so much enthusiasm!

We've been busy at Skillz Street! Not only have the coaches been working hard to create strong team bonds, but we've also discussed risky behavior that increases our participants risk of getting HIV and led some vital conversations with participants regarding gender norms.

Coach Crista with her 'Awesome Angels.'

Sis Debz with her team.

Coaches also got girls to think about what characterizes a healthy relationship versus an unhealthy relationship. For this activity, girls partnered up with one of their teammates, listened to a statement read by their coach, and then decided if that was a "healthy" or an "unhealthy" relationship. Two of the statements the girls were asked to discus were; "your partner is 4 years older than you" and "you and your partner always make decisions together."

Girls discussing what they think are some healthy and unhealthy
relationships.

The purpose of this activity was to teach participants that healthy relationships are built upon communication and mutual respect. It also stressed the importance (and value) of dating someone who is your age because you like them and not because they give you things in exchange for sex.

The coaches did a great job with this activity, coming up with creative ways to praise girls for answering correctly and playing games to keep the day interesting. 

And after teaching the girls how to pass, dribble and shoot in Practice 2, today we finally introduced them to Fair Play soccer!

My favorite part of Fair Play soccer is that after scoring a goal, both teams are supposed to celebrate together. I love this rule because as soon as someone scores a goal in any of the five games that are going on, high pitched screams of joy and victory songs are shouted out for all to hear!

The best thing about this round of Skillz Street is that the participants - girls from Greenpoint Primary School - seem to really love the program. A bunch of them have asked if they can have Skillz Street everyday and they never want to go home when Skillz Street is over.

Yesterday there was no school because it was Ascension Day. I actually got phone calls from participants asking if they could please have Skillz Street. I sadly had to tell them that there was no Skillz Street. But I promised to bring them all lolipops on Tuesday, so hopefully they will forgive me.