At Holy Cross Social Service Society, we believe that education is the foundation for empowering children and creating lasting social change. We are committed to providing quality learning opportunities for Indigenous and rural children, particularly girls, enabling them to develop knowledge, confidence, leadership, and essential life skills. Through innovative, child-centered programs and safe learning environments, Holy Cross Social Service Society nurtures a love for learning while equipping children to become confident, responsible, and compassionate leaders who contribute positively to their families and communities.
Empowering Girls Through Social Emotional Learning:
Holy Cross strengthens the social and emotional well-being of Indigenous and rural girls through GLOW Clubs. These safe and supportive spaces help girls build confidence, develop essential life skills, enhance foundational learning, and stay connected to education. The program empowers girls to make informed decisions and thrive in school and in life.
Glow Clubs
Holy Cross Social Service Society implements Girls Leading Our World (GLOW) Clubs to empower adolescent girls with the confidence, knowledge, and leadership skills needed to reach their full potential. Through a structured curriculum grounded in Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), girls participate in engaging sessions on self-awareness, communication, leadership, gender equality, health, financial literacy, goal setting, and community engagement. The clubs provide a safe and supportive space where girls build resilience, strengthen decision-making skills, and gain the confidence to overcome challenges, continue their education, and become active leaders in their communities.
Program: Strengthening Children’s Voices Through Stories and Learning
Holy Cross runs LitClubs to help Indigenous and rural children build strong reading and writing skills, express themselves with confidence, and develop the “7 Strengths” of courage, kindness, and resilience. Through joyful storytelling, creative activities, and supportive group learning, LitClubs help children discover their voice and stay connected to education.
Lit Clubs
Holy Cross Social Service Society promotes literacy and a lifelong love of reading through LitClubs, creating joyful and inclusive learning spaces for children in underserved communities. Through read-aloud sessions, storytelling, creative writing, group discussions, and interactive literacy activities, children improve their reading, writing, comprehension, and communication skills. LitClubs also encourage creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and empathy, helping children develop the confidence to express themselves while fostering a lifelong passion for books and learning.
Through engaging activities, such as storytelling, group discussions, read-alouds, creative expression, and collaborative projects, LitClubs help children develop confidence, empathy, resilience, and effective communication. The program is especially impactful for first-generation learners, who often face educational barriers in remote tribal villages.
LitClubs also foster strong community involvement by engaging parents, teachers, and caregivers, ensuring that children receive encouragement both at home and in school. By keeping children connected to learning, imagination, and positive relationships, LitClubs help them thrive in school and gain the skills they need to succeed in life.
Memory Keepers Project
The Memory Keepers Project inspires children to preserve and celebrate the memories, traditions, and cultural heritage of their families and communities. Through storytelling, interviews with elders, creative writing, artwork, photography, memory journals, and collaborative memory quilts, participants document meaningful life experiences while strengthening connections between generations. The project nurtures literacy, creativity, communication, and cultural pride, helping children recognize the value of their heritage and ensuring that important stories and traditions are preserved for future generations.
As participants collect stories, they transform each memory into a Memory Keepers Quilt Square using drawings, colors, symbols, and words. These individual squares are brought together to create a Community Memory Keepers Quilt that represents the shared history, experiences, and strengths of the community. More than an art project, the quilt serves as a lasting symbol of connection, belonging, resilience, and hope, celebrating the voices and memories that shape future generations.
World Read Aloud Day
Holy Cross Social Service Society celebrates World Read Aloud Day each year to inspire a love for reading and highlight the importance of literacy among children and young people. Through community read-aloud sessions, storytelling activities, book-sharing events, creative discussions, and interactive learning experiences, children are encouraged to develop reading habits, improve literacy skills, and express their ideas with confidence. The celebration also brings together parents, teachers, volunteers, and community members to promote the joy of reading and reinforce the belief that every child has the right to read, learn, and thrive.
Local Summits:
Holy Cross Social Service Society organizes Local Leadership Summits to bring together adolescent girls from different GLOW Clubs to learn, connect, and inspire one another. Each summit focuses on a key theme, such as confidence, determination, leadership, resilience, goal-setting, or community engagement, helping participants strengthen their leadership and life skills. Through motivational sessions, interactive workshops, group activities, and peer learning, girls build self-confidence, enhance communication and teamwork, and develop practical skills to become active leaders and changemakers in their schools and communities. The summits also provide a platform for girls to celebrate their achievements, share experiences, and inspire one another to create positive change.