The program is for 10- to 15-year-olds and is available by referral to students at partner schools.
A long-standing program for girls and gender-diverse youth continues to develop thanks to a $22,000 grant from the Victoria Foundation to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Victoria Capital Region.
B You: Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds, formerly known as Go Girls!, serves young people by bringing them together in schools and in the community during the summer.
The program is for 10- to 15-year-olds and is available by referral to students at partner schools. It is also online to eligible youth who do not attend one of those schools.
Kait Burns, program manager and B You team leader, said the program is “intended to be a fun space for youth to come to get a break from their regular day-to-day, to build new connections and to just be themselves.”
B You is now over 10 years old and has served 319 young people this year alone.
“The grant from Victoria Foundation largely helps us to provide programming materials and supplies and snacks,” said Burns. “Food is a big part of B You — we know that food is a vessel for connection.”
B You offers a safe space for groups to discuss “friendship challenges, communication styles, boundary-setting and other aspects of social-emotional development that they may not be accessing elsewhere in schools,” said Burns, who started with the agency in 2020 as a mentor with the program.
Burns said there have been situations this year that have really shown how important the program can be.
“We have seen a lot of students really struggling with their mental health, and a lot of the time our mentors in B You end up being that first person they feel safe connecting to and sharing their stories with.”
The volunteer mentors have been able to suggest coping mechanisms and help the students feel better, Burns said, and just be someone with a sympathetic ear.
“From there, our mentors and our staff work hard together with our school and community partners to ensure these youth are connected to the appropriate supports,” she said.
Burns said that sort of progress might not happen as fast without a mentor being involved.
Big Brothers Big Sisters has been in Greater Victoria for 48 years, and works with 500 to 600 youth annually.
“Our challenge is that many children and youth in our community are struggling with adversities that threaten their development and limit their opportunities — through no fault of their own,” the agency said
A core belief is that youths benefit from “a strong, consistent adult in their life,” so both one-on-one mentoring and group mentoring can be offered to them with adults who are screened and trained.
“Our vision is that all young people realize their full potential,” the agency said. “We believe that every child has limitless potential — and that this potential is our society’s most cherished resource.”
Details of other programs and how to donate or volunteer is available atvictoria.bigbrothersbigsisters.ca.
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