Mentor Group Helps Girls Learn Communication Skills
Fatoumata Kaba has often struggled to control her anger. During a class last year, for example, the 13-year-old middle school student started punching a classmate who laughed at her after she accidentally fell out of her chair.
“It happened so fast,” Fatoumata said. “I was just so upset at the moment. I got up and we just started hitting each other.”
Now, the Cicely Tyson School of Performing Arts student, who had been known to hit first and talk later, is participating in a local mentor group for girls called SISTAs 4 SISTAs that’s helping her learn how to work through her issues using words instead of fists.
SISTAs 4 SISTAs is combating communication barriers among teens, particularly in urban communities. This year they are focused on helping shy girls gain confidence and occasionally helping aggressive ones resolve problems nonviolently.
SYSTAS 4 SYSTAS mentees listen to a lecture about public speaking. Brittney M. Brown | The Bridge
SYSTAs 4 SYSTAs, S4S for short, was founded in 1994 by a group of friends in New Jersey. The acronym stands for Supporting Young Sisters Toward Achieving Success. The organization focuses on girls between the ages of 11 and 21, and has several chapters throughout the state.
Zeldah G. Everson, co-founder and executive director of the organization, says its focus on social development is important because poor communication skills can hinder young girls from being successful.
Mentees learn the fundamentals of speaking in public, resolving conflict and expanding social networks. They also participate in community service, field trips and special events. The East Orange, N.J., chapter recently took part in a breast cancer walk.
Individual development plans are distributed in September and are a part of their weekly routine until the end of the year in May. The girls list their strengths and weaknesses, objectives, and deadlines for meeting social and personal goals.
For example, if a mentee struggles to make new friends, she
writes a plan to overcome her fear. Next she and her mentor discuss steps that
will help her achieve her goal. Finally they agree on a reasonable deadline for
achieving her goal, either partially or in its entirety. Each mentee will meet
with her mentor to discuss the progress of her plan in January.
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