Each year, FEC awards grants to help fund select community programs. One of last year’s recipients is Feed My Sheep. Feed My Sheep’s most successful program to date is its PEARLS program, which stands for Poised, Educated Adolescents Reaching for Life’s Successes. PEARLS is a program that reaches out to 9-14 year girls in the community to build their self-esteem and encourage them to make responsible choices.
The program consists of eight components beginning with an orientation meant to give participants and their parents an idea of what the PEARLS program is all about.
The second component of the program is called Mind Over Matter: Attitude/Behavior. The focus of this step in the program is to help the girls establish and maintain a positive mindset and outlook on life.
The third component, Inside Out: Image, then helps the girls use this new mindset to combat negative images and unrealistic body expectations perpetuated by the media.
The fourth component, BAM (Body and Mind) teaches the participants healthy lifestyle habits pertaining to eating right and exercising.
The fifth component focuses on literacy and is entitled Read to Lead: Language and Financial Literacy.
The sixth step in the program is called Mind Your Manners: Etiquette and teaches the participants manners that will benefit them in all situations in life.
The seventh component of the PEARLS program is called Up Close and Personal: Communication, which teaches participants communication skills through role playing and group discussions.
Lastly, the program ends with a celebratory ceremony for the young PEARLS to acknowledges all of their achievements and encourage them to use these skills in life.
