VIC

In Francesca’s teaching career before co-founding Enlighten Education, she combined creativity with technologies expertise. She worked as a Learning Technologies Coordinator and has led curriculum development within various high schools, devised new curriculum for the Higher School Certificate Technology courses in New South Wales, devised a cross-curricular teaching program to integrate social justice into the classroom, and led students to enhance their business IT skills by developing and creating IT-based products and services for the school and business communities.

Francesca has also brought her creativity and her desire to empower students to her role as a costume designer for the annual Rock Eisteddfod. Francesca particularly enjoys sharing her passion and flair for creating and designing in the “Style File” component of our programs. In our “Get It Together” workshops, she specialises in helping young women learn to prioritise, become organised and maximise their potential.

A trained dancer and former dance teacher, Nikki spent a number of years performing as a dancer and modelling professionally after completing her Communications degree. Her passion for writing led to a position as the editor of a magazine for young dancers, and a scriptwriting role with a production company followed. Then she moved into a producer role, working on the creation of videos and special events, and often appearing on camera as host.

Training to be a volunteer telephone counsellor with Lifeline gave Nikki the opportunity to explore her interest in counselling and psychotherapy, which she continues to study. It quickly became clear to Nikki during her time at Lifeline that she was particularly interested in social issues related to girls and women.

A former high school student of Enlighten’s CEO, Dannielle Miller, Nikki wanted to be involved the moment she saw the work Enlighten was doing in the community. Experienced in front of a crowd, with lots of stories to tell and a special interest in young women, Nikki has a proven rapport with school-aged girls and offers a unique insight into the worlds of fashion, entertainment and the arts.

It was a great day and when asked the girls respond with enthusiasm this far down the line (2 weeks). Many of our students live so much in the moment that they move on within days so ‘The Journey’ day definitely had an impact.
Colleen Brown, Health and Wellbeing Officer, Portland Area Schools – 8 schools

Now! This was a hugely successful event. The girls were tentative to their approach as they walked in but Sonia had them eating out of her hands the minute she greeted them. A lovely, soft, gentle yet powerful facilitator – a role model for girls. Our group of girls are still absolutely buzzing. They really do feel empowered and loved Sonia’s enthusiasm and positive approach. We (the staff) appreciated being able to participate without having to worry about doing anything. Everything was taken care of.
Bronwyn Heath, Year 8 Coordinator, Ballarat Grammar

I read the girls’ responses from the day with great delight, Sonia. You have done well. I don’t think I can remember such an overwhelmingly positive response to a workshop before! Congratulations.
Renata Rowe, Head of Secondary (Plenty Campus), Ivanhoe Grammar School

The workshops provided where delivered with professionalism and passion. Sonia demonstrated the traits she was encouraging within her own story and in her dealings with the girls at all times. Sonia’s group management was a credit to her experience but also to her genuine appreciation for young girls and their value and uniqueness. This group of girls arrived very skeptical and somewhat reluctantly and left buzzing, enthusiastic and pleasantly surprised and encouraged, as was very evident in the feedback forms. The content of the workshops was up-to-date, relevant and fun as well as informative.
Analy Alfonso, Welfare Officer, Heritage College Narre Warren Campus

I think the day was fantastic! It was very valuable to the girls who gained so much from the day. Sonia’s energy and enthusiasm really hit a cord with the group. They leant some vital skills and information about body image, self confidence and valuing who you are. Excellent!! Even the following week, some of the students were saying that they were still on a high and others were saying that they do the affirmations and positive self talk.
Donna Taylor, B UR Best Coordinator, St Joseph’s College Echuca

I thought the day was a wonderful experience for our year 9 girls. They were interested in each workshop and Sonia’s positive demeanor had a huge impact on the girls. They learnt important information about staying safe, standing up for themselves and how to further appreciate / value who they are. Even now, the girls are still talking about their experience from the day, showing that they really valued those workshops. Sonia was able to very quickly gain the trust of the girls and they just loved her!! They also provided ample detail on their self reflections which were all very positive. I can not speak highly enough about the program. Thank you so much.
Kristen Watson, Year 9 Focus Day Coordinator, St Joseph’s College Echuca

The girls from Year 8 loved ‘The Butterfly Effect’ and it has definitely had a lasting impact on them. Our school has had feedback from the parents to say what a difference it has made to their daughter’s attitude to things at home and teachers were positive about the program. I would definitely be interested in running a program for our girls in the future. Thank you.
Belinda Frew, Year 8 Coordinator, Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School

Having read the girl’s evaluations, how can one doubt that this experience was an outstanding and positive one for them. As Year Level Co-Ordinator, I have had girls come to me re issues of bullying, in an assertive manner, as a result of this program. On Monday, there was a real positive vibe around the school, as if the girls had discovered something new. The girls are proudly wearing their pink arm bands. Thank you for a rewarding experience.
Olga Cymbalak, Year 8 Co-Ordinator, Catholic Regional College, Nth Keilor

