clubGEN Afterschool Program

Grant Information
Categories	Education
Location	Texas
Cycle Year	2014

Organization Information
Organization Name (provided by applicant)	GENaustin
Organization Name (provided by automatic EIN validation)
EIN
Website	http://genaustin.org/

Contact Information
Contact Name	Ami Kane
Phone	512-808-4044, ext. 105
E-mail	ami@genaustin.org
Address	P. O. Box 3122 Austin TX 78764

Additional Information
Used for	clubGEN is a weekly afterschool program for primarily low-income girls in grades 3 - 8. At clubGEN, girls participate in engaging activities and discussion that centers around being a girl. Girls come to clubGEN to feel supported by their mentors and peers, to learn new skills, and most of all, to have fun!
Benefits	Benefits are to: decrease rates of juvenile delinquency, risky behaviors, and eating disorders, and increase critical thinking skills, academic performance, peer support, and self-sufficiency. Some of the themes covered are healthy relationships, body image, self-esteem, and communication. Strong girls make strong women, and as women and girls thrive so does society.
Proposal Description	With continued funding from the Foundation, clubGEN girls will implement the GENuine Beauty Campaign. This initiative is an indirect service learning advocacy project focusing on adolescent girls' body image issues, disordered eating, and wellness. Up to 600 girls will design and implement this campaign through weekly club meetings at 25 schools. GENuine Beauty will let girls know they’re beautiful exactly the way they are. But more importantly, it will counter negative media messages which directly contribute to disordered eating and a loss of self-esteem. Throughout the school year, clubGEN girls will learn about and explore: • Media literacy (understanding media messages, examining the representation of women in the media, exploring how images are manipulated.) • The importance of physical exercise • Nutrition and achieving a balanced diet • Building positive body image • Substance abuse avoidance • Advocacy Through GENuine Beauty girls will educate their schools about the information they have gained from club, including: • hanging informational posters around the school • putting notes in magazines which remind readers that the images are manipulated • viral email, text message and web campaigns to share awareness about eating disorders • school announcements to inform peers about the media and eating disorders • positive messages for other girls on sticky notes to put around school and town • creating their own e-magazines which include only girl written positive messages