EPIC Assist Scotland received a grant for the South West Neighbourhood Partnership Health Matters to run the pilot project of the Edinburgh Girls’ Project, a peer mentoring project for teenage girls which aims to build self-esteem and confidence and empower participants to make informed choices about living a healthy life and being active. Run over the course of 7 weeks, the Edinburgh Girls’ Project worked to provide a weekly safe space for girls to explore different topics related to physical and emotional well being, as well as fostering the building of peer support networks.
The project was run in collaboration with the WHALE Arts centre in Wester Hailes, and throughout the project, there was an emphasis on using art for expression and to explore different issues related to self-esteem, self-confidence and self-awareness. The activities done included a mini Olympics tournament; a smoothie making session, and creating paper-mâché hot air balloons with baskets filled with esteem affirming messages!
EPIC Assist would like to thank both the South West Neighbourhood Partnership board and the WHALE Arts Centre for their help in making the project a success. A second running of the project is currently underway.