A book club set up to help to boost the confidence of girls in the Big Brothers Big Sisters programme is to launch in the new year.
The first book to be featured in the Girl Power Book Club is Assemble the Tribe: Believe in Your Value. Find Belonging. Be Different., written by Bermudian author and leadership strategist Leah JM Dean.
The charity was able to secure 50 copies of the book after professional services firm KPMG stepped in with a donation.
Patrina O’Connor-Paynter, the managing director of Big Brothers Big Sisters, said: “We are very thankful and excited that KPMG donated these powerful books for our young ladies.
“A lot of our girls have expressed the issues they are facing with their peers, which has often left them feeling rejected and hurt.
“We believe this book will be a great tool in helping them to build and navigate relationships with each other.”
Steve Woodward, the managing director and chairman of the corporate citizenship committee at KPMG, added: “We are thrilled to be a part of the programme and help BBBS.
“Delivering a positive impact through education and support of Bermuda’s youth is a priority for us. Being able to provide access to Assemble the Tribe at such an important time of a young woman’s life means a lot to us. We are grateful for the opportunity.”
Ms O’Connor-Paynter read the book and felt that it was a good fit for the charity’s Girl Power programme, which was set up to support female “littles” by developing life skills.
She said: “It provides a safe place for girls to explore their world, have new experiences and develop positive relationships with peers and adults.
“It looks to positively shape the lives of girls by helping them build a positive self-image.
“It includes sessions designed to instil in the girls the tools to develop strategies and to learn values like responsibility, integrity, accountability, mission and honour.”
Ms Dean said that she found through her work that the quality of relationships greatly influenced health and wellbeing.
She added: “I believe that if we think differently about how we build our connections, especially at a young age, we can redefine the relationship story for the next generation of women.
“In doing so we will create a healthier, more connected generation of future leaders and that’s something to be excited about.”
