It is a stressful time for young girls having to watch racial inequality and police brutality protests on TV every day.

“Many parents have been confronted with troublesome questions from their children based on what they have seen or heard from a variety of sources,” says officials of The Jean Augustine Centre for Young Women’s Empowerment, who are reminding young girls that they have rights, skill and can think critically.

“They can contribute mightily to the fabric of society, according to their interests,” the Centre says.

“Many parents have a hard time explaining to their kids that a Black man was killed by a white police officer,” they explained. “How to explain that this was not unusual, but rather the last straw that propelled first the city where it happened, then many cities in the U.S.”

How does a parent explain to a child who asks about the violence occurring at these peaceful demonstrations, the statement asks.

The Centre, which has programs online and has launched a Go Fund Me page after losing a sponsor, says young girls are having a tough time due to the COVID-19 and a lack of school, sports, cultural activities or maybe parents having lost jobs.

“The prevalence of racism is more than an imbalance between individuals,” the Centre warns. “It is like a virus that has spread through layers of society.”

Systemic racism, they say, can only be overcome with knowledge of history, understanding of social dynamics, respect and empathy for others.

“This is a time for us to have the uncomfortable conversations with our friends, neighbours and colleagues,” they told the young women. “We commit to the ongoing work this requires because Black Lives Matter.”

The Centre offers a variety of free after-school programs for girls ages 7-17 living in South Etobicoke. Programs run between September to June.

Jean Augustine served as the Liberal MP for the Etobicoke Lakeshore area from 1993 to 2006.

The Centre can be reached at jeanaugustinecentre.ca