Cultivating Girls’ Resilience
Kathy Weston has over 15 years experience as a social researcher with
a particular interest in parenting, education and family life. She
currently works as a motivational speaker and is passionate about
bridging the gap between academic research and parenting.
The number of out-of-school girls worldwide has dropped by 79
million in the last 20 years (UNICEF, 2020). Yet, as access to education
improves around the world for girls and young women, we have
another fight on our hands. There is a pressing need to recognise
girls’ resilience, sustain it and ensure that optimal conditions exist
for girls to thrive emotionally, academically and in the digital world.
We know that girls are generally less resilient than boys, and that
their mental and emotional wellbeing is declining, with suicide the
second leading cause of death among adolescent girls aged 15-19
worldwide (UNICEF).
In the UK, 30% of 15 year old girls experience high levels of emotional
difficulties, as opposed to 18% of boys, and for girls, unlike boys,
emotional problems increase with age (HBSC, 2020). Teen girls are
struggling with their body image (only 49% of 15 year old girls think
that their body is ‘about the right size’), rising anxiety, perfectionism
and the unique challenges that come with access to social media
(OFCOM, 2020). They worry more than boys, and can struggle to
communicate with parents, particularly with fathers. 50% of girls
feel significant academic pressure (only 30% of boys feel the same)
and girls are less likely to enjoy school. Girls also engage in fewer
behaviours that promote health. There appear to be universal
challenges associated with moving from girl to womanhood in the
21st Century.
Part and parcel of any educational programme worldwide, should be
a focus on resilience. What does it mean to be resilient? It means
being a ‘thinking scientist’ and staying curious. It means remaining
flexible and open to others’ perspectives. It means not repeating
things that you know don’t work, reframing challenge as opportunity
and maintaining a sense of optimism, humour and hope about the
future.
Cultivating positivity may seem challenging given the contexts
that some young women find themselves in, but we need to aim
high. All young people should understand that there is a proactive
component in resilience. We decide if we are resilient; paying careful
note to the times when we demonstrated it by overcoming difficulties
and barriers.
Agency is important when cultivating resilience. Young women
don’t need other people to fix or mollycoddle them. They need to
know that they have personal power and should strive to reach the
multiple options, choices and opportunities available to them. Our
role is to create pathways which enable them to do this. We must
ensure that they are conscious of the family and community values
that can psychologically anchor them, give them access to positive
role models, give effective praise when they demonstrate resilience
and provide them with opportunities to experience intellectual and
physical challenge. Girls also need to be conscious of the threats
to their own personal resilience. Self-awareness is key and should
be facilitated by as supportive a network as possible. Behind
every resilient girl, is someone saying “I believe in you, now give it
a go!”.
From Engage issue 20.
An article related to this topic is How does Body Confidence Affect Online Learning in Today’s Pandemic?
DR KATHY WESTON • October 13, 2021
On 23rd January at the Cima Community School of Hope (ECEC), the first workshop was held with the first group of students as part of the STEM program. This activity marks a promising start to the program's implementation. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) is crucial for children because it fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity from a young age. It nurtures natural curiosity, helps children understand the modern world, and builds resilience through hands-on experimentation. Additionally, early STEM exposure prepares them for future academic and career success. A total of 20 students participated in this first session. The session focused on a general presentation of the importance of computer programming in today's world. The students were also introduced to the Scratch software interface, an educational tool well-suited for teaching children programming. This initial experience went smoothly and generated considerable interest and strong motivation among the students.
