Why a Development Programme for young girls? Research paints a daunting picture about girls’ self-esteem as they transition from childhood into adolescence:
- Between the ages of 8 and 13 teens self-esteem levels drop markedly; girls more so than boys. (Rhodes et al, 2003; Robins et al 2002)
- More than a third of girls aged 10 to 15 years old are unhappy with their appearance. (Brittian’s Children Society)
- 92% of teen girls would like to change something about the way they look, with body weight ranking the highest. (Dove campaign)
- 53% of American girls age 13 are “unhappy with their bodies.” This grows to 78% by the time girls reach seventeen. (National Institute on Media and the Family)
- Among high school students, 44% of girls and 15% of guys are attempting to lose weight. (Council On Alcoholism And Drug Abuse. "Image and Self Esteem.")
Girls are growing up in a culture saturated with digitally altered images of impossibly thin and “perfect” women. Therefore, raising girls with a healthy self-esteem will require setting a solid foundation for the years to come to ensure they withstand these types of pressures, and develop with a healthy and confident outlook on their own beauty. Papillon is a development programme which has been created to lay such a solid foundation – this programme not only teaches; or enhances and refines the skills they might already have to carry themselves as girls and young ladies, but offers a holistic approach in addressing the issues – both internal and external - that matters to young girls, such as appearance, confidence & self-esteem. The programme furthermore aims to impart knowledge and skills to grow through the adolescent years unscathed and emerge as beautifully nurtured, strong, confident girls knowing their value and beauty in a society which often has unrealistic demands.
