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Issue 12, June 2009 |
What’s New at Life ChangingSISTER2sister NewsMeet our SistersSASSI NewsDiary NotesMedia BuzzSponsor SpotlightMedia Buzz |
"In life you’ve got to make
choices that make sense
for you, because there’s always
going to be somebody
who’ll think you should do
something differently."
- First Lady Michelle Obama
Can you help? • Seeking storage space for Bootcamp kits which are only used once a year. • Seeking community groups to provide lunch (eg sausage sizzle) for: • Volunteers needed to help in the office during business hours. • Seeking a suitable venue for our Graduation Evening in Sydney on Saturday 14th November. Please contact syd@lifechangingexperiences.org for further information. |
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Our purpose:
To empower vulnerable teenage girls to make positive life choices for a better future
SISTER2sister News
April outing
April saw us back at one of our regular venues, St Aloysius College in Kirribilli. We all spent a great morning listening to Kelleigh Jackson as she shared some invaluable lessons in setting boundaries for ourselves, and also understanding what boundaries others may set for themselves. This was of particular value, as many of the girls in the group have come from backgrounds where they are often expected to accept and not challenge many forms of what most people would consider to be unacceptable behaviour. Through some fun, non-confrontational exercises, Kelleigh taught the girls some easy ways to firmly and politely explain and demonstrate to others how they prefer to be treated. They also gained a greater understanding of how to understand and respect other people's preferences, supported by some great tips on how to build their own self esteem and self-confidence.
Perhaps most inspiring was Kelleigh’s own story, coming from a background not dissimilar to that of some of the girls in the group. Despite that, she has now been able to achieve a highly successful career in the army, as well as being a great mum to two delightful sons, and becoming a successful property investor.
Her key message was that we all have the choice and the ability to do whatever we want with our lives, and that with focus and determination, the world truly is our oyster.
All in all, a great role model and inspiration for the girls!
The afternoon took us to Luna Park – always a favourite with Big and Sisters alike. We were fortunate enough to enjoy a sunny if cool day, and it was soon very easy to spot the speed-queens and height demons amongst the group!
One of the great aspects of this outing is that it provides an excellent opportunity for the Little Sisters to mingle freely with their counterparts, and it was really encouraging to see some new friendships being formed as the girls tried out all the rides. Likewise, for the Big Sisters who may not be quite so keen on being hurled around or hanging upside down (well someone has to look after the bags and coats!!), it was a very pleasant afternoon mingling and sharing a coffee with the rest of the group, with new friendships emerging there too.
May outing
Our May outing proved to be another very popular one, as Erskine Park School kindly opened its doors to us for a cooking class. Canberra chef, Nicholas Blom put together some great recipes for the girls to create, making sure that all their nutritional needs were met as well as producing fun, tasty food.
After a demonstration by Nicholas and his team, Big and Little Sisters alike were soon rolling up their sleeves, and before very long, the delicious smell of chocolate brownies was wafting through the kitchens. Other dishes included tacos, pasta bakes, healthy burgers, and chicken and vegetables with noodles.
The session was a great one for the girls, many of whom don’t get to eat quality, nutritional food on a regular basis. Nicholas showed how this can be achieved on a low budget, with comparatively little effort, but great results. It was also a winning exercise for teamwork, as without exception, the whole group threw themselves into producing some really fabulous food which we were all delighted to share for lunch (even though some of the brownies didn’t quite last that long!).
In the afternoon, facilitator Louise Makjut ran an interactive and valuable session on dealing with conflict, particularly in the playground. Many of the Little Sisters have been victims of bullying at school and sometimes at home, and through audience participation in acting out various scenarios, Louise provided some practical and easy to implement skills that can help the girls not only avoid confrontation, but also create new friendships instead.
All in all, it was a fun, hands-on day, with some great results in both the food produced and the skills learned.
