Sister-to-Sister (S2S)

The Sister-to-Sister summits were developed by the AAUW Educational Foundation in order to hear in girls' voices about the issues that affected their lives. Branches across the U.S sponsored Sister-to-Sister Summits, gathering data that was then published in the study "Voices of a Generation: Teenage Girls on Sex, School and Self."

S2S girlsAAUW-OML was not part of the study, but used the format which features a morning and afternoon discussion group for each girl, interspersed with games, speakers, and other activities. We have tweaked the format over the years to fit our suburban community. For example, issues of gang violence are not part of our landscape, but academic pressure and stress are huge issues in our college-bound suburban teen population. In collaboration with high school girls, we create a positive environment for girls to enjoy themselves and share their stories in a community of sisterhood.

High School Facilitators

S2S girlsHigh school girls are recruited in September through each of the high school career centers. They must fill out an extensive application and are interviewed to determine their maturity and level of interest in the project. Nine monthly training sessions are held leading up to the Summit in the spring. Each three-hour training session includes committee work to plan all the details of the Summit, "getting to know you" activities for team building, and presentations from community organizations such as Community Violence Prevention. The most important skill the high school girls gain is learning to facilitate small group discussions.

It is very important to have girls involved from the outset to insure that activities and topics are relevant to the middle school girls that we serve. The high school girls plan every detail of the Summit, from presenters to activities, decorations, and food.

S2S girlsThese trained high school facilitators are key to the success of the event. The facilitators have proven to be invaluable in developing trust and creating safe spaces for girls who may be hesitant to ask important questions of adults. Many girls have been able to increase their safety and get help as a result of the program.

Middle School Girls' Small Group Discussions

S2S girlsThe key component of each Summit are the small groups which allow the younger girls to bring their concerns to slightly older girls and the group to discuss, gain different points of view, and learn new strategies. In order to lead these small group discussions, the high school girls are taught facilitation skills which include listening, dealing with different personalities, managing group dynamics, and learning questioning skills to take the conversation deeper. No adults sit in on the group discussions, so the training must be as in depth as possible in the time allotted. Professional corporate trainers and consultants have developed the training program.

Results

S2S girlsBy promoting healthy decision making we are empowering youth to make positive changes in their own lives and the lives of others. Research shows that youth with high self esteem are more likely to have healthy relationships, to resist drugs and alcohol, and have a lower incidence of eating disorders. The Sister-to-Sister model allows girls to explore issues that are important to them in a safe and supportive environment that differs from their everyday experience.

Questions?