MyGeneration runs a Girls Group once week every Tuesday evening from 6pm-9pm.  We recruit girls aged 11-17 years-old, who attend the group at our offices in Golborne Road.  The Programme runs over a period of 12 weeks with a residential Weekend finale.  The main aim of the project is to provide learning, supportive and fun activities by creating an environment where girls can develop their educational skills build up their self esteem and confidence.  The girls have completed various projects such as designing and making a MyGeneration sign to be put up in our main reception area. They also worked together to compile a newsletter/magazine including articles on fashion, their community as well as conducting an interview with a celebrity.  This time round, the girls interviewed Jeni Barnet from LBC Radio, who kindly invited them down to the studio. They really enjoyed themselves and learned a lot from Jeni.  She told the girls how a lot of the people who had influenced her whilst she was growing up, were those who had tried to affect change, such as Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King.

During the course of the project, the girls went to the National Theatre as well as the much enjoyed excursion to see In to the Hoods.  These shows led the girls to enter themselves in to the Kensington and Chelsea Dance Challenge, which they practiced for continuously in the hope they would do well.  The Dance challenge took place at Cadogan Hall on the 25th June 2008 and the girls were absolutely thrilled when they achieved 2nd place and earned themselves a place in the final.

In May we went on our Residential weekend to Macaroni Woods in Gloucestershire.  The aim of the programme was to encourage friendships between the girls and the staff members as well as enable an environment that encourages confidence as well as other activities that they may not have encountered before.  We held workshops on getting to know one another, self-esteem and various planned activities on and off site including bike-riding and the feeding of farm animals and the very popular Midnight Walk. The girls developed a strong bond  and realised how similar they all were and experiencing the same struggles as young females growing up in inner city London.  After the summer break, and having successfully gained funding, The Generation Girls reconvened in September  and have since started an art project with The Junior League of London, based on identity .  The girls are excitedly planning an exhibition of their work for their parents and looking forward to  future activities.

MyGeneration Dance Challenge  - 3rd July 2009

After last year’s triumph the Girl’s Group were very keen to put together a troupe to compete in this year’s competition.

There were 26 girls with an age range of 6 to 17 years old, including one with special needs. The inclusion of Safia is just one way in which the girls demonstrate how inclusive their group is. The age range made this a really challenging project but under the patient tuition of Shannon and Mikola, both only 13years old and Hannah aged 17 they were able to put together a lively and slick routine. The girls were all very committed and gave up an evening every week for nearly 4 months to practice.

It was disappointing after all their hard work not to come amongst the winners or the runners up but all those who took part had a great sense of achievement and it helped to strengthen the bond between the girls. The key outcome for the girls was to learn not to give up if you don’t win, which is a very important life lesson to learn. At My Generation, we feel the girls can be proud of their work as they did it all themselves with no adult choreographer.