FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Perth County – Teen Esteem volunteers make it happen! For 13 years, the Teen Esteem program has been making a positive difference in the lives of young women in Perth County. Will you join us?
The Perth District Health Unit is recruiting adult female volunteers for the fall sessions of the Teen Esteem program, which will be offered at schools in the following areas:
- Stratford
- Perth East
- North Perth
New this Year
The Teen Esteem program will be offered to grades 5 and 6 students following a successful pilot project in 2016. The Teen Esteem program runs in the schools one lunch hour a week for six weeks.
“We hope that people who enjoy working with youth will consider volunteering,” says Erin Heinbuch, Public Health Nurse. “The feedback we receive from our volunteers is that it’s a fun and innovative way to connect with youth. It’s an opportunity to contribute to the community and empower youth to make healthy life choices.”
Astrid Russell, a Teen Esteem adult volunteer says: “As a pre-teen, I experienced many of the challenges and anxieties encountered by the young girls in this program. I felt that I could empathize, listen and offer some gentle advice based on my own experiences. I have enjoyed assisting the girls in Teen Esteem by calming their fears and building their confidence through positive feedback.”
Loretta Turner, a Teen Esteem adult volunteer says: “Being a part of the Teen Esteem program was a wonderful experience that I feel privileged to have been a part of. By sharing some of my own difficult circumstances growing up, it allowed the girls to feel safe about sharing their own feelings and to realize that no matter what they do in the years to come they are special and worthy of love and respect.”
Evaluations conducted of the program show that the young women who participate respond very positively to the program. Teen Esteem is based on a mentorship model. Volunteers facilitate activities with small groups of female students while also sharing their own life experiences and career choices.
Teen Esteem is operated by the Perth District Health Unit with financial support from Stratford’s Zonta Club and On Stage Dance Studio.
Women who are interested in volunteering are asked to call the Coordinator of Volunteer Services, Donna Bentz, at 519-271-7600 ext 305 or toll free at 1-877-271-7348 ext 305 or email at: dbentz@pdhu.on.ca.
For more information:
- Visit www.pdhu.on.ca – Volunteers
- Follow us on Twitter
- Like us on Facebook
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