Josie’s Garage is an innovative program specific for “females only” aged 12 to 18 years that is supported through the Saskatchewan Lotteries Trust Fund, The Community Initiatives Fund and the City of Saskatoon. The program is designed by the participants with a balance of life skills, recreation and cultural activities/events. Youth mentors are utilized to assist with coordination of activities/events based upon interaction and consultation with their peers. Mentors are rotated so that the experience can be had by those interested in gaining new skills and additional incentives such as a bus pass, swim ticket and positive memories.
The activities and events planned and attended provided positive alternatives, in addition other relevant issues were addressed through workshops, community outings, referrals and mainly through counseling from program staff as a result of the relationships established. Participants in the program have become their strongest support for each other as they recognize that they are not alone in their issues or feelings.
Through participating, the girls find that they can do things they did not believe they could, or they had never contemplated. One example of this is an event where Josie’s group and their counterpart, Joe’s Garage, took scuba diving lessons; the girls were excited and proud of their accomplishment. Other sessions included rock climbing, tobogganing, ice fishing, painting, soccer, boxing, hip hop and making dream catchers.
Josie’s Garage program allows for the alleviation, for a time, the stresses and limitations for all participants as a result of most often their socio-economic situation which is the normal circumstance of their lives. Josie’s Garage program alleviates these stresses in order to afford participants opportunity for positive personal growth, while at the same time to just have fun and be kids.
