Question & Answer Interview with Island Girl Power Program Director Juanita Blaz

1. What is your mission (goals & objectives) at Island Girl Power? 

Mission

Our mission is to decrease the occurrence of teen pregnancy, suicide, substance and sexual abuse amongst young girls. 

It is also our mission to promote and encourage positive self-esteem with mentors and positive role models in the community and offer positive activities for young ladies to make healthy lifestyle choices, while inspiring environmental stewardship, cultural, and community pride.

Vision Statement

Our vision is to create an environment where girls ages 7 to 14 can feel safe and confident in their ability to make healthy lifestyle choices, and create positive change in their lives and the lives of others. We want girls to know just how special they are here at Island Girl Power! We also emphasize the importance of Positive Role Modeling and Volunteerism in our community.

IGP’s Community Messages

“Island Girl Power” means… The Power

·       for females to choose a future with goals and dreams to achieve.

·       to be confident, accepting of one’s self and other’s uniqueness.

·       to seek happiness and enjoy the adventure in life.

·       to expect kindness, faithfulness and respect in future relationships.

·       to take a stand against Tobacco and Alcohol Company Support and Sponsorship of Youth         Programs and Family Events.

·       to Speak Out against the Exploitation of Women and Girls through inappropriate media promotion           and exposure to youth of sexual images in advertising.

We know we can’t change the island overnight, but we can make it better, one girl at a time!

Island Girl Power Objectives

Improve the awareness for girls ages 7-14 years of social issues and build their skills to resolve them.

Strengthen girls’ self-esteem and connecting them with a support network of mentors and role models.

Facilitate activities that foster civic responsibility and respect for cultural diversity.

2. What specific services does Island Girl Power provide? 

Due to the recent completion of the renovation, construction, and expansion of our facilities in Dededo we will soon be able to provide more services to the community. 

Kurason Ysengsong is the result of more than 10 years of working in Dededo to raise awareness of the social issues in the community.  We are now in a couple of abandoned buildings that were known for housing squatters and skippers from the nearby middle school. Through our collaboration with many wonderful organizations, we brought hope and inspiration to the surrounding residents.  

IGP 3R’s Thrift Store - Help support Island Girl Power’s Kurason Ysengsong Compound, our programs and the planet by supporting our thrift store.

The second building provides more opportunities to partner with various organizations, agencies, school clubs and cultural associations with access to this great building. Everything from fundraisers, workshops, classes and training events are possible with these expanded facilities.

IGP Family Enrichment Center - The Center will assist with strengthening our collaboration with prevention organizations, agencies, cultural and school groups. Groups may coordinate with us for use of our facilities to conduct workshops, classes, training sessions, fundraisers, and so much more.  In addition, information will be available to help build the community’s awareness of social issues and the resources that are available.

Our third building embodies the core of our program: Island Girl Power’s Girls’ Club House. This unit is designed to be a multipurpose training facility with an art workshop, cooking & nutrition, literacy, sports areas, media room and a teen resource center. We look forward to being able to provide these services to more young ladies because of our new facilities.

IGP Girls’ Club House - Our members are girls 7-14 years of age. We schedule classes, workshops and activities year round. Our objective is to offer positive alternatives that empower and educate our members

The fourth building aims to expand our environmental efforts. We are excited to help the community of Guam by promoting Community Gardening. This building will help us facilitate several gardening projects in the village of Dededo and beyond including our community garden, demonstration garden, adopt-a-park project, edible landscaping, earth buckets and rain gardens.

IGP Community Gardens & Parks Building- This unit will house our equipment and supplies that will be loaned out to schools and organizations for gardening projects, fitness programs etc… We will also be able to conduct composting, nursery, and mulching workshops in this building.

IGP Community Gardens- located behind three of the buildings, we will construct our first Community Garden. We anticipate between 15-20 lots that will be available for community members, organizations, and clubs to rent out annually to garden for themselves in Spring of 2014

The same activities are available at Girls Club Houses in Malesso and the Guahan Charter Academy School sites.

