Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 16, 1994 TAG: 9406160098
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARY JO SHANNON SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Eyes wide with wonder, they absorbed the grandeur of the hotel. Upstairs in the Commonwealth Room, a poster above the lectern expressed the club motto: "We strive to be the best that we can be."
Youth Club sponsor Virginia Wolfe, who also teaches nutrition at Virginia Western Community College, plans the activities and meets with the girls.
"It's important to practice how to behave in such a situation," she said. "They will also get to practice what they learned about public speaking."
Youth Club member Amber Brooks, 15, who attends Ruffner Middle School, has participated since the club was organized. She said much emphasis is put on physical fitness, nutrition, personal hygiene, skin care and grooming, and simple sewing skills such as hemming a dress, repairing a rip or sewing on buttons.
Eleven-year-old member Melissa Walker, also from Ruffner, said, "It [the club] keeps kids our age out of trouble, like drugs and getting pregnant."
Manners and proper behavior are also taught, and most of the girls interviewed listed this as an attraction, referring to learning to be "ladylike and not act boyish."
"They teach you how to be a lady - have manners when you eat. And you learn about the importance of doing your work," said member Tiffany Baker, 12.
Convinced that self-esteem and constructive use of free time are vital to combat the problem of drugs and teenaged pregnancy, the Youth Club focuses on Leadership Development. Because it is vital to reach girls at an early age before negative behaviors begin, the club is designed for girls between the ages of 11 and 15.
Out of her ongoing concern for women, YWCA director Wendy O'Neil wrote the proposal for funding a pilot program in Leadership Development. The YWCA received a grant from Community Development Block Grant funds to Roanoke to operate the program from Aug. 30, 1993, through June 30, 1994. The organization hopes to get an extension to continue through August 1995.
Information about the club is distributed through social workers and elementary and middle schools - and by word of mouth. Most of the club members come from Ruffner and Breckinridge middle schools. Parental permission is required for registration, but no membership dues are necessary.
About 50 girls are enrolled and the average attendance at meetings is 20-25. Some have attended since the club was organized in September. Others have joined as recently as one or two weeks ago, because new members may enroll at any time during the year.
The club meets on Thursday afternoons from 2:30 until 4:30. A school bus from Ruffner brings many of the girls and returns them to their homes.
Wolfe administers a pretest and a post-test each week to measure achievement. Much emphasis is put on survival skills.
"When we first started, we trained them how to use the bus, since many would have to take the bus downtown," Wolfe said. "They also learn to cook simple meals and to repair their clothing."
Wolfe also believes vocabulary and dictionary skills are important.
"I try to select words [from videos and activities] that they might not be familiar with, and we work on the meanings ahead of time. We call this Word Power," she said.
Of course, having fun is important, too. Swimming, calligraphy, making yarn dolls, creating greeting cards for the holidays and writing poems all have a place among the many activities.
Harriet Lewis, YWCA administrator of the program, is pleased with results of the pilot program. "We exceeded the number of members we anticipated, and although no real data concerning the effectiveness of the program is available yet, we do know that when young women have constructive ways to channel their energies, we see less early sexual activity."
During the dining affair, most of the girls talked about "fun things" they did.
Six girls participated on the program, welcoming guests, giving thanks for the food, describing the program and its areas of concentration, introducing the speaker, and expressing appreciation to all involved.
Their poise and self assurance indicated the program's success in developing leadership and self esteem.
O'Neil spoke briefly, encouraging members to set high goals and work hard to attain them.
"And I'm going to work to see that this club is funded to continue," she said.
The only hitch to the event was a slight delay. Two girls forgot this was a special activity and wore shorts to school. They had to go home and change, for a lady doesn't wear shorts to a formal dining experience.
by CNB