What We Do
Girls Lead Change consists of a structured leadership curriculum, mentoring relationships supported by tools and community, Sustainable Development Goals-aligned community projects, and both virtual and in-person convenings. These elements provide participants access to a supportive ecosystem with the experience to guide and support girls to develop and implement successful leadership strategies in their schools, communities, and future careers.
Program Approach
The program begins with identity and belonging work to establish a foundation of confidence, voice, and healing-centered support. The 6-6-12 journey includes a 6-week Identity and Wellbeing Intensive, a 6-month Leadership Skills Deep Dive with specialization tracks in Entrepreneurship Leadership, Political Leadership, or Technology Leadership, and a 12-month Community Service cycle where girls design and lead Sustainable Development Goals-aligned projects in their local communities.
Topics addressed by the program include but are not limited to: identity formation and cultural grounding; mental health literacy and resilience practices; leadership competencies including critical thinking, decision-making, collaboration, and advocacy; entrepreneurial mindset and financial literacy; understanding power structures and governance; public speaking and debate; digital literacy and cyber safety; community mobilization and project design; and measuring social impact.
Although this leadership ecosystem draws on participants who have access to internet technology and virtual platforms, its reach extends to girls further marginalized by limited connectivity, economic barriers, and geographic isolation. The program provides resources for both virtual and in-person engagement and works through local implementation partners who deliver programming in culturally relevant and accessible formats. The model is designed to be low-tech adaptable, utilizing simple tools and materials that can function in diverse contexts.
Success of the network is contingent upon active engagement from partners, mentors, girls, and alumnae. While Girls Lead Change provides the curriculum, tools, training, safeguarding standards, and global backbone support, partners and participants contribute local knowledge, cultural adaptation, community networks, and ongoing feedback to make the ecosystem mutually beneficial and sustainable.
Girls Lead Change collaborates with an array of partner organizations, many of which have existing relationships with women’s networks, youth development organizations, education systems, and community-based initiatives. Partner organizations include schools, youth-serving nonprofits, women’s networks, wellbeing and mental health organizations, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics organizations, and community-based organizations building learning hubs and entrepreneurship ecosystems.
