Free Being Me is an educational initiative from the

World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS ) is a global association that supports Girl Guides, female-oriented and female-only Guiding and Scouting organizations in 153 countries. It was established in the year 1928 in Parád, H ...

, supported by

Unilever Unilever PLC () is a British multinational consumer packaged goods company headquartered in London, England. It was founded on 2 September 1929 following the merger of Dutch margarine producer Margarine Unie with British soap maker Lever B ...

's Dove Self-Esteem Fund, established in 2013, which encourages a positive

body image Body image is a person's thoughts, feelings and perception of the aesthetics or sexual attractiveness of their own body. The concept of body image is used in several disciplines, including neuroscience, psychology, medicine, psychiatry, psycho ...

and

self esteem Self-esteem is confidence in one's own worth, abilities, or morals. Self-esteem encompasses beliefs about oneself (for example, "I am loved", "I am worthy") as well as emotional states, such as triumph, despair, pride, and shame. Smith and Macki ...

, The programme aims to strengthen children's body confidence and

self-esteem Self-esteem is confidence in one's own worth, abilities, or morals. Self-esteem encompasses beliefs about oneself (for example, "I am loved", "I am worthy") as well as emotional states, such as triumph, despair, pride, and shame. Smith and Macki ...

through interactive activities, designed by experts in body confidence. The programme has reached over 6 million girls and boys from over 101 countries since 2014.

Free Being Me Activity Packs

The Free Being Me activity packs, targeted at 7-10 and 11-14 years olds are available in 18 languages and can be downloaded freely in English, French, Spanish and Arabic from the group's website. During Free Being Me sessions girls learn to stand up to social pressures, value their bodies and challenge beauty stereotypes promoted in the media. Girls also have the opportunity to do a 'Take Action' project where they engage with others to pass on the body confidence message, promoting a healthy body image to their friends and community.

Programme in the UK

Free Being Me is run through the Peer Education programme in the UK(Previously known as "4"). Girls aged 16-25 attend Regional or National training where they are trained to deliver sessions on the Free Being Me topic to girls. The sessions are designed to cover Brownies (age 7-10) and Guides (age 10-16). There is not currently a programme for older girls. The programme is delivered over 2 or 3 sessions typically lasting 90 minutes each. The initial session covers "What is the Body Myth" with the second session covering "Breaking the Body Myth". Girls can choose to take the activities further and spread the message of what they have learned on body image to other girls, by doing so they can earn the Free Being Me badge.

References

External links

*{{official, http://www.free-being-me.com World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts