Where I Stand
Where I Stand
This participant-led program for cis and trans girls, non-binary and Two-Spirit youth ages 8-14, encourages participants to explore and critically think about the impacts gender roles, socialization and the world around us have on our overall wellbeing (i.e. emotionally, socially, environmentally and physically) and how they can fuel gender inequity and gender-based violence in our society.
The goal of Where I Stand is to support youth in developing greater resilience, critical thinking and an awareness of intersectionality so they are more confident, informed about the world around them and empowered to ask questions that challenge systems that perpetuate gender inequity and gender-based violence.
Program topics include:
- Critically seeing the world around us (media literacy);
- Fostering healthy relationships (with ourselves, our bodies, our networks); and
- Using our voice to create change.
We tie these program topics into arts-based projects such as making self-care jars, personalizing journals, and creating mixed media self-portraits. Facilitators plan sessions based on what activities participants would like to do and link them to a discussion based on the needs of those in the group.
Family Story Time
Through the SHYFT program, Family Story Time became a way to engage our caregivers in the conversations and open up multigenerational conversations as a family, relating the activity to the themes and content of our programming. Family Story Time was developed and offered as a way to continue supporting youth participants and families throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Story Time became a way for us to reconnect and further our reach with the community, engage with participants and their families and provide families an opportunity to come together through storytelling. Story Time is offered virtually each month for families and is facilitated through Zoom or Google Meet. Upon registration to the program, participants receive their Family Story Time Kit which includes a copy of the book we read together, a snack item or ingredients to make their own snack (i.e. cookies or bannock for our Indigenous People’s Day story) and a package of handouts and materials needed to take part in a hands-on activity or art component.
This program can be adapted to be an in-school presentation OR four-session program – content for programming can be built out based on class needs.
Funded by Waterloo Region Community Foundation
Participant
My Story →
“SHYFT is open. I don’t hold things back now. I’m more expressive than I was in the beginning. I am usually a really shy person and I find it hard to talk to new people. That’s changed for me.” – Male-identified participant, age 11
Participant
My Story →
“I learned that it’s okay that I am quiet. I learned that I have really great things to share sometimes and I should do that more. I also realize now that just because I am quiet doesn’t mean that you should underestimate me.” – Participant, age 11
Participant
My Story →
“I like that here I can trust people. I don’t always feel safe in class to share what I really think or feel. Here with other girls in the space we made, I know I can.” – Participant, age 10
Participant
My Story →
“This group was a place where I can say feelings without being judged.” – Male-identified participant 10