The idea of “The Butterfly Effect” comes from the science of chaos theory. It suggests that everything is connected, to the extent that the beating of a butterfly’s wings in one part of the world may ultimately contribute to a tornado happening in another part of the world. We recognise that when it comes to the impact we as individuals have on our environment, small changes can make a huge difference. Enlighten’s courses and programs for teen girls are about celebrating, challenging and changing ourselves and our world.
Every Enlighten day kicks off with an absolute bang and opens with our signature Introductory Session; this draws on storytelling techniques to set the tone for the event.
Storytelling has been associated with change for many years and is powerful when utilised in a focused and deliberate manner to address specific needs. One of the main reasons for this is that narration acts on our emotions in very particular ways. Emotions play such a vital role because they reinforce our capabilities to feel empathy and to learn from other persons’ experiences.
Enlighten chooses to open with your presenter’s personal story (and lots of laughter! ) as it also helps form an instant connection between our stellar presenter and your students, and sets an incredibly positive, fun and inclusive tone for the day.
Choose 1 core and up to 4 of our supplementary workshops, all workshops are adjusted to ensure they are age appropriate.
Core workshops for schools
More than a body – a somebody
Negative stereotyping, sexism, media images, the fixation on being thin, these are all issues today’s young people are facing. In this workshop we encourage your students to critically evaluate the messages that bombard them every day and develop strategies that help them respond intelligently and objectively.
* We always advise running this core if this is your student’s first Enlighten event; it’s our most popular workshop and deeply loved.
OR
Wake up sleeping beauty!
Rediscovering our personal power and purpose. When we were small, we believed we could be whatever we wanted to be ( “When I grow up I want to be a dinosaur, or a Princess”), make friends with whoever amused us, let people know when we felt annoyed, and eat whatever tasted delicious. When did the rules change, and why have things become so complex? This workshop challenges your students to reconnect with their core values and beliefs and helps them tap back into their own authentic selves.
* This is usually run as an alternative to “More than a body” when we are meeting young people for the second time.
Supplementary workshops
Forever friends
This is one of our most popular workshops and highly valued by students and schools alike! How do we make friends? Who should we make friends with? How should friendships be maintained? How do we decide if a friendship is helping or harming us? This workshop addresses these issues and equips young people with the necessary skills to make safe, important decisions about all their relationships. This workshop also breaks down any cliques that may have formed within the year group, and fosters acceptance and connection.
Real girl power – beyond slogans and stereotypes
This workshop explores the history of feminism. What does empowerment and the “sisterhood” mean to us today? This workshop also encourages young people to find their voices and use them to speak up about issues that matter to them.
Gratitude
Gratitude is linked to greater happiness, a more positive outlook on life, stronger social bonds and support networks, and higher achievement. The session is packed with practical tips and hints, and offers a positive new approach to boosting our authentic thankfulness.
Be a dollar diva
Saving money, mobile phone plans, credit cards, business plans – all savvy girls need to know how to manage their finances. This workshop teaches girls how to be cash smart and how to avoid financial pitfalls.
Get it together
Managing time, prioritising, organising your space and your work, problem solving, thinking creatively – these are all skills that help improve performance at school and in the workplace. This workshop focuses on developing these skills and on learning to use them to your advantage.
Stop, I don’t like it
Setting personal boundaries, safe partying, handling inappropriate text messages, managing conflict and using the internet safely – these skills are all vital. This workshop focuses on what’s right and what’s not right and how to tell the difference.
Keep calm and journal on!
Your students will create their own journals in which they can reflect and reshape their futures (and begin to unpack the meanings we attribute to the symbols that surround us). This workshop also allows for informal conversations, peer bonding, and uses art as therapy. The finished journals are also beautiful and powerful “take aways” from our events.
Chill out
Relaxation, visualisation techniques, massage and more.In this workshop we encourage your students to seek balance in their lives and teach them some skills to achieve it. Warning – some young people have felt so relaxed, they’ve drifted off to sleep ( which is, of course, the highest possible praise for the session).
Testimonials from students
It was the best thing that the school has ever done for me. I have been battling with an illness for over 3 years. I have been in and out of hospital and not at school very much. Luckily I made it to school the day Enlighten came. Danielle’s story touched me and I really felt I could understand where she came from. I have been through hell and back and been picked on, neglected and left out because of my sickness. I hate it but the day really helped me and gave me more confidence. I would just like to say thank you for everyone’s hard work and tell you how much it is appreciated.
Today I ate dinner, and kept it down… Thank-you. You changed my attitude, the way I look at myself, the way I eat, the way I handle bullying and most importantly, you changed my life! Your workshop was amazing and so are you!
I can’t thank you enough for coming to our school today and talking to us. The day was a million times better than I thought it would be and I enjoyed it so so much. You are both inspirational and two of the funniest people I have ever met. I love that you both care so much for us and our well being, we won’t forget it. We will take your knowledge, experiences and tips with us way beyond high school and to when we are mums! You are both so gorgeous and wonderful and funny and I absolutely loved your talks, guidance and advice from today. I could tell you had put a lot of thought and effort into our day and we all really appreciated it. Words can’t describe how much fun we all had together. Thank you thank you thank you :).
It was truly valuable and so great to hear. Love yourself (not a bad thing), believe you are beautiful and then you are, be organised, be aware of everything around you.
I loved all of it! It inspired me in so many ways and taught me a lot be proud of who you are, don’t change your image because your friends do, be what you want to be I had fun seriously!
Thank you so much for coming to our school today! Your stories were an inspiration to the whole group. Your realistic information was to the point, precise and easy to remember, humorous, too, which made it fun and will remind us what to do in a sticky situation . . . Your effort that you put into making all girls around the world feel good about themselves is astounding, you make us take a step back . . . and appreciate who we really are, and be happy for that. Thanks for teaching us, helping us, laughing with us, sharing the good times and the bad, and preparing us for the future. Your knowledge will be irreplaceable.