A JOURNEY TOWARD WOMANHOOD

A Journey Toward Womanhood builds and maintains healthy self-esteem, instills cultural pride and self-appreciation, teaches life and social skills for self-sufficiency and discourages teen pregnancy, STD's including HIV/AIDS, juvenile delinquency, school dropout, and drug abuse.

Researched and evaluated for over 10 years, some of the results are:
1. Rates of sexual activity were significantly higher among non-participants (70%) than participants (27%).

2. Participants were less likely to get pregnant as teenagers than non-participants.

3. A Journey Toward Womanhood participants were significantly more likely than non-participants to show positive behaviors, an importance of heritage, and ethnic pride.

4. Participants missed fewer days of school.

A complete evaluation, published in the academic article, Adolescence, Fall 2000 is available.

How is A Journey Toward Womanhood unique?
A Journey Toward Womanhood is a youth development strategy created for younger sisters by elder sisters. It is a culturally relevant and gender-specific approach to prevention and self-development that has been successfully implemented and vigorously evaluated for over ten years with collaborative support.

A Journey Toward Womanhood is not difficult to implement and is an enjoyable experience for all involved. The Curriculum Guide details weekly goals, materials needed, and provides specific teacher/mentor instructions. The Student Manual has worksheets for an interactive group experience.

How is A Journey Toward Womanhood successful?
A Journey Toward Womanhood has a track record of success. Participants scored significantly better than their counterparts on post-test knowledge exams and self-esteem scores. One hundred percent (100%) of the program graduates had higher scores on the exams testing knowledge of program components, with an average 25% score increase. In addition, more participants reported feeling good about themselves.

Yet another indicator of program success is the fact that there has been a waiting list for almost every A Journey Toward Womanhood session and an attrition rate of less than five percent (5%). Moreover, many parents of A Journey Toward Womanhood participants comment on the positive changes they have witnessed in their daughters’ behavior toward themselves and others. Other comments include:

Parents say:
“The A Journey Toward Womanhood program really opened my daughter up a lot.”

“I have truly witnessed a positive change in my daughter.”

“My daughter would have never completed the program without the help of her teacher/mentors.”

“Working with girls as a liaison, my girls left other programs without finishing them. A Journey Toward Womanhood is the first that the girls had ever completed.”

“A Journey Toward Womanhood is a wonderful program that changed my daughter’s life.”

Participants say:
“I believe any young lady under the age of 21 should attend the A Journey Toward Womanhood program.”

“Many girls feel like they can’t talk to their parents so we talk to our teacher/mentors.”

“The A Journey Toward Womanhood program has helped me to understand my African heritage.”

“This program has taught me how to carry myself as a young Black woman.”

“I love A Journey Toward Womanhood because the teacher/mentors helped me to work out a lot of my problems.”

Others say:
"Knowledge, support and self-esteem are particularly crucial for African American teenage girls in developing positive self-concepts and preventing teen pregnancies and social withdrawal.  My daughter benefited tremendously from the program and I am certain that others will benefit as much or more.  I wholeheartedly support this program as a model program.”
Mr. Womble, Middle School Principal“ 

As the parents of a recent graduate, my husband and I agree that the curriculum and leadership of the program are of high quality and that our daughter, Jeri, benefited greatly from it. As often as a program of this type and caliber can be presented to the children of our community, we encourage the Girls’ Club to do so.”
Ms. Brown, Parent  

“Sisterhood Agenda gave a complete overview and a detailed understanding of the curriculum.  There was considerable dialogue, which stimulated analytical and evaluative thought processes. By the end of the training, I felt well-prepared and eager to start.”
Ms. Shabazz, Teacher/Mentor  

“The knowledge base is great, the materials thorough and such training is needed for a new person.”
Ms. Jenkins, Teacher/Mentor

A Journey Toward Womanhood includes the Curriculum Guide and Student Manual Package.  Support and consulting services are available for A Journey Toward Womanhood implementation AT NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE.