The YMCA of Three Rivers received a 2024 Community Grant to support their program, Safe Sisters. This is program is a free, weekly drop-in program for girls and female-identifying youth that builds belonging, confidence, and life skills through meaningful conversation, shared meals, and creative activities.
The program ran in three locations: The Guelph Y, The Grove in Fergus, and at Shelldale. Each session includes a healthy meal or snack, a fun activity, and open conversations about important topics and concerns that matter to them. These topics include challenges affecting youth, like social media, body image, bullying, mental health, and world issues they see online. Activities like crafts, games, or mindfulness help build connection, while youth leaders guide conversations.
Since starting in January of this year, Safe Sisters has offered a welcoming space for youth. In YMCA’s internal survey, youth gave high scores for feeling like they belong (84/100), feeling accepted (87/100), and overall satisfaction (89/100). One participant said, “It helped me realize I am important and can be confident in myself and I deserve to be here.”
This grant helped cover staffing, space, meals, and supplies, ensuring each session could be delivered with care and consistency. Thanks to the success the program has had so far, a private donor has also come forward to help fund the program throughout 2025, proof that Safe Sisters is truly making a positive, lasting impact on local youth!
Delivering community programs like Safe Sisters has always been a collaborative process, and the Y’s team loves getting to work with amazing local partners like CMHA WW, The Grove Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario, Guelph Wellington Women in Crisis, and more. Starting this fall, The Y is excited to host even more amazing programming in the newest Grove Youth Wellness Hub location at the Guelph Y. The new hub will house programs like Safe Sisters, drop-in rec sports, Alternative Suspension and more. Watch @thegrovehubs.ymca for more info!