Avesta Housing’s mission means more than placing people in safe, quality, affordable homes. It also means connecting residents with the resources they need to succeed.

A new program from the Girl Scouts of Maine, A Place for Girls, provides a good example. A Place for Girls is an afterschool skill-building and leadership program at West End in South Portland. Up to 75 girls ages 5 to 17 from West End, Brick Hill, and the community will engage in the Girl Scout Leadership Experience through hands-on activities in STEM, entrepreneurship, life skills, the outdoors, and more. They will also be granted Girl Scout memberships at no cost, and up to five participants will be provided scholarships to attend an overnight Girl Scout camp this summer.

The girls’ families will also benefit from the program — parents and caregivers will be given the opportunity to attend English Language Learning courses, connect with potential employers, create a community garden, and increase their financial literacy. Resident Services Manager Nick Kjeldgaard has been hard at work planning the program with Girl Scouts of Maine, and resident service coordinators Heather Snide, Nadia Cyuzuzo, and Melissa Grabler will help get the word out about the program.

At Avesta, we are committed to helping our young residents succeed by connecting them to resources that will benefit them academically and socially. This program has the potential to instill skills that will benefit the participants, their families, and future generations. We are grateful to Girl Scouts of Maine for providing this opportunity.