Girl-only programs a top priority for youth in Cumberland
A SURVEY has shown young girls in Cumberland are missing out on key recreation activities but a small and determined group are hoping to change that.
Parramatta
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TEENAGE girls living in Cumberland are missing out on key recreation and sporting activities due to a lack of gender-specific programs.
A youth-needs assessment of 900 young people, conducted by the council, identified female-only programs as a gap in the service. Twelve per cent of responders mentioned it as their top priority.
A small but determined group of volunteers is working to open facilities up for the area’s youth, one ball or book at a time.
“I was approached by so many girls who all had the same feelings but couldn’t do anything about it,” Zakia Housaini, 19, said.
“I figured I may as well start something to help girls in the area feel included.”
Key barriers to participation identified in the study included feeling unsafe travelling to programs, cultural differences and feelings of discomfort participating in mixed-gender programs.
Putting their heads together, these girls from Merrylands have come up with several ideas, including indoor netball and soccer programs as well as a tutoring club, but are encouraging more girls to come forward.
“I think it's a matter of girls just getting out and making experiences,” Ms Housaini said.
“It all starts with having the understanding of what we need and then the right resources.”
She joins a group of ambitious young people in the area as part of the Cumberland Youth Collective who are developing a youth strategy for the area.
One in five people in the Cumberland area are aged from 12-25.
They are inviting feedback from all members of the community through workshops and survey available at Shape Cumberland’s Facebook page.
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