2006 is the 10th Anniversary of the YWCA Week Without Violence™ in Canada. To mark the anniversary, YWCA Canada and its Member Associations have developed a signature event: a conference for girls and young women entitled, THE POWER OF BEING A GIRL - a community conference focused on girls' developmental needs to prevent violence in the lives of girls and women. This year, 17 Member Associations will be hosting this signature event.

The Power of Being a Girl will focus on girls and young women ages 12-14 and/or 15-17 years. Each conference will be unique to local community needs; however the following features will be common to all 17 conferences across the country:

• The Power of Being a Girl will take place for either a half-day or full-day during the YWCA Week Without Violence: Oct. 15 - 21, 2006
• Girls and young women will participate in the planning of the conference and are encouraged to organize or lead workshops and discussions
• The conference will be planned in partnership with local school boards and/or community organizations

Conferences may include discussions about:

• Self-esteem
• Relationships
• Substance Abuse
• Preventing Violence in the Lives of Girls
• Depression
• Dating
• Career Choices
• Discrimination
• Body Image
• Sexual Health
• Bullying
• Internet Safety for Girls

For more information:

YWCA Canada website