Newcomer Girls Group

Written By Lethbridge Family Services

Alberta has the fourth highest number of newcomer youth in the country, and for so many of these youth, settling into a new place comes with significant challenges that can become long-term, especially for our newcomer girls.

With limited time to learn English, exist in a culture very different from their own, and gain the skills necessary for employment, newcomer youth are more vulnerable to social isolation, poverty, depression and anxiety, dropping out of high school, unemployment and ongoing challenges to integration.

It is crucial that these youth develop confidence and a positive sense of identity. Our Girls Group program aims to help prepare newcomer females, 10–18 years old, to be active members of their communities and society as a whole by:

  • Connecting with their peers (other newcomer youth)

  • Engaging in different topic matters such as healthy relationships, nutrition, hygiene and more with items supplied to each youth

  • Building communication skills

  • Expressing themselves through arts and crafts

  • Receiving academic support

  • Engaging in a variety of fun and educational field trips

  • Receiving assistance with basic needs and supplies

In spaces they feel safe, nurtured, and mentored, our free program for newcomer female youth will run 1:00 pm–4:00 pm every Friday afternoon.

Who will we help? 50 Newcomer girls ages 10–18 for 50 Fridays throughout the year.

Example Activities

Weekly topics include:

  • Empowerment: mental health and wellness

  • Vision board creation: building emotional strength

  • Role-playing real-life scenarios and 'I Am' affirmation circle

  • Strengths and challenges sharing: girls-only discussion

  • Building emotional strength

  • Healthy thinking patterns

  • Our bodies and emotions

  • Managing stress and anxiety

  • Understanding sadness and depression, and overcoming anger

  • Building healthy relationships

Art and Crafts:

  • Creative crafting

  • Everyone is an artist classes and joint art projects (SAAG/CASA) x3

  • Sewing or knitting

Physical health:

  • Healthy living and hygiene (with nursing students)

Sports:

  • Swimming

  • Gentle yoga

  • Volleyball

  • Basketball

 

Learning and STEM:

  • Chess for all ages with Chess for Life, University of Lethbridge

  • Culturally aware suicide prevention

  • STEM activities: Lethbridge Polytechnic nursing students x3

  • Micro-surveys

Volunteering and Entertainment:

  • Movie matinee

  • Cooking together

  • Volunteering at the soup kitchen

  • Canada Day event

  • Pop-up activities, impromptu gardening

  • Board games

  • World Refugee Day, volunteering and attending

  • Togetherness, activities with LFS Women’s Group

  • Radio station tour and career talk

Excursions:

  • TELUS Spark Science Centre

  • Shopping for personal items and groceries x2

  • Walk and explore in Lethbridge (landmarks/areas of interest) x3

  • Helen Schuler Nature Centre

Contact: Michelle Gallucci, Director of Advancement and Communications
Email: mgallucci@lfsfamily.ca
Phone: 403-915-8028

Office Hours:
8:30 am—4:30 pm, Monday—Friday
Closed Statutory holidays

Lethbridge Family Services
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