Girls For A Change

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Results

Here are some highlights from GFC's 2006-2007 program year. Results are from the GFC and GFC Phoenix sites.

Girl Action Teams: Community Impact

More than 5,500 community members were impacted by GFC Girl Action Team projects in the 2006-07 program cycle -- 2,500 more than the previous year!

Some projects that impacted community members in Phoenix

80 middle school girls attended a self-esteem workshop day
240 middle school students participated in a preventing teen pregnancy ribbon campaign
100 middle school students received information on stopping animal abuse

Some projects that impacted community members in

300 middle school students participated in a week long campaign to “Pulverize Peer Pressure”
50 community members learned about the genocide in Darfur
250 high school students, middle school students, and adults participated in workshops on how media impacts gender relations
15 continuation high school senior girls attended the school’s first annual weekend retreat to build sisterhood and life skills
50 middle school students learned about immigration raids and how to advocate for immigrant rights
50 community members attended a launch event for a team-produced gang prevention magazine

Girl Evaluation Highlights

Program Goal 1: By the end of the 8 month program, all GFC girl participants will increase their self-efficacy, defined as: one’s belief that they can accomplish their goals.

Objective: 80% of girls participating in GFC will report that despite the challenges of making changes in their community, they know they can do it.

Results...

90% of GFC girls agreed that despite the fact that creating changes in a community is challenging, they know they can create change
80% of girls in GFC reported that after participating in GFC they now speak up when things are bothering them.

Program Goal 2: By the end of the 8 month program, all GFC girls will feel increased adult support and positive adult role modeling.

Objective: 75% of girls participating in GFC will report that there is an adult woman she has met through GFC that cares about her.

Results...

98% of GFC girl participants believe that the adult women they met at GFC respect and care about them.
94% of GFC girls believe their GFC Coaches (the women volunteers who work with Girl Action Teams) care about what they are doing

Objective: 75% of girls participating in GFC will report that adult women they have met through GFC are working to make the world a better place.

Results...

95% of girls in GFC agreed that GFC affiliated women are change agents

Program Goal 3: By the end of the 8 month program, all GFC girls will report being part of a positive peer group in their GFC team, where they feel comfortable and supported.

Objective: 80% of girls participating in GFC will report that they worked well with the girls in their Girl Action Teams.

Results...

93% of girls in GFC agreed they work well with their GFC teams.
80% of girls participating in GFC will report that they feel comfortable and relaxed working with other girls

Other Results...

90% of girls in GFC would ask their fellow GFC team members for help or support if they needed it

Program Goal 4: By the end of the 8 month program, all GFC girls will learn skills in public speaking, problem solving and how to effectively work with a team through their GFC experience.

Objective: 75% of girls participating in GFC will report that they know how to plan, lead and implement a project.

Results...

76% of girls on GFC teams agreed they can plan, lead and implement a project.
60% said they completed a project plan
56% said they had led part of the project
50% said they had done public speaking
46% said they led part of a meeting
29% said they raised money for their project
27% said they contacted a consultant to assist with the project

Program Goal 5: By the end of the 8 month program, all GFC girls will have knowledge about ways to create social change as it relates to their GFC project and in their life outside GFC.

Objective: 75% of girls participating in GFC will report knowing how to identify an issue that affects their community and then take action on that issue, thereby creating change.

Results...

73% believed they could fix the problems in their communities

Program Goal 6: By the end of the 8 month program, all GFC girls will report explicit awareness of the transferability of the skills learned in GFC – such as public speaking, problem solving and working with a team - to other life situations and contexts.

Objective: 75% of girls participating in GFC will begin to understand that if they can make positive changes in their community they can and will use those same skills and knowledge to create positive changes in their own lives.

Results...

90% of girls in GFC agreed that if they can make changes in their community that they can make changes in their own lives

Program Goal 7: By the end of the 8 month program, all GFC girls will have utilized and will have continuing access to a new network of diverse peers and adults.

Objective: 75% of girls participating in GFC will report knowing how to build relationships with people from different backgrounds.

Results...

76% of girls in GFC reported that they feel comfortable talking to someone who is not like them
82% of girls in GFC reported have friends who are different than they are

Girls on GFC Girl Action Teams also said:

97% of girls agree that everyone on their Girl Action Team gets a chance to be a leader and have her opinions heard!
98% of girls feel their coaches let them make decisions in the program
93% of girls reported learning many new and different skills in their GFC teams
91% feel proud of the things they accomplished in their groups
94% feel their ideas are valued at team meetings

GFC Community Outreach

2 Parent/Guardian Newsletters in each site
2 Community Newsletters (organizations and schools) in each site
3 Adult Workshops at the Girl Summit for coaches, parents/guardians and school staff
Collaborated with Boys and Girls Clubs of the Peninsula for two teams in
Participated in Ravenswood After School Collaborative in
Participated in Overfelt High School Multi- Service Providers Collaborative in
Collaborated with more 85 schools and organizations
Facilitated workshops with 6 schools or community organizations on social change
Participated as Committee Member on the Arizona Girls Round Table; a group that provides a community of practice and collaborative network for those who provide gender specific services for girls and young women.
In Phoenix, collaborated with Phoenix Union High School District for four teams and Murphy School District for four teams
Participated with Arizona Community In Schools
Initiated teams at 2 group homes, 1 faith-based organization and 3 charter schools in Phoenix

Who are GFC Girls?

84% of girls attend a GFC target school, meaning it is ethnically diverse and in a low-income neighborhood
Ethnicity of girls participating in GFC Teams: More than 85% of girls self identify as young women of color. More than half of the girls self report their ethnicity as Latina or Chicana, 13% report being African American or Black and 13% as Asian or Asian American. More than 6% of girls report being of Native descent (Native American, Hawaiian, Alaskan or other) and over 15% of girls report being mixed races.
Ages of girls participating in GFC Teams: 60% are Middle School (10-13) and 40% are High School (14-18 )

Who are GFC Coaches?

Between the two sites, 130 women participated as Girl Action Team Coaches.
57% of Coaches self identified as women of color
55% of coaches were between the ages of 18-30

GFC Coaches Reported:

93% were highly satisfied with their interactions with GFC staff.

Coaching with GFC has affected them by:

“It has opened my eyes to the need in my community and where to start.“
"I’ve thought more about my role as a woman in impacting girls’ lives.”
The training has helped with my listening skills, even with my family relationships.”
“I remember what it was like to participate in programs like this in my youth. It feels good to give back.”
“My life is richer as a result of working with GFC.”
“I’m not only a better coach, but a better person and I can use these skills in my life."
“Made me understand how different people with different backgrounds can come together and make a difference.”
“Made me a better friend, gave me a new purpose, made me feel needed.
"It allows me to turn ideas into action items on projects and relay this to my co-workers.”
“Learned how to better communicate with clients and staff.”
I am much more environmentally responsible and politically active now than when I first joined GFC.”

Coaches said they learned the following: