By Ellen Daniels-Howell | Project Leader
Recently, as the annual GET UP retreat for secondary school girls came to a close, 16 year old Regina complained, “Did it have to end so soon?” Her question was echoed by many of the 75 girls attending the event, for whom the yearly get-away is a rare opportunity to leave responsibilities behind and have time for themselves.
During the weekend, the girls attended seminars on self-care, study skills and life skills. They participated in group and individual counseling sessions, and participated in discussions on topics ranging from teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases to children’s rights.
However, as valuable as the formal program for the retreat was, most of the girls left feeling as Regina did: the best part of the weekend was the opportunity to be a part of a community of girls with similar life experiences. Each of the girls who participate in GET UP has an individual story of loss and hardship, and those difficult life experiences often leave the adolescent girls feeling isolated. The retreat weekend is an opportunity for the girls to support and console one another, and to realize that they are not alone.
Your support for GET UP makes events like the annual retreat possible. On behalf of Regina and the other girls, we thank you!
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