Yes, you Are Valuable.

It’s Tuesday afternoon. We’ve played a fun getting to know you game in which each person draws a “would you rather…” question from a bucket. Think along the lines of “Would you rather eat a stick of butter or a litre of ice cream?” Or “Would you rather read people’s minds or know their future?”

At one point I ask the rhetorical question to the class of grade 8 girls, “Do you ever find yourself wondering “Do I matter?” It’s almost as if I’ve asked them to solve a complex math problem. Nearly all their faces drop, go pale, their eyes dart towards the floor.

I’ve hit the nail on the head.
Well, more like God has hit the nail on the head.

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In preparing for this class of SHINEgirl, I continually felt the question arise “Do I matter?” It wasn’t a question I was asking myself, but one I felt these ladies were asking of themselves. It’s not entirely surprising, it’s the question I remember asking myself time and time again during high school.

Of course, hindsight it 20/20. Over the last few weeks I’ve been very challenged in my own thoughts about whether what I do for my work matters, whether I am a good enough friend or family member, and whether

This is indeed the same question that is at the heart of this group of 15 teenagers.

SHINEgirl classroom at a Brisbane high school.

SHINEgirl is a unique development and mentoring tool designed to inspire teens to become effective global citizens for the future. It's foundational concepts are:
I have WORTH.
I have STRENGTH.
I have PURPOSE.

This is my first time lead facilitating a SHINEgirl journey, but I’ve already been involved in a few schools helping co-facilitate the lessons.

This week, the curriculum focused on WORTH and how it isn’t something we can earn or get taken away from us by life circumstances. Just like if you were to take a $20 bill and fold it in half. It’s still worth $20. Or if it was crumpled and stepped on, the $20 would still be able to buy me four coffees. Our worth doesn’t change. We are born with it.

Along with worth, when ladies are able to recognize worth, their unique identity and that when they value something they want to take care of it. So we talked in small groups of 5 students and one leader about what makes each of us unique. It’s often easier to notice these qualities in another person, yet harder to see in ourselves.

The practical way we took care of ourselves, and what we value, was in taking care of our hands. This seemingly small part of our bodies is used for so much: waving, writing, cooking, playing sports, etc. In turn we should care for our whole selves in the same way. Each teen had the chance to exfoliate her hands, wash them, and massage them with yummy coconut lotion.

A simple, yet straight-forward way of showing each young lady is worth taking care of.

Next session, we’ll keep focusing on the WORTH principle of SHINEgirl, with an emphasis that we are all unique, wonderfully made and get to express our individual personalities through things like how we eat or wear our hair. 

SHINE uses Biblical truths while not being overtly Christian in its lessons in an attempt to get teen girls to realise their potential and their dreams.  The curriculum for the program was developed by Hillsong Church, and is used in dozens of nations around the world in typical school settings as well as more rural environments.