Hope 4 the future
Youth Education Program
Our Youth Education Program is designed to teach youths in Grades 6-8 about healthy relationships to help eliminate violence in our community. It is a preventative program that uses self-esteem building activities to highlight the importance of having a positive personal self-image. The desired program outcome is that young women and men who receive the curriculum will have improved self-esteem, better resiliency and coping skills, and overall healthier relationships which in turn will act as a significant protective factor for them from experiencing or perpetrating domestic violence.
Programming Offered
The I AM program is a self-esteem building program for youth aged 12-14 that creates opportunities for participants to examine the messages and stereotypes portrayed both in our lives and through the social media messages we receive.
The program provides tools to build healthy relationships with ourselves and those around us. The 8 session program is fun and interactive. Learning and conversations are facilitated through games, music, tik tok videos and popular shows.
The INSPIRE program is an empathy building program for youth aged 10-13 that creates opportunities for participants to learn more about building healthy relationships, bullying, and changes in our lives.
The program provides tools to promote healthy communication, how to show empathy as well as some of the barriers present. The 8 session program is fun and interactive. Learning and conversations are facilitated through games, and popular shows/movies.
“I AM” is a FREE eight-week program available to all schools and community centres within Waterloo Region. The program curriculum meets the Ontario Ministry of Education guidelines and includes various forms of media to address all learning styles and engage students’ cognitive, behavioural and emotional learning processes. Pre and post evaluation tools are used to measure the success of the program.
Healthy relationship research shows that having healthy relationships builds self-esteem, improves mental and emotional health, and helps people live a fuller life. These interactive and engaging programs strive to teach youth the importance of healthy, respectful relationships that are free of violence.
Topics We Explore
- Healthy relationships and self esteem
- Sexual harassment
- Media
- Differences
- Building self esteem
- Mental health
- Substance use
- Hope for the future
Impact of the Program
Findings show that youth who have been a part of the program…
- Have higher self esteem
- Are better able to resolve conflict non violently
- Have more empathy for one another
- Find that the relationship with their peers improve
- Have high caring and cooperative behaviours
Group Sessions currently available for Registration
INSPIRE - Forest Heights Community Centre
Location: Forest Heights Community Centre
1700 Queen’s Blvd, Kitchener
Dates: Mondays September 25 – November 20
- 8 Sessions
- no group October 9
Time: 4:30 – 5:30pm
Who: Anyone between the ages of 10-13
I AM - Forest Heights Community Centre
Location: Forest Heights Community Centre – 1700 Queen’s Blvd, Kitchener
Dates: Wednesdays September 27 – November 15
- 8 Sessions
Time: 6-7pm
Who: Anyone between the ages of 12-15
INSPIRE - Woolwich Community Health Centre
Location: Woolwich Community Health Centre
10 Parkside Dr, St Jacobs
Dates: Thursdays October 5 – November 30
- 9 Sessions
Time: 4:30-5:30pm
Who: Anyone between the ages of 10-13
Learn more & register below!
For inquiries about the program, fill out the form below!
Learn More
For inquiries about the program, please contact:
Angela Stahlbaum
Outreach Worker (Youth Education Program Contact)
angela.stahlbaum@wcswr.org or by phone at 519 741 9814 x2005.