This is our second dealing with Enlighten Education and Nikki as the key presenter. The information leading up to the event is extremely informative and relevant, it certainly makes things easy to organise from this end. Nikki is a brilliant speaker and presenter and they are without doubt the best workshops our students have attended. The kids were simply glowing in their praise and I know many of Nikki’s key messages will remain with the girls. If our school can receive similar grants again in 2012 Enlighten Education will be the first company we will book.
Regards Kristen Waldron
Kristen Waldron, Hamilton and Alexandra College

Thank you so very much Enlighten! Everything was so easy and ran so smoothly from the initial booking to the day itself. You were so engaging and the girls loved you. The program has provided a fantastic springboard for us to base our Pastoral Care program on.
Hayley Keel, Catholic Regional College, Caroline Springs

Dannielle Miller is gold! Her rapport with our Year 7 girls (and then Year 8’s the following day) was instant! Their eyes and ears were glued to her the entire day. The topics covered were exactly what they needed to be and we believe that our students did walk away from the event more informed, more inspired and more self-confident. Thank you Enlighten Education.
Yvette Egonidis, Year 7 Coordinator, Strathcona Baptist Girls Grammar School

You really engaged with our students. The material was presented in an honest and heartfelt manner. St Margaret’s would love to have you present the workshops again in the future. It was a terrific way to end the term. Thank you.
Georgie Armstrong, Head of Life Skills, St Margaret’s School, Berwick VIC

Thank you for another great day. The students really enjoyed the day and they got so much out of the program. We feel it is a really valuable day for our students and enables the students to gain important life skills as well as being able to spend the day together as a group. Excellent.
Jenny-May Wilson, Marian College, Sunshine West, Victoria

Seeing as the event is for students, I usually evaluate based on student feedback. The girls were extremely positive about the program and seem to get a great deal out of it. It also addressed a number of teacher concerns related to students at year 9. The program was extremely successful. Thank you.
Aphroditi Nikituk, Year 9 Coordinator, Marian College, Sunshine West

You were amazing with the girls and the knowledge and wisdom you shared with them has had a positive impact and will no doubt be long lasting. Thank you! X x x It was lovely to meet you and I really enjoyed reading all the positive feedback from the girls. Feedback from parents was also very positive. Many of the girls (including me!) are still wearing the pink bands with pride.
Miranda Gazis, Year 8 Coordinator, Strathcona Baptist Girls Grammar School

I love the Enlighten program and have enjoyed it here at Marian for many years even when I wasn’t teaching a class that attended I would go. Now as part of my role as a year 9 homeroom teacher, I read the book aloud in class prior to the workshops to enhance the experience and get the girls thinking about the issues beforehand. Afterwards I refer to the day and talk about the issues it raises ALL THE TIME!! We download the iphone app and continue to wear the bracelets for the time. By the time my students leave my year 9 homeroom at the end of the year, I hope that I have instilled feminism in them in a meaningful way. Thank you for helping me to do that.
Kellie Illichmann, Marian College, Sunshine West

The program presented to our girls was everything and more we had hoped it would be. As a school it supported our values and the vision we have for our girls to be proud, passionate and respectful young women. The impact of an outside organisation delivering the same message was very powerful. Enlighten provided a day that allowed our girls to reflect on themselves, their friendships and how they see their place in the world. It empowered them with confidence and a sense of pride and happiness within themselves. The girls loved the experience but more importantly really felt a connection with Nikki, our Enlighten presenter for the day. Her manner & tone with the girls was lovely and her enthusiasm was infectious!! The girls all loved her and felt they had made a new best friend! We will definitely have Enlighten back in the future. Thank you.
Carly McLatchie, Head of Girls Middle School, Haileybury Edrington

Enlighten Education is to be congratulated on such a wonderful program that is not only incredibly engaging but very relevant to young people. Dannielle’s kind and generous spirit enabled her to connect with our students and create a very warm and encouraging environment. The feedback from both our students and parents has been overwhelmingly positive. The pace of the workshops ensured that the students were completely engaged throughout the day. Thanks for providing our girls with such a wonderful opportunity.
Lee-Anne Marsh, Head of Health & PE, Coordinator of Wellbeing, Toorak College

Thanks for another fabulous day. Having heard so many positive reports from girls and staff who had participated previously, I was looking forward to seeing Enlighten Day first hand this year. The presentations were dynamic, in tune with the girls and informative. As I teach all of the Year 7 Health classes, it was really affirming for me to see many of the topics & concepts reiterated by other professionals and much of the discussion was followed up in the ensuing classes, where I could talk with the girls about what had happened at Enlighten Day and how it complemented what we had/were doing in class. The timing was perfect for us with friendship issues rearing their head at Year 7 after the ‘honeymoon’ period and excitement and ‘newness’ of term 1 is over.
Michelle Holding, Year 7 Coordinator, Strathcona Baptist Girls Grammar School