3. Who is your target audience?

We work with girls ranging from 7-14 years old.

We also work very hard to build leadership for people ages 15 and older to be Positive Role Models, Mentors and Advocates for girls. 

4. What are your hours of operation and what is the best way for people to reach you that are interested in assistance? 

KURASON YSENGSONG, Dededo - We have limited hours due to moving in and unpacking.

We are asking for volunteers to participate in an Unpacking Day on February 1, 2014 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Please call for a tour and/or directions (671)-688-4752

If you wish to volunteer or sign up a young lady for membership please call our site manager, Sandy Yee at (671)-797-0885.

Contact us via email at islandgirlpower671@gmail.com

Call our IGP cell (671)-688-4752 or call Ayuda Foundation Office (671)-473-3003.

5. In addition to direct services, what resources does Island Girl Power offer? 

School Presentations on:                                                                                              

·  Making Better Choices                                                                

·  Keeping Youth Programs Positive-Choosing Sponsorship            

·  Environmental Stewardship/Positive Volunteerism

·  Service Learning Opportunities on Guam 

·  Island Girl Power Management Training

·  Avoiding Dating Violence- Let Your Heart Rule

·  Self Defense Classes

6. Thinking about current events, how do you foresee recent events in your field of work affecting your organization and its work? 

We have always stressed the importance of self-defense, empowerment and building self-esteem in our girls and their families. In regards to men and boys we know that more can always be done to help us with them. The recent events just cause us frustration because we are not currently open. 

7.  Can you discuss your community partnerships and how they contribute to the overall success of Island Girl Power individually. 

We rely heavily on our network of Prevention partners. It is through them that we are able to bring reputable workshops, classes and sessions on topics such as Victims Rights, Sexual Assault 101, Dating Violence Prevention, Teen Health, Red Flag & Green Flag, SafeTalk & ASIST, Suicide Prevention and so much more.

8. Can you touch on the history of Island Girl Power and how the organization is set up?

IGP is a Program of The Ayuda Foundation officially known as CONTINENTAL MICRONESIA, INC. / ASSOCIATION OF PACIFIC ISLAND LEGISLATURES MEDICAL MISSIONS FOUNDATION. 

The Ayuda Foundation was established April 1996.

Island Girl Power was established 2001.

The Ayuda Foundation Purpose

The specific and primary purpose of this corporation shall be to organize medical relief teams and provide supplies for medical treatment, education and missions to the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and such other jurisdictions as may be determined by the Board of Directors.  

Additionally, the Ayuda Foundation and its Board of Directors revised its Articles of Incorporation and By Laws in 2010 to include prevention and awareness campaigns in Guam and The Marianas Islands, also expanding disaster relief efforts to include The Islands in the Philippines.

Island Girl Power was created in 2001 with the leadership of Carlotta Leon Guerrero and Shannon Murphy to address the issue of the high teen pregnancy, suicide, sexual assault and substance abuse rate in our community. 

We are set up as a program under the Ayuda Foundation. We operate under their Board of Directors and we have our Advisory Board, Program Director, Project Managers, facilitators, volunteers and members.

9. Any upcoming plans or projects that our island community should be aware of?

IGP Moving In Unpacking Day - February 1, 2014 from 9 a.m. -2 p.m.

IGP / United Community Garden Set Up Day- February 22, 2014 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Thrift Store Opening- Mid-February 2014 (Saturdays). 

10. Why do you think the work you do is important to our island community and the world at large (very obvious question, but I feel this is extremely important to ask)? 

The work we do at Island Girl Power is important because although we are a very developed island in the Pacific our young girls are constantly given mixed messages regarding relationships, substance abuse, suicide and so many other self image issues. 

Guam has some of the highest stats in the U.S. with regards to teen pregnancy, suicide, sexual assault and family violence. This a direct correlation with our record breaking consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and other mind altering substances.

We also feel it is our responsibility to take the lead to develop programs that fit our island’s girls and communities, which will allow us to address the issues of women's rights, empowerment, and assault prevention for our sisters in Micronesia and the rest of the Pacific.