The Girl Power program began it’s development in 1997. At that time my own daughter, Jill, was ten and I recognized a need for young girls to have positive information about being female in a world that typically distorts girls’ self-image. I coupled that with the fact that girls also need skills to help them stay centered, expressive and value themselves.  In 2011 I developed the 2BBoys program.

As pre-teens, girls’ and boy’s minds and hearts are still open. It is a vital time for them to learn new tools and be exposed to ideas that assist them in staying centered and true to themselves.

Both programs strive to assist youth in claiming a healthy connection to themselves and peers. The activities raise self-esteem, emotional and social awareness, and increase skills and abilities to cope with the upcoming teen challenges.

If we care about the youth in our society we all need to work together to ensure a healthier, more self-confident community, nation-wide, for the future.

Today’s youth are tomorrow’s adults. It is important for the future to work with youth in a positive and healthy way today. In working with this age group most of the work is introductory – planting the philosophic seeds. With the tending of the “seeds”, youth learn to care for their own gardens, and as the sprout grows, layers of understanding and self-honouring will blossom from the initial seed.

Planting the seed is pro-active and an ongoing process that must start early, long before problems begin to arise.

Sherry Bezanson is the program developer of both Girl Power and 2BBoys.  She has a BSW and a M. Ed in Counselling Psychology from UVIC; she is a Registered Clinical Counsellor and a Registered Rehabilitation Professional.  Sherry has worked in counselling with youth and adults for 25 years.  She is currently developing new programming for teen boys and for “Mom” Power – look for these trainings in 2013.