Sisters
in Sisterhood (SIS)
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The Sisters in Sisterhood Rites of Passage
experience focuses on young women ages 8-21. The program ushers
girls through the minefield of adolescence, preparing them
as puberty rites initiates to reach the point to graduate
as confident and focused young women with clear goals and
aspirations for their future. The Rites of Passage program
leads students through a minimum of a two yearlong process
of learning practical information about health and sexuality,
building awareness of their cultural heritage, and making
connections with a local and international community of women.
In addition, the program provides students with a historical
and contemporary perspective of global race and gender issues
as they relate to young girls and women of African descent.
The average student has been a member of the Rites of Passage
Program for seven years. We attribute our retention success
to the following:
* Girls and young women have the opportunity to explore and
research spiritual traditions while defining a sense of spiritual
identity that resonates with family traditions and personal
comfort levels
* Sisters join a community in which her voice is actively
sought and respected
* Sisters participate in the extended family model and
begin to develop additional resources for problem solving
* Sisters develop a strong sense of sisterhood, forming
relationships based upon trust and community
* A comprehensive range of supportive services and programs
available through the Ifetayo facility
Program Goals
* To teach girls and young women successful life skills through
goal setting and planning
* To provide opportunities for participation in modern
day coming of age rituals
* To offer Health and Wellness Workshops that provide
the tools to ensure mental, physical, spiritual and emotional
health of all the young sisters. Workshops address issues
such as pregnancy prevention, drug use prevention, HIV/AIDS
awareness and prevention as well as avoiding gang involvement.
To help each sister develop and act upon her responsibility
to engage in activities that are of service to her community
and can assist in its development.
Elements
I am woman, mother of the elements. In my
hands behold the wind.
In my eyes behold the fire.
In my vivacious trot behold the current of
water.
In my womb behold the EARTH.
-Edo Young, Sisters in Sisterhood graduate
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