Issue 18, June 2010

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"We must become the change we want to see."
- Mahatma Gandhi

SISTER2sister NEWS

Outings in May had Big and Little Sisters scaling new heights together in some heart-stopping challenges!

At the first May outing, facilitator Louise Majkut created a few realistic role play situations to demonstrate ways to deal with conflict.  There was no shortage of willing volunteers to participate in this role play! Louise showed various strategies including humour on how to deal with conflict situations and how to diffuse difficult situations. 

Facilitator Narelle Henderson then addressed the topic of bullying, which has unfortunately impacted the lives of many of the girls in the program. We all spent a great morning listening as she shared some insights into how and why bullying can start, and more importantly gave the girls some great strategies on how to avoid becoming caught up in what can become an extremely distressing and hurtful cycle.

Both Louise and Narelle provided some invaluable advice as to why our girls should avoid falling into the role of bullying, by explaining just how traumatic it can be for those on the receiving end, and by the end of the session the girls were equipped with some great ways of avoiding conflict, whatever situation they may find themselves in and even learned how to turn the situation around to actually befriend the aggressors!    

With the serious side of the day over, it was time to take the girls to new heights – literally! The rain held off to enable us to spend an exhilarating afternoon on the trapeze and tight rope out at Homebush. The courage of the girls (both Big and Little sisters!) never ceases to amaze us. Despite the healthy respect for heights that most of us share, they nevertheless conquered their fears to scale up a narrow rope ladder and climb out into an even narrower platform before launching themselves out on the trapeze with many shrieks and screams.

The aerial acrobatics were cheered on by the rest of the team below, all shouting encouragement and applauding loudly. Some of the Little Sisters seem to be blessed with a natural ability, and performed acrobatic tricks with the trapeze staff as if they had been born to a life on the high wire.

The sense of pride and astonishment at their own achievements is enormous, and for those of us on the ground watching, the looks of exhilaration and joy on their faces are the images that priceless memories are made of.

And for those of us for whom leaping from one trapeze to another fell a little outside our comfort zone, it was nevertheless still a heap of fun just to launch of that platform and land gracefully – or perhaps not J - on the net below.

At the second May outing, the girls had interesting insights into the workshops on Healthy Relationships (led by Debra Brodowski) and Intimacy (led by Paulette Maroun).  They were given an anonymous box to ask questions on various issues around intimacy.  And they did a worksheet with their Big Sister on what criteria constitute healthy relationships with family, siblings, peers and partners.

The afternoon saw the Big and Little Sisters break into dance led by the very energetic Kristy who taught the girls a routine as well as some interesting hip hop moves that they could use individually.  They cheered Kristy on to demonstrate the whole routine on her own up on the stage at the end of the session.

The day ended with saying goodbye to Lyndal, the Program Manager, who was leaving our Foundation.  There were hugs and photographs with Lyndal and all the Little Sisters and she was presented with a huge bunch of flowers to thank her for all her work and involvement in the SISTER2sister Program.

All in all, another couple of successful outings that combined education, fun and a whole lot of laughter.   

Click here to view the photos>