How to Involve Parents and Guardians

Sharing and learning within and across families is very rewarding. In addition, we have learned that involving parents and guardians in your girls’ program can be a great way to reassure them about what your girls group is all about.

We have found that involving parents and guardians can:

• Sensitize parents and guardians to the different realities experienced by girls.

• Raise awareness about the importance of girls’ engagement for social change.

• Enable parents and guardians to be part of the program.

• Enable parents and guardians and girls’ programmers to work together to support girls.

Ways to involve parents and guardians:

• Invite parents and guardians to a special event put on by your girls group (a talent show or community dinner).

• Invite parents or guardians to be guest speakers for a career day.

• Invite parents or guardians to volunteer in the program for a day.

Things to consider when involving parents and guardians:

• Girls groups are for the girls. Having too much parent involvement can detract from the focus of your program.

• Make sure that parent involvement does not jeopardize the safety of the space you have created with the girls. Parent involvement should be facilitated and monitored as to not interrupt group dynamics or break the trust the group has built together. Keep parent involvement light and friendly, creative or artistic activities can work well.

For a Sample Outreach Letter to Parents see Appendix 1.

Talking About Your Program to Parents and Guardians

Parents and guardians may be curious about what your program is all about and what their girls are doing. Questions from parents and guardians will vary depending on your program, community, and participants.

From our experience, parents and guardians are interested in knowing some of the following information:

• How will you ensure it will be safe?

• Can girls bring friends or a sister?

• What kinds of trips will you take?

• What will the girls learn about?

• How does your program relate to our family’s culture and beliefs?

• Why ONLY girls? This is the big one, which we get from everyone! For some possible responses to the question “Why Girls?” see the Why Girls section.

Ways to connect with parents or guardians:

• Use mechanisms that are already in place. For example, if you run your program out of a school, communicate with parents through school mechanisms like newsletters, parent/teacher day, etc.

• Application forms are a great way to speak to parents or guardians about your program.

• Create your own newsletter.

• Get parents or guardians involved and engaged in your girls group for a special event.

When communicating with parents or guardians we find it helpful to:

• Respond in a positive and non-judgmental way.

• Respond in a way that addresses the parent and guardian’s needs, providing resources, and solutions.

• Explain the program. Talk about your approach to girls’ programming, the activities and their benefits.

• Explain that girls need to be part of a social network and the program can offer them the opportunity to make meaningful connections with other girls.

• Use accessible language. Concepts like “violence prevention” are more understandable and have more impact when they are broken down into descriptive sentences like “In girls club we talk about healthy relationships, friendships, knowing limits, and when to say no.”

• If parents and guardians are unsure about the program, ask what would make them feel more comfortable about allowing their girl(s) to participate.

• Encourage girls who are part of the program to share their new skills and knowledge with their parents and guardians

• Develop a trusting relationship with parents and guardians.