At the Steve Sinnott Foundation, we know that planning for the future is one of the most important things you can do for the people and causes you care about. That’s why we’re delighted to offer our staff and volunteers the opportunity to write or update their will this Spring. Whether you’ve been meaning to get started for years, or you simply need to make a few updates, this is the perfect time to take that important step. Join Our Free Will Writing Webinar To help you get started, we’ve partnered with expert estate planners Octopus Legacy , who will be hosting a free webinar(s) covering everything you need to know about writing or updating your will. Staff & Volunteers 12pm, Thursday 5th March Online via Zoom - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uvirWft7S12lJUby6oUtnQ#/registration Supporters 12pm, Tuesday 10th March Online via Zoom - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xxJNZd6ZQYKMOs-2fNz0Gg#/registration During the session, you’ll learn: Why it’s important to have an up-to-date will What to consider when writing or updating your will The different types of will-writing services available How Lasting Powers of Attorney work and why they matter How to claim your free will this Spring This webinar is designed to make what can feel like a complex process simple, clear and manageable. Why Having a Will Matters Having an up-to-date will ensures your wishes are respected and your loved ones are protected. Without one, the law decides how your estate is distributed and that may not reflect what you would have wanted. A will gives you peace of mind. It allows you to: Provide clarity and security for your family Appoint guardians for children if needed Make specific gifts to individuals or causes Ensure your estate is handled efficiently Updating your will is just as important as writing one. Life changes marriages, children, property purchases, or changes in circumstances can all affect your wishes. Claim Your Free Will This Spring As part of this initiative, eligible staff and volunteers will have the opportunity to claim a free will-writing service. Full details will be shared during the webinar, including how to access this benefit. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity. Writing or updating your will is one of the most responsible and caring decisions you can make for yourself and for those you care about. Register Now Spaces are available now, simply register using the link below: Staff & Volunteers - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uvirWft7S12lJUby6oUtnQ#/registration Supporters - https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xxJNZd6ZQYKMOs-2fNz0Gg#/registration We hope you’ll join us on Thursday 5th March and take this positive step towards securing your future.
In my time as an assistant at The Steve Sinnott Foundation (SSF), one of my research tasks was looking into how the Foundation contributed to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). I really believe in the work of the Foundation and I have also been raising funds as I believe that every child must have the right to education. SSF is a UK-based educational charity focused on promoting quality education worldwide. It plays a supportive role in achieving the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 4: (Quality Education), but its work contributes to several others as well. Here's how the Foundation supports the SDGs: Goal 4 – Quality education (core focus) The Foundation's main mission is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. It supports teachers and educational initiatives in developing countries. It runs programmes like: The Education for All Campaign – advocating for universal access to education. Teacher empowerment projects – providing training and resources to educators in under-resourced countries. Girls' education programmes – encouraging and supporting girls to stay in school and complete their education. Goal 3 – Good health and well-being Through education, particularly health-related programmes, the Foundation contributes to raising awareness about hygiene, nutrition, and mental health. The Foundation has developed a range of webinars to promote health and wellbeing and these can be found on YouTube. Goal 5 – Gender equality The Foundation promotes girls' education, directly addressing barriers that prevent girls from accessing and completing school. It advocates for the rights of women and girls, especially in patriarchal or disadvantaged societies. Goal 8 – Decent work and economic growth By improving access to education and vocational training, the Foundation helps create employment opportunities. Educated individuals have better chances of securing decent work. Goal 10 – Reduced inequalities It supports marginalised groups, including children in rural or conflict-affected areas, contributing to reducing global inequalities in education. Goal 16 – Peace, justice and strong institutions Promotes education as a force for peace and conflict resolution. Supports democratic participation and awareness through educational programmes that foster community engagement. Goal 17 – Partnerships for the goals Collaborates with NGOs, unions, schools, and governments to deliver and advocate for education projects. Builds international partnerships to achieve the SDGs through education. Summary While The Steve Sinnott Foundation's primary focus is on Goal 4, it contributes to many of the SDGs by empowering communities through education, particularly: Gender equality (Goal 5), Health (Goal 3), Economic growth (Goal 8), Reducing inequality (Goal 10), Peace (Goal 16), and Partnerships (Goal 17). The Foundation’s programmes also contribute to the achievement of other SDGs through the power of the provision of education and life-long learning; 1. No Poverty, 2. Zero Hunger, 13. Climate Action. We believe that all of the 17 SDGs are only achievable by ensuring that all children, wherever they are born, deserve the human right of quality education. Over 250 million children are still out of school and the global out-of-school population has reduced by only 1% in nearly ten years, according to the UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report 2024. There is still much work to do in achieving equitable and quality Education for All.
