Dream Centre Graduation!

Last Friday we were honoured and excited to attend the graduation program for the first group of girls from our pilot Dream Centre. The Centre has been open for almost 5 months and 15 girls have successfully completed the 4.5 month course covering 'skills for learning, skills for life'.

The day was a chance to share some of the things they have learned as well as a celebration of their new-found confidence and pride. Key topics covered during the program include communication, motivation, co-operation, leadership, confidence, gratitude, appreciating differences, inclusive thinking, optimism, emotion management, critical thinking, decision making and problem solving.

Some highlights of the program included a drama written by some of the girls to highlight the importance of friendship (appreciating differences, inclusive thinking and gratitude), a number of dances choreographed by the girls, and some speeches from a few of the girls on their Dream Centre experience. It really was startling to think it was the same group of girls we had met a short while ago who were then very quiet and shy. Now their determination and improved self-esteem was on display for all to see!

The program concluded with the presentation of graduation certificates and memory books which the girls had been working on during the program. The Dream Centre facilitators had included an inspiring message in each of the books as a keepsake for the girls to remember their Dream Centre experience. We also presented some small prizes for the girls who excelled in certain areas such as creativity, spelling, speaking etc.

With the second Dream Centre set to open shortly the day was a fantastic opportunity to reflect on the success of the program so far as well as building excitement for it's growth in the future. A huge thank you must as always go to our three facilitators who have done an amazing job in transforming the lives of this first group of girls!