The Circle Program provides girls from low-income New Hampshire families with new opportunities to learn the skills, courage and confidence they need to handle the challenges in their lives. We do this through a unique combination of adult and peer support that is delivered through our year-round mentoring and residential summer camp programs.
The Circle Program’s philosophy is closely aligned with Positive Youth Development, which emphasizes building assets and skills. Positive Youth Development, a research-based approach (Lerner et al., 2005), focuses on promoting healthy developmental potential and outcomes.
The goals, referred to as the 6 C’s, seek to:
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Enhance social, emotional, cognitive and vocationalcompetence
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Improve self-esteem, self-confidence and self-efficacy
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Build and strengthen connections with other people and institutions
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Enhance character development through increased self-control, decreased involvement in risky behaviors and respect for society’s rules
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Increase capacity for caring through empathy and identification with others
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Give girls opportunities to belong and “give back” through community service; their contribution.
These 6 core principles provide the foundation for the Circle Program’s summer camp and year-round mentoring programs.