Promotora info

The Girl World Project
A primary-prevention, feminist-based after school and summer program wherein staff and community women provide fun, skill-building activities that give 10 to 14-year-old girls a chance to explore their strengths and develop their talents. We work to nurture the growth and development of girls through a comprehensive approach that focuses on communication, creativity, self-esteem, leadership, and building positive relationships. Partners in this programming include Planned Parenthood of San Antonio and South Central Texas, the Southwest School of Art and Craft, Bexar County Master Gardeners, local artists, numerous area businesses and community service providers, and many others
To date, our program has focused on providing a safe community space where girls can develop trusting relationships with other girls and adult women staff and volunteers. Issues such as substance abuse, initiation of sexual activity and intimate relationships, pregnancy and STD prevention, and drop-out prevention are dealt with in the context of these peer/mentor relationships. The program strives to enhance the healthy development of girls by creating and nurturing an atmosphere that places emphasis and value on concepts such as respect for self and others, simple manners and thoughtfulness, and healthy communication with family, teachers, and peers.

One of the most important things about Girl World is that the girls feel a sense of ownership in the program. They are involved in as much of the decision-making about the project as is possible and realistic. The girls make decisions about how their clubhouse should look and feel, what kinds of behaviors and interactions are appropriate within the group, what activities and events they will participate in, and what skills and topics of interest they will be exposed to. It is this sense of ownership and self-determination combined with the relationships they build with the other girls and women in the program that keeps them engaged in programming at Girl World.
The Girl World Project has committed to working in each of the following areas to meet the needs of girls in our community: 1) promoting ongoing, positive relationships with caring adults; 2) providing a safe place to be with structured activities during non-school hours; 3) providing innovative, woman-led art and educational programming to girls; 4) providing real-world insights and skills through effective, interactive, non-traditional educational models; 5) helping girls develop their capacity to be self-sufficient, responsible members of the community; 6) providing unique opportunities for social, cultural, artistic, educational, recreational and vocational enrichment; and 7) serving as a vigorous advocate for girls by focusing on girls’ specific needs.

What’s up at Girl World?
1. After-School & Summer Program: The Girl World Project is an after school and summer program for girls ages ten to fourteen. The program operates Monday through Friday from 3-5:30PM during the school year and Monday through Thursday from 10AM-4PM for eight weeks during the summer. Organized after-school activities have included an ongoing comprehensive/abstinence-plus sexuality education series, mural painting, financial workshops, photo journaling, planning for college, modern and contemporary dance, poetry workshops, performance art exercises, self-defense, drawing and painting, Native American beading, yoga, weaving, Origami, pottery, nutritional cooking, paper making, book binding, traditional storytelling and ethnic folklore, gardening, belly dancing, tai chi, comic book illustration, drumming, karate, and much more. Summer outings have included camping at Government Canyon State Natural Area, an annual sleepover, and trips to local artists’ studios, area museums and exhibits, area universities, Cactus Pear Music Festival, Institute of Texan Cultures, Splashtown, Wimberly Glass Works, Landa Park, Fiesta Texas, Sea World, Barton Springs, Enchanted Rock, San Antonio Missions, Natural Bridge Caverns, and much more. The Girl World Project endeavors to provide a progressive after-school and summer activity program that is educational, gender-specific, girl-driven, and opportunity-rich
2. Girls Got Game!: This semi-annual, community-wide, all-girl sporting day features women-led athletic skills clinics and provides an opportunity for girls and women to spend a day playing sports together. According to the Women’s Sports Foundation, girls who play sports are less likely to experience unplanned pregnancy, more likely to get better grades, and more likely to graduate from high school. It is our hope that a fun, non-competitive day of playing sports will create interest in and lead girls to actively and consistently participate in sports beyond the Girls Got Game! experience. Participants in this event have indicated that they like learning to play new sports and they like playing sports without worrying about the distractions, inhibitions, and rough competition they associate with coed sporting events. Selected sports to date have included soccer, rugby, Ultimate Frisby, softball, canoeing, basketball, golf, volleyball, and more.

3. Our World, Our Voices: This event is in the planning stages and will feature readings by local women poets and authors and workshops that promote literary works with strong female protagonists and culturally sensitive perspectives, giving participants a chance to explore and practice the literary arts. We intend for this experience to motivate participants to begin incorporating reading and writing into their daily routines so that, by practicing their skills, they will begin to improve their ability to perform in the academic setting and raise their chances of excelling in high school and beyond. Additionally, we intend for the event to assist the girls in learning how they can use literary works to understand themselves and their roles in their community in a deeper way.
4. Reel Girls: This event is in the planning stages and is intended to expose girls in our community to films that have positive, empowering messages and portray strong female characters of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. By hosting these films and facilitating dialogue about them, will we reach girls, their family members, teachers, and other important adults in their lives with a girl-positive message.

