ELLE Project - FALL 2009

                               

Take a Stand and Make a Change!

  ELLE Project: Leadership Building for Young Women

 October 18–25, 2009

 

 Are you somebody that gets fired up about issues? Do you want to understand what kind of impact you can have? Do you  want to make a difference in your community and take action in your own life?

Why not join Girls Action and inspire young women from across the country at the ELLE Project…?

 

 

Take a Stand and Make a Change!

                
ELLE Project: Leadership Building for Young Women

 October 18–25, 2009

 

 

What is the program?

For seven days, twenty young women from across the country get together to explore and address issues in their communities and in their lives… and then work on how to make change!

From spoken word and photography to leadership styles and influencing policy, the program offers nearly a dozen workshops by amazing women from all over Canada.

The entire program is presented in both French and English.

 

Intensive Four-Day Training

The first four days focus around activities, reflections and workshops that explore leadership and activism. We offer support as you build self-awareness of your own leadership qualities while encouraging confidence building and empowerment.

Through community leadership development, you will share knowledge and skills, build relationships with mentors and peers, and learn more about how to organize, create and evaluate your projects, talk to the media, incorporate creative ways to get your message out, and change policies to change your world!

 

National Network Retreat

During the last three days, ELLE Project participants will join the Girls Action National Network Retreat, where you will be doing skill-building workshops, intergenerational networking, project and knowledge sharing, and much more!

Mentorship

After the training, Girls Action invites all participants to take part in the ELLE Project Mentorship Program, which runs from January to June. The mentorship program has three unique and innovative components that include One-to-One, Peer-to-Peer, and Group Mentoring. We oversee the application and screening process, and offer ongoing training, workshops, and support to all of our program participants.

To get an idea of what the ELLE Project is about and to take a look at last years program, click here.

 

Why get involved?

You can learn how to:

• Organize projects in your communities
• Engage with the media
• Influence policies
• Use multimedia (like photography and video) as a tool for change
• Meet like-minded young women from across the country
• Connect with mentors and other inspiring people
• Relax, create, and celebrate!

You will be encouraged to:

• Discover and strengthen your own leadership style
• Discuss the importance of self-care and build strategies to support it
• Develop a strong understanding of anti-oppression organizing

 

What kind of commitment is necessary?

We expect participants to arrive at the training having thought about and conducted research on issues that interest them in their communities.

This training is a stepping-stone to more learning and wider community involvement: it will be a longer commitment than the seven-day training!

 

After ELLE

Girls Action will support participants to:

• Find mentors
• Get your ideas off the ground
• Participate in group and peer mentoring over the phone and on kickaction.ca (our website for young women)

 

Who can take part?

Do you:

• Get fired up about an issue?
• Want to get involved in making a difference in your community?
• Want to connect with inspiring young women from across the country that feel the same way?

Are you:

• A young woman between 16–25 years old? 
• Interested in changing the world around you?

 

Where?

The training takes place at Jouvence, 1½ hours south of Montreal, in the rolling hills of Quebec’s Eastern Townships. To see photos and for more information, click here.

To find out more about Logistics and Safety at the training, click here.

 

When?

ELLE Project training begins on Sunday, October 18 and runs until Sunday, October 25, 2009.

 

I’m interested… how do I sign up?

To fill out an application form to take part in the ELLE Project, click here!

Registration deadline: August 16, 2009.

Space is limited so apply early!

 

I WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE BUT...

I have a child that I would need to bring with me:

We can offer childcare for you and your child. Please indicate on the application form whether or not you will require childcare.

We invite you to carefully read our Policy for Children by clicking here.

I have reduced mobility and I want to know about accessibility:

Jouvence is not fully wheelchair accessible. Please contact us to talk about your needs.

 

I have specific dietary needs:

Where it is possible, we will accommodate your dietary requirements. Please indicate your dietary needs on the application form.

We are able to accommodate:

• Specific diets related to health. It is important to discuss your dietary requirements with us before the event in order to allow enough time to make arrangements.
• Vegetarians. Two options are offered at each meal: one with meat, and one without. If pork is served, it will be identified.
• Allergies. It is necessary to list your food allergies on the application form so that we can be certain that these are well identified. Nuts, milk products, and other foods mentioned beforehand will be identified so that they can be avoided.

 

I want to know about how the transport and accommodation fees work:

There are no fees to participate to the young women’s ELLE Project.

The fee to participate in the Retreat OR the Amplify Training Program is $200.

The fee to participate in both programs is $300.

 

The participation fee includes:

• Accommodation at Jouvence (towels and bedding are supplied)
• All meals (delicious, high-quality food)
• Over twenty different workshops offered by experienced and relevant facilitators
• Access to resources (zines, manuals, etc.) on site
• Travel to and from the event site, departing from downtown Montreal.

Girls Action will finance the travel and accommodation costs of those who are not able to do so or who can partielly pay. Please indicate on the application form whether or not you require a subsidy to participate.

To access a registration form, click here.

 

Selection Process

As there are only a limited number of places available, Girls Action undertakes a comprehensive selection process for participants. In order to ensure a diversity of voices during the events, an advisory committee has been set up to facilitate the selection process.

Girls Action prioritizes the participation of marginalized persons and persons living and working in isolated communities.

 

How will I know if I was selected?

If your application is successful, you will receive an email. It will contain various documents that you will need to complete and return by Sept 8, 2009 in order to confirm your participation, including: 

• Participation Agreement
• Minor Release Form (for participants under 18)
• Media Release Form
• Health Form

As soon as we have received all of your documents, we can then proceed with the reservation of transportation (airplanes, trains, etc.) over the month of September 2009.

 

Do you have any other questions about the ELLE Project?

Call us: 1.888.948.1112 or contact:

Kat kat@girlsactionfoundation.ca      |      Adeline adeline@girlsactionfoundation.ca

 

We look forward to seeing you there!

Girls Action Foundation Team