St Thomas Aquinas Primary School - West Belconnen
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25 Lhotsky Street
Charnwood ACT 2615
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Email: office.staquinas@cg.catholic.edu.au
Phone: (02) 6258 4077
Fax: 02 6258 5834

Empower Girls With Our Selfie-Esteem Program

Empower Girls With Our Selfie-Esteem Program

Facilitated by Madeleine West

Social media's influence is as pervasive as it is profound, the impact on young girls’ self-esteem is a growing concern that demands immediate and focused attention. The relentless comparison to unrealistic beauty standards, the distorted metrics of success, and the often toxic culture of body shaming can significantly impair their mental health and well-being. It is against this backdrop that initiatives aimed at empowering young girls to navigate the online interactions become not just relevant, but necessary.

Recent events, such as those at a Victorian school where boys objectified young girls influenced by misogynistic influencers ,warped social media beauty standards, serve as a chilling reminder of the urgent need for proactive measures. This objectification, underpinned by social media, and as we head into a world steeped in AI Generated filters spills over into the real world, manifesting in male violence towards women and other harmful behaviours. These incidents underscore a broader societal issue where online interactions influence real-life attitudes and actions, emphasising the need for a cultural shift towards healthier online habits and interactions.

Empowering and Uplifting Young Girls
Building resilience and self-worth in young girls is essential to counter the negative influences of social media. This begins with fostering an environment that encourages open dialogue, allowing girls to express their concerns without fear of judgment. It is vital to shift the focus from physical appearance to celebrating personal strengths and achievements. Implementing affirmations, positive reinforcement, and exposing young girls to role models who exemplify success through intelligence, kindness, and talent can significantly bolster self-esteem. Engaging them in activities that promote teamwork and skill development helps to reinforce their capabilities and inherent value.

 

The Transformative Journey with Madeleine West
Facilitated by Madeleine West mother of six, known for her relentless child safety and environmental advocacy as well as roles on stage and screen, the "Selfie Esteem" program offers a profound journey into self-discovery tailored for young girls and those identifying as female.

Madeleine's diverse experiences, both professional and personal, provide her with a unique ability to connect with young women, guiding them through the complexities of online interactions and self-perception.

Program Overview
The "Selfie Esteem" program is a comprehensive 90min session designed to tackle various aspects critical to developing a healthy relationship with social media and fostering a robust self-image:

Building Selfie-Esteem and Confidence
Participants engage in self-discovery, where Madeleine helps boost their self-esteem and confidence, crucial for navigating both personal and online spaces.
 

  • Healthy Relationships with the Online World
    Strategies are shared to create positive online interactions, ensuring enriching and safe digital experiences.
  • Resilience and Handling Online Stress
    The program covers effective coping mechanisms for managing online stress and cyberbullying, essential for maintaining mental well-being.
  • Boundaries, Consent, and Selfie Love
    This module focuses on asserting personal boundaries, understanding consent, and promoting self-love, empowering girls to value themselves beyond their digital personas.
  • Empowerment Now and Into the Future
    Encouraging proactive steps towards personal aspirations, this session empowers participants to leverage their strengths in all facets of life.
  • Being Your Best Online and In Real Life (IRL)
    Bridging online personas with real-life identities, the session stresses consistency in values and ethics across all platforms.
  • Emotional Intelligence and Online Leadership Skills
    Covering trust-building, vulnerability, and assertiveness, this part of the program nurtures leadership qualities, setting a positive example for peers online.

 

Why This Matters
The necessity of such programs is highlighted by the growing number of mental health and violence issues linked to social media use and low self-esteem. By empowering young girls with the tools to navigate their online presence confidently, understand privacy settings, recognise signs of cyberbullying, and engage critically with content, we foster not just safer online environments but also healthier mindsets.
 

Book Now
To find out more about booking the Selfie-Esteem program in your school please reach out today to: wecanhelp@safeonsocial.com