Who
are Mentors?
Mentors are women who come from the community where mentees
live. They are women who care about how girls are moving into
their young womanhood. Each girl needs a female mentor for her
Mentoship-Circle. The mentor’s role is to witness, support
and help reinforce healthy behaviors. The mentor’s purpose
is to listen, accept, and encourage. All mentors must complete
mandatory 24 hours of training prior to their participation
in the program. All mentors must undergo an FBI / Police background
check before working with youth.
Mentor
and Muse:
Mentor
is described as "a wise and trusted guide and advisor"
and Muse in verb form is "to consider or say thoughtfully"
and, of course, a Muse is the "source of an artist's inspiration".
In Greek mythology, the 9 daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne were
each protectors of an art or science. Their translated names
are: Beautiful voice; Proclaimer; Passionate;
Rejoicing Well; Many Songs; Songstress;
Rejoicing in the Dance; Flourishing; Mountain
Queen. There is an organization in Maine for girls that
prefers Muse to Mentor ( Hardy
Girls Healthy Women ) For our programs, both seem to compliment
each other nicely. What do you think?
How do they participate?
Mentors make a commitment to nine months of mentorship twice
a month in a group venue. (Though each girl has a mentor, the
mentorship takes place in small groups with other mentors /
mentees). Mentors serve without pay and are asked to pay for
training if they can afford it (It is our intention to make
financial aid or scholarships available so any woman can serve,
regardless of her financial situation.) Every effort is made
to keep any costs to mentors as low as possible. Cost could
range between $30 - $35 per month (or about $366 to $420 per
mentorship year). Mentors with
limited funds can apply for financial aid.
What
about training?
Mentors receive ongoing training and support and commit to participate
throughout the year (this is not a calendar year). Mentors are
trained to witness and support each girl as she moves through
her passage year. Mentors are trained and coached in how to
listen compassionately and to offer acceptance and affirmation.
They are not expected to give advice or to "process"
girls' emotional issues.
How
can you become a mentor?
When a girl initiates her passage program, Girls Initiate
staff will help her to create an event to invite other girls
and women from her community. Though it is not necessary to
come to this event to become a mentor, it is part of the orientation
and forming of the girls' Passage-Circle. Many women (and men)
can serve in different ways without being a mentor. However,
mentors are essential to this Passage-Circle. If you want to
be a mentor but don't know if there are any girls in your area,
just contact us and we'll see how it is possible for you to
be part of this meaningful life-serving opportunity.
for
more information
|
|
| |
Reclaim
Your Teenage Elements (RYTE)
This is a one and a half day training,
Friday, June 27, 6pm-10pm
Saturday, June 28, 10am-5pm
Experiential Training for women: Opportunity to reclaim some
of what we lost or forgot or gave away as we left our childhood
behind and moved through our thundering teen years. This training
is for all women and especially those contemplating a Mentor-Muse
role with Girls Initiate.
|
| |
Earth
Air Fire Water: Our Bodies, Our Dreams, Our Voice / Teen Spirit,
Our Cycles...
Using story, guided exercises and exploration: We look at pervasive
underlying beliefs that support cultural trends; We challenge
communication and behaviors that didn't serve us as adolescents
then or as women now; And we transform obstacles into empathy
to build deeper connections with ourselves and in our interactions
with others. |
| |
$100 (or by donation if you commit to Mentor-Muse)
Ask us about financial aid or barter reductions.
(Location near/in Brattleboro TBA)
To Register: info@girls-initiate.org |
|