Common Questions
1. What’s the cost to attend The Girl World Project? Girl World is free to all participants
2. What are the hours of operation for The Girl World Project? Girl World runs from 3PM to 5:30PM Monday through Friday during the school year and from 10AM-4PM Monday through Thursday for eight weeks in the summer. Call or email the Center for more information.
3. How do I enroll myself or my daughter? Just call or email the Center to ask about current sign-up procedures. We like parents to come with their daughter to her first day at Girl World so they can see the program first-hand, meet the facilitators, and sign the necessary permission forms. Girls may register for the after-school program at any time. There is also an orientation meeting for summer program parents and participants in early June each year. Summer program registration is limited to the first 60 girls registered, with preference given to girls who attend Girl World throughout the school year.

Testimonials
From Sabrina, a 12-year-old participant: “I used to skip school. I was getting into fights. My mother was really worried. Here, I’ve learned to be who I am and not to let anyone tell me that’s wrong. There is so much peer pressure in school...”
From Megan, a 10-year-old participant: “One of the things that I like about Girl World is that I can talk to Shana and Felicia about girl things. They make me feel good about myself and never make me feel left out. I am very thankful I have people like Shana and Felicia to talk to. Ever since I came to Girl World, I have been having fun. I like it here a lot because I meet new people every day. Another reason I like it is I meet adults every day like the Master Gardeners, who also bring really good food. I get along with everyone and it is cool. I don’t like it at home because it is boring and at Girl World it is fun.”
From Laurel, a partner: “I have been visiting the Center as a Mobile Arts Program artist once a week for several years… and have seen first hand the impact this program has had on the daily lives of the young girls who visit after school each day. These girls range in age from ten to fourteen, and many of them would, without the program, be latchkey kids. Instead, they find a bright welcoming community of peers and caring adult women. There are always snacks, games, and activities, and if a girl isn’t feeling well on a particular day, an adult will find a quiet time to speak with her and help, or just listen.”
From Gina, a parent: “I would like to thank you and tell you how much I appreciate everything you have done for us. Although I feel like words could never explain and saying it a hundred times would not be enough. Please don’t ever hold back on asking me if you need anything. From the bottom of my heart, i want to say thank you again and we love you with all sincerity.”

Girl World info

Maternal and Child Healthcare Promotoras
Trained community women identify local women’s health needs and respond to these needs by providing grassroots education programs in the community and at the Center. This program reaches 10,000 to 12,000 women annually and addresses topics including breast health, nutrition, diabetes, hypertension, healthy pregnancy, and lead education. Partners in this program include M.E.L.D., Christus Santa Rosa Life Cycles & Mammography Units, San Antonio Public Library System, Child Protective Services, community faith-based organizations, neighborhood alliances, and more.
The basic principle of Promotoras projects is that most communities have a natural resource of social networks through which the community offers and receives social support. A Promotora is a woman who acts as liaison between health care providers and patients through activities that include providing patient education, making referrals to health and social service agencies, conducting needs assessments, distributing surveys to identify barriers to health care delivery, making home visits, and providing language services. The role of the Maternal and Child Health Promotoras Project is to recruit, train, and support community women who can directly reach and offer social support to other community women and their families.

The overall goals of the Maternal and Child Health Promotoras program are: a) to reach uninsured and underserved Latina and African-American women in the Center’s community; b) to facilitate their reception and understanding of topical health information; c) to facilitate community residents’ participation in preventative health activities; and d) to facilitate community residents’ access to free and affordable health screenings and treatment.

Promotoras Services
Community Presentations: Promotoras perform educational outreach at area faith-based organizations, partnering non-profits, health fairs, clinics and health facilities, libraries, Laundromats, sidewalk talks, and more. Educational topics include breast health, nutrition, diabetes, hypertension, healthy pregnancy, and lead education.
Parenting Classes: Parenting classes are held at the Center every Thursday from 6 – 8 PM. At the end of the nine-week course, graduates receive a certificate of completion for their records. Covered subjects include infancy brain development, nurturing and building self esteem, styles of discipline, child safety and nutrition, and more. Childcare and dinner are provided to all in attendance.

Prenatal & Newborn Care Classes: A qualified childbirth and parenting educator teaches a monthly class on pregnancy wellness, labor and birth, newborn care in the postpartum period, early bonding and development, child safety and nutrition, and well-child and well-woman care.
Sisters Together & Hermanas Unidas: These programs seek to address the many health issues surrounding low activity levels and obesity by offering opportunities for African-American and Latina women in our community to get moving at MSWC sponsored walking and physical activity events.

Common Questions
1. Can I schedule a Promotora to do a presentation at my work/church/school/etc? The Promotoras are happy to do presentations wherever and whenever it works for you or your organization. Just call or email the Center to set something up.
2. How do I sign up for classes? Class schedules are many and varied. Call the Center or email for more information.
3. What’s the cost to attend classes? The Promotoras program is free to all participants.

back to top