Young Women's Project
Click here to view the Young Women's Leadership Program photographic exhibition Empowered.
The journey to womanhood is one of great discovery. As young women begin to step out into greater autonomy and explore this new place they can be inspired and challenged by the changes they find themselves undergoing and the world they discover themselves in. Relationships blossom, new relationships form and some relationships end, all this change requiring new skills and awareness. Self image is created and played with, bodies transform and develop new shapes and sizes, expectations can lead to fulfilment and/or disappointment.
This can be a tricky time of navigating new relationships - boyfriends, girlfriends, peer groups, school and family. Self esteem can soar or plummet, mistakes can be made and safety can be compromised. All the while the media via music videos, magazines, advertising, TV and film, internet highways and celebrity culture exerts its presence and pressure to engage, conform, to fit in, be like and aspire to what is popularly held up as the look of the day.
The Young Women's Project is a two year project, funded by the NSW Department of Community Services, Area Assistance Scheme and aims to support young women to make the transition to independence in a healthy, empowered and self-determined way. The project has a focus of working with the issues of eating disorders, intimate partner violence and bullying. These experiences are not only painful, harmful and difficult for the young women themselves but also for their families, friends, schools and community.
Health promotion programs for schools that aim to raise awareness are delivered across the Northern Rivers. Topics such as self esteem, the media, body image, communication, healthy and unhealthy relationships are explored with students from grades 7 - 10.
The Young Women's Leadership Program has enabled young women to gather skills and increase awareness about these issues. While engaging in creative ventures that reflect their growing leadership skills they can express their desire to have a positive impact on their peers and community. Additional funding from Beyond Empathy, The Myer Foundation and Lismore City Council's Youth Activity Fund and Crime Prevention support the Leadership Program.