and their parents with tools and skills to support healthy adolescence and beyond.
Raising Girls offers three workshops: one focusing on healthy friendships, boundaries, effective communication and problem-solving; one exploring body image, media literacy and responsible social media use; and one that dives into puberty, menstruation and taking care of a growing body.
Get Involved
As we collectively work toward a healthier and more equitable future for women and girls, education and evidence-based training can help us get there faster.
If you think you and your family could benefit from our Raising Girls Workshop Series, or if you are an organization that works with the program’s target demographic, reach out to our Youth Programs Manager to discuss scheduling a program!