What is EmpowerHer?
EmpowerHer uses hands-on, interactive modules—such as self-care rituals, strengths identification, collaborative challenges, and community outreach—to transform research-based concepts into practical skills. Through these activities participants build confidence, resilience, optimism, agency, and a renewed sense of purpose, aligning with PERMA’s goal of helping adolescents thrive emotionally, socially, and academically when facing life’s challenges.
The curriculum includes five modules—Self-Care, Identifying Strengths, Goal Setting, Group Challenges, and Community Outreach—each designed to foster growth, connection and empowerment. Sessions are hands-on, creative, fun and peer-driven, featuring self-reflection, team-building, personal goal-setting, games, crafts, journaling and optional caregiver engagement to reinforce learning.
By incorporating mindfulness, peer engagement, leadership opportunities, and community outreach components, EmpowerHer promotes emotional stability and social connectedness – both key predictors of long-term success and life satisfaction. Its strong theoretical foundation, flexible structure, and youth-centered design make it a promising pathway for helping adolescent girls develop resilience, agency, and lasting well-being.
Module Contents
The curriculum contains five modules. It follows the PERMA model by introducing positive emotions in Module 1, deepening engagement through personal strengths and goal setting in Modules 2 and 3, cultivating relationships in Module 4, and fostering meaning in Module 5 through community service.
Sample activities include:
Self-Care
MODULE I. SELF-CARE – CULTIVATING EMOTIONAL REGULATION AND WELL-BEING
- Crafts: Bath Balls, Candles, Clay Mugs
- Snacks: Power Bites, Savouring Drinks
- The Worth Within, Mindfulness Gratitude
Strengths Discovery
MODULE II. STRENGTH DISCOVERY – IDENTIFYING PERSONAL STRENGTHS AND RESILIENCE FACTORS
- Clifton Strength Finder, Strength Stars, Superheroes
- Strength Quest, Scavenger Hunt, Power-up Challenge
- Discovering Strengths, Epxloring Powers
Goal Setting
MODULE III. GOAL SETTING – DEVELOPING SELFEFFICACY THROUGH ACTIONABLE GOAL PLANNING
- Habit Quest, Vision Board, Habit Hero Challenge
- Habit Heroes, Goal Setting, Goal Achievement
- Self-Care Habits, Building Resilience
Team Building
MODULE IV. GROUP CHALLENGES – ENHANCING TEAMWORK, PROBLEM-SOLVING, SOCIAL CONNECTION
- Trust Challenge, Bridge of Strength, Quest
- Chain, Tower Crafts, Escape Room
Empowered Impact
MODULE V. COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROJECTS – CREATING MEANING THROUGH SERVICE
- Passions, Strengths, Overcoming Challenges
- Plans in Motion, Celebration, Reflection
Sample activity:
Worthy of Care Bath Balls
Theoretical Background:
The theoretical foundation of EmpowerHer is rooted in positive psychology, integrating resilience-based strategies with Dr. Martin Seligman’s PERMA model of well-being—Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment.
Designed for adolescent girls, the program combines evidence-based practices such as mindfulness, cognitive reframing, and goal setting, with creative, peer-driven activities that foster empowerment and personal growth.
Grounded in research, EmpowerHer builds on strength-based interventions proven to enhance confidence, emotion regulation and social connectedness (Baum et al., 2013; Sibinga, 2016). The curriculum develops key resilience traits—competence, confidence, connection, character, coping, control, and contribution—aligning directly with the PERMA focus of thriving (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1995).
Progress is measured using validated tools, including the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, ensuring outcomes are both measurable and meaningful.
