Some of the Shoalhaven’s younger residents are on a better path after attending an Empower Me camp recently.
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The event was hosted by Nowra resident Nikki Morris.
A full time preschool teacher, Nikki is a body image movement ambassador for Embrace, a documentary by celebrity Taryn Brumfit who travelled the world to promote positive body image.
Twenty-two girls aged between nine and 12 years attended the camp in Jervis Bay and participated in team games focusing on building positive body image, self-esteem and resilience.
A team of volunteers, including Nikki, an occupational therapist, crossfit instructor and a yoga teacher all lead the girls through a range of activities.
Nikki spoke to the girls about self esteem, body image, bullying, healthy eating and most importantly, what it means to be a good friend.
“How to be a good friend was one of the biggest things we talked about, and the importance of including people and making them feel valued,” Nikki said.
“A lot of the girls that went to the camp have already got some self esteem issues, some of them don’t know how to make friends, deal with bullying and they worry about what they look like and what others think of them.
“We sat down in a ‘safe zone’ and talked about what they wanted and sometimes that can be hard but once one person opened up, that made it easier for others and that’s why it’s so important to have these programs because they don’t have the opportunity anywhere else.”
Nikki sights are now set on turning Empower Me into a not-for-profit organisation over the next two years.
She plans to continue delivering workshops to children in the local region at a low cost.
The program will be available for both boys and girls, particularly those in the nine to 12 age bracket.
“That age is right before they start high school, their bodies are changing and they’re getting those concerns and doubts about themselves,” Nikki said.
“I also want to make sure it’s an affordable program for all families in the local region because it’s so important no-one misses out.”
Nikki will be hosting a fundraising lunch on November 12 at Silos Estate.
The Ladies Lunch will run from 12 noon and include a two course meal. Tickets are $50 each.
Nikki said she’s been “overwhelmed by community support” already and encouraged everyone to grab their tickets by November 1.
“I know where I want Empower Me to go but it’s not just about what I want. I want to ask the community what they think we need and how I can meet their needs so this lunch will be a fantastic opportunity for that,” Nikki said.
“I want the community to come together and realise this is an important issue and if we don’t tackle it now, we’ll see bigger issues in high school. We can’t ignore it, we need to start talking about it.”
To purchase tickets to the Ladies Lunch contact Nikki on 0400 024 639 or empowerme2015@outlook.com by November 1.
For more information about Empower Me, or to make a donation, head to https://www.chuffed.org/project/empower-me-community-project# or visit Empower Me on Facebook.