Peer group helps middle school girls with self-esteem

GENaustin, or the Girls Empowerment Network, is working in Pflugerville and Round Rock middle schools to help female students better their self-images.

Originally known as the Ophelia Project, GENaustin was created by mothers dealing with the struggles of trying to raise middle school girls with healthy self-esteems. In 2000, a middle school student approached the network about starting a mentorship program in which high school students could connect to middle school girls on a peer-to-peer basis.

"We were delivering expert talks and workshops throughout Central Texas, but there wasn't any long-term programming; it was just these one-time events that were happening in schools," GENaustin's Executive Director Julia Cuba said. "So when this middle school girl brought up this idea of having role models who were high schoolers ... it seemed like a great idea to the staff."

The organization formed clubGEN, an after-school program that reaches out to female students in fourth through eighth grades at local middle schools. The club is currently offered in Pflugerville ISD's Dessau and Westview middle schools and Round Rock ISD's CD Fulkes Middle School. Sherry Sadighi is the coordinator for the Fulkes program, which meets every Wednesday and started its spring semester Jan. 23 with 15 members.

"[ClubGEN] came to us and offered help for the teenagers to help them promote their self-confidence and self-image, and we thought that was very beneficial for our school," Sadighi said. "They have different projects, and the girls love to go. They look forward [to] every Wednesday."

This year, the club will reach approximately 700 students throughout Central Texas, Cuba said. New members can learn about the program through school announcements, posters throughout a school, parent information packets and lunchtime recruiting. Teachers and school counselors can also nominate students if they believe the student would benefit from the program.

As members of clubGEN, girls participate in curriculum that promotes open conversation and physical activity. Topics covered include communication, bullying, goal setting, career exploration, parent communication, dating relationships and friendships. Each weekly session includes discussion and an activity, such as a talk on body image, followed by a hula hooping exercise.

"We know that girls are more interested in doing things that are active," Cuba said. "Sometimes there are groups that really want to talk, so we will have curriculum that allows for some dynamic conversation but also gets the girls up and moving."

Meetings are facilitated by leaders who are hired and trained by GENaustin. High school students also participate in the sessions once or twice a month in role model positions, Cuba said.

Through the program, Cuba and Sadighi said they have seen participants grow psychologically, emotionally and socially. Sadighi said the program promotes problem-solving skills and helps members better empathize with each other.

"Sometimes there are cliques between girls in middle schools. They can be kind of rude and insensitive with each other," Sadighi said. "[ClubGEN has] been teaching [girls] how to get along, how to solve problems and how to feel good about themselves."

The differences the programs make can also be seen physically in the way members act and interact, Cuba said.

"There are girls who start off in the club who are very quiet, and over time, those girls begin to speak up about the things that they're experiencing," Cuba said. "Or we might see girls who are sitting sort of crouched, with their shoulders over their chest and their head down, and they're very quiet and just don't have a very strong presence. Over time you see that the way they carry their bodies becomes stronger, and they begin to become more physically active."

Volunteers are an important part of the club and are needed to help with meetings, sharing the curriculum with students and responsibilities such as making sure each girl gets home safely after meetings. Interested mentors and facilitators can go through training to see if helping with clubGen is right for them.

How to join

• Step 1: Find a clubGEN program at your school by visiting www.genaustin.org/what-we-do/clubgen.
• Step 2: Have a parent download and fill out a permission form on the website. Forms can be given to a clubGEN staff member, faxed to 512-916-9885 or mailed to P.O. Box 3122, Austin, Texas, 78704.
• Step 3: Call the clubGEN office at 512-808-4044, email at [email protected] or ask a clubGEN staff member at your school when meetings are held.
• Step 4: Attend meetings and participate in the group's activities.

Program locations

• CD Fulkes Middle School, 400 W. Anderson Ave., Round Rock, 512-808-4044
• Dessau Middle School, 12900 Dessau Road, Austin, 512-594-2600
• Westview Middle School, 1805 Scofield Lane, Pflugerville, 512-594-2200

Donate

ClubGEN is funded by grants and public donations. When you give to clubGEN, see if your employer will match your gift. For a list of area companies that match employees' charitable donations, visit www.genaustin.org/donate.

3000 S. I-35, Ste. 410, Austin, 512-808-4004, www.genaustin.org, Twitter: @GENaustin