ECHO is a leadership /mentoring program for high school girls in their sophomore or junior year. The adult mentors are committed to developing leadership skills in young women and encouraging them to pursue post-secondary education and plan for the future. Two adult women mentors and two youth leaders serve in each site, working one-on-one and in small groups with the young women in a year long program that includes a series of interactive educational sessions, day long retreats, college visits, guest speakers, field trips and community action projects.

• ECHO is designed to encourage education beyond high school.

• ECHO promotes leadership skills.

• ECHO allows time for girls to learn and practice public speaking

• ECHO encourages goal setting and empowerment.

• ECHO graduates can become Youth Leaders and have the opportunity to co-facilitate session activities for the ECHO Leadership program, Will Power/Won’t Power, Friendly PEERsuasion and/or Smart Choices program.

Why a mentoring project?

Mentors play a vital role by inspiring the teens to maintain interest in school and see the link between their studies and their futures.

By drawing upon their own life experiences, the mentors provide a living example of the importance of post-secondary education, particularly for students who do not have access to anyone else they know with firsthand experience of what it is like to go to college.

Is the Mentoring Program successful?

As young women look to make decisions about college, health, jobs and careers, the mentoring provides them valuable support by hearing from women who went through the same decision processes.  The young women who participate in the ECHO Leadership program consistently express their satisfaction with the end result of the program.  The young women feel that the program has helped them think about their future and goals. They are more driven and confident that they will attend college.

We are currently working in 6 high school Alisal High School, Soledad High School, Greenfield High School, Gonzales High School, Seaside High School and Monterey High School.

Interest in joining
For more information please contact the Girls Inc. of the Central Coast office
(831) 772-0882.