Redefining Beauty, an area program that helps young girls to empower themselves, wrapped up their season at the Rock Cut Pub last week.
The group was celebrating the past eight weeks of the program which mainly focussed on Trail students.
Next year the program continues with the eight week timetable, which gives the new members more time to get comfortable with it. Last year, they ran it for only four weeks.
River Jones, who co-ordinates the youth program, said that this has been a big year especially since they got a $15,000 donation from Teck, which she said ensures the program can continue.
They also have a new focus on training the trainer, so that the new people coming in will train the old.
The members of the group present were Macaulay Morton, Ally Unti, Mandy Fudge, from Freedom Quest, Alexa Matthes and River Jones.
Jones said that it helps to have Freedom Quest involved, because it gives those who need more help than Redefining Beauty can give the chance to get it.
“It goes above and beyond that, for those that want to talk band are ready,” Jones said.
Morton said that the group has been mostly focussed on grade 7 students, but would be opening up to 8 - 12.
Everyone involved agreed that the program is beneficial and being involved has helped them.
Unti said that it helped her to become a lot more comfortable.
Morton agreed, saying it was a good feeling to feel like you’re adding something to the world.
“You learn a lot about yourself along the way,” she said. “You get a sense of direction about lifestyle goals.”
Fudge said the program is an amazing outlet for female youth in the area, and empowering because it is peer-led.