While programmatically On the Move may appear to be
just another program, conceptually it is much more.
It is based on the premise that some girls and young
women are missing out on recreational opportunities
due to various covert and overt societal barriers. On
the Move provides an alternative program model that
can reach out to those females the current system is
not serving.
The On the Move concept is guided by four principles:
On the Move is conceptual, not
prescriptive.
Structured time-lines and rigid program design have
been purposefully avoided to allow each community
to respond to the unique needs and interests of girls
and young women. This has allowed On the Move programs
to reach a wide demographic of participants –
pre-teens, teenagers, recent immigrants, Aboriginal
peoples, those living in poverty, and other inactive
females.
On the Move is participant-driven.
On the Move depends on collaboration between service
providers and participants. Girls and young women
have a wide variety of skills, needs and interests.
Involving them in program planning and implementation
will directly contribute to success and provide participants
with positive experiences upon which to develop a
foundation for active living.
On the Move is programming for
who is not there.
While the existing sport and physical activity system
serves many girls and young women and provides them
with positive recreation experiences, the majority
of girls and young women are considered inactive.
Therefore, On the Move programs are designed to attract
inactive girls and young women and provide them with
positive experience.
Between the ages of
12-19, girls are significantly less active than
boys, with 64% of girls compared to 48% of boys
considered physically inactive.
(2001/2002 Canadian Community Health Survey)
On the Move is not based on supply
and demand.
Since many girls and young women have had little experience
or have had negative experiences with sport and physical
activity, they are not likely to demand more of the
same programs, nor are they in a position to demand
programs which do meet their needs. The end result
is a lack of recreation programs for this group. Service
providers need to find other success indicators to
support special efforts like On the Move.
Sydney Millar
National Program Director Canadian Association for the Advancement of
Women and Sport and Physical Activity
N202-801 King Edward Avenue
Ottawa ON K1N 6N5
Tel: 613 - 562 - 5667
Fax: 613 - 562 - 5668
CAAWS
appreciates the financial support of the Public
Health Agency of Canada and Canadian Heritage,
Sport Canada
