Greetings!

Last week the GSGC team, along with our mentors and partners, gathered in Victoria Falls for our annual Mentors Meet Up. Kalinda reflects beautifully on the week below, but what always moves me most is the rare sense of family that lives within this circle.

This was my third Meet Up, and once again I was blown away by the depth, attentiveness and quiet commitment each mentor carries into their community. Some arrived holding recent losses. Others were worried about family at home. And yet every single person showed up fully — to celebrate the work, to learn together, and to honour the legacy they are building.

Time together deepens trust, sharpens our shared vision, and reminds us that none of us are doing this work alone.

We were also able to host an in-person launch of The Myth of Manhood by Nyika Muyambo at Priscilla’s home — a warm and intimate gathering filled with friends and long-time supporters. At one point I looked across the room and saw Sunga and Lunda, two mentors from Zambia, completely absorbed in the book. Throughout the week, you could feel how deeply Nyika’s story inspired the team.

Each mentor returned home with copies for their clubs, and already young people are reading — fully engrossed in the story of one of their own. A few mentors have even been inspired to begin writing their own stories. So watch this space. The Voices of Transformation series is only just beginning.

Maliki: Rising From the Shadows

Maliki was just a young girl when her life was torn apart. In Grade 7, her father—the family’s sole breadwinner—passed away suddenly, leaving her mother to care for Maliki and her siblings alone.

Maliki explains how the mentorship changed the way she saw herself. “The mentors didn’t just talk to us; they believed in us. They taught me that I could be more than my situation. I learned to be strong, to be confident, to speak up, and to dream big — even when life was hard”

Today, Maliki stands as a beacon of hope. “When I look back, I see a girl who refused to give up, even when everything said she should,” she says proudly.

Maliki far right

Mentor Moments - your questions answered

One of our readers asked:

When the problems seem so large and insurmountable, trying to bring about positive change in society, the environment and in people's minds. How do you stay motivated? What keeps you going?

“As a mentor, I have the opportunity to experience the process of change through mentorship, the growth and shift in minds, people and communities. The change I have seen motivates me to continue even when it gets difficult. The picture of the future enables me to be resilient and stay the path. I have also accepted that it is not quick work. Change can feel slow, but it will be happening and the results will tell. The stories of change in the lives of girls, boys and my whole community keep me going.” -

Mentor Procedure Chikosi, Girls Time Club, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe