Mentoring and empowering young women

Gardens Commercial High School pupils hosted a graduation ceremony for the mentoring programme Girls for Girls South Africa.

A total of 34 mentees and three mentors (educators) took part in this programme, which cultivates leadership skills and instils courage and vision in young women, empowering them to take on positions as change-makers in society.

The 6-week programme was facilitated by mentors and educators Shaameyah Abrahams, Nikita Hendricks and Zita Scheepers.

Girls for Girls is a Harvard Kennedy School-born programme established by a group of post-graduate students and their professors, who recognised that women are being held back from leadership positions.

The programme was introduced globally, and Gardens Commercial High is one of the cohorts for 2024.

Female mentees go through a 6-week programme to engage with influential leaders across various professions to encourage them to take on leadership roles in the public sector.

Each Girls for Girls mentee who attends at least 4 out of the 6 sessions graduates into a network of strong women leaders globally, and new members are welcomed daily.

In collaboration with Girls for Girls, Gardens Commercial High School also launched a sanitary drive for girls needing vital hygienic items. These items include sanitary pads, tampons, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, and lotion, and they will be donated to girls in need.

Donations can be dropped off at the school in Paddock Avenue in the city centre or email Ms Abrahams at sabrahams@garcom.co.za for more information