The Princess Within

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2012

The Princess Within Columbus-Muscogee County, GA Population: 185,271 Columbus-Muscogee County, GA tackled the issue of depression, peer pressure, suicide, gangs and violent crimes in young females by developing the Princess Within Program. This program was implemented for girls between the ages of 6 and 13 years old to empower and motivate them to become leaders and equip them with skills needed to succeed academically as well as in everyday life situations. The mission of the program is to encourage positive, emotional, social, and physical development. The curriculum combines interactive activities that provide girls with the tools to make positive decisions and decrease the risk of developing unhealthy behaviors. The Princess Within after school program focuses in its first element on activities, seminars, and speakers on various topics like peer pressure, gangs, bullying, and depression while the second element is dedicated to fostering a sense of loving thyself and becoming leaders. Princess Within is implemented 11 months out of the year using one month to develop the curriculum. The program is implemented under the Columbus Consolidated Government Parks and Recreation Department. The partnership that has been established between Parks and Recreation and the Muscogee County School District allows our after school program to exist in 25 elementary schools. The girls in the after school program are then enrolled in the Princess Within Program. Upon finishing the program the young ladies participate in a graduation ceremony whereby they receive certificates of completion. The girls who graduate from our program and move on to middle and secondary schools are allowed to return and speak to future graduating classes to express the positive impact the program has had on their life. An average of 45 girls has enrolled in the program in the last two years. The comprehensive results suggest that the young ladies that participated in the Princess Within Program perform better in school and they have higher self-esteem. This program cultivates tomorrows’ leaders and equips them to become positive members of the community.