Making healthy connections with racialized communities

This report examines the healthy living experiences of girls and young women from diverse ethno-cultural communities, and provides practical recommendations to enhance programme and service delivery for this important target group.

Based on focus groups with girls and young women, and practitioners On the Move is a national initiative designed to increase the participation of inactive girls and young women (ages 9-18) in sport and physical activity, led by the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS).  On the Move is designed to enhance sport and physical activity programme delivery for girls and young women by increasing awareness of their needs, interests and experiences; and sharing promising practices, success factors, challenges and solutions to enhance existing or develop new programmes.

Since 1994, On the Move has worked at the organizational level to increase awareness about the barriers girls and young women confront to participation, and how to create positive programmes and inclusive environments for this  target group. The proven On the Move concept advocates for fun, female-only, holistic health promotion programmes where girls and youngwomen can develop their skills, create new friendships, and build a foundation for life-long healthy active living.