• What we Do

High school education is an important foundation for African youth to transition into the workforce.

At-risk adolescent girls need additional support to move from a mindset of marginalization to one of empowerment – support like access to information which broadens her frame-of-reference around possibilities and access to 21st Century skills, life skills, and the level of mentoring which guides transformative leadership.

The Global Give Back Circle leverages resources at partner high schools, the time and talent of role-model mentors and the support of the local community to provide girls with skills, confidence, and networks to succeed in the labor force and as entrepreneurs.

Our Impact Model

Global Give Back Circle places at-risk adolescent girls in a circle of economic empowerment. The four parts of the circle provide girls with the skills and resources needed to participate in the new economy, give back to their communities and transition into independent young women.

Global Give Back Circle delivers high-impact, grassroots, sustainable interventions in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and Ghana, while also tapping into a global pool of skills, talents, and resources, by leveraging communication technology as a platform for giving back.

Alumina Association

A team of Global Give Back Circle Alumina who implement programming at a local level.

Mentor Circle

Women role models, local and international, who commit to a mentoring process that supports local and long-distance mentoring.

Local Champions

Members of the local community who actively support the economic empowerment of women and girls.

Innovation Hub

The operational arm of Global Give Back Circle, supporting program design, process design, networks, partnerships and governance.

Our Approach

Economically Empower at-risk Adolescent Girls to Transition into Independent Young Women

The youth population in Africa is rapidly expanding and youth employment in Africa is a global priority. With job scarcity, in cultures where boys are given priority to education, girls need additional support to become economically empowered and secure employment. Focusing on at-risk adolescent girls by helping them continue their education, providing them access to life skills, leadership skills and workforce-readiness skills, and connecting them to dedicated mentors is at the core of everything we do.

Embed a Give Back Ethos

Large foundations do not hold a monopoly on philanthropy and giving back. Giving back is a privilege we all share. Giving back does not discriminate. It is the one thing everyone, no matter how poor or marginalized, can take part in.

Our Give Back Commitment Model is designed to embed benevolent leadership behaviors by guiding girls on the ‘how’ of designing a meaningful Give Back Project, along with a process for follow through and measuring impact. Every time a girl successfully implements her Give Back Commitment, she experiences real empowerment.

Engaging Local Players, Private Sector & Governments in the Solution

Local players support programs when they are stakeholders in achieving the desired outcomes. Private sector organizations value programs which engage their employees as agents of change. Governments value programs which are aligned with their mission. Our holistic process is designed to engage local players, private sector and governments in the solution so that everyone feels a sense of ownership in success.

Integrate Role-Model Mentors into the Process

Aligning mentoring programs to the economic empowerment needs of at-risk adolescent girls, provides mentors with the level of structure and support they need to mentor with purpose. To enable mentors to walk with their mentees over a multi-year journey, our programming is designed to constantly deepen mentor engagement.

Currently, we are supporting mentor chapters in 31+ private sector organizations, Microsoft, SAP, Google, KPMG, Deloitte, PwC, Intel and Citi among them.

Support additional programming for the Unique Economic Empowerment needs of Rural Adolescent Girls

25% of the world’s population is comprised of rural women. Their economic empowerment opportunities cannot be ignored. Guiding this extremely marginalized population into fulfilling work is complex and there are no existing roadmaps. ‘Her Lab’ is an Economic Empowerment Incubator located in West Pokot, Kenya. It is a post-secondary school, 12-month, 21st Century Skills Program, providing rural adolescent girls access to bridge-to-employment opportunities. They become role-models for ‘transformational leadership’ as they give back to their communities in ways which ensure all rise as they rise. They board at ‘HER Lab’ and gain skills in Leadership, Digital Literacy, Coding, Financial Literacy, Reproductive Health, Entrepreneurship, Agriculture, Beadwork, Sewing, Plumbing and Electrical.

Incorporate ‘Digital Divide’ and ‘Women in STEAM’ Interventions in everything we do

COVID-19 magnified the discriminatory realities of the Digital Divide. The mobilization of laptops to our beneficiaries enabled them to continue their college education without compromise. For girls still in high school, our IT Labs ensure their schools have access to computers and internet connectivity, and our partnerships with Microsoft, SAP, KPMG, and Penn State University provide online curriculum which expands their frame-of-reference to opportunities for women in the STEAM fields. For our beneficiaries, the ‘A’ in STEAM stands for ‘Agriculture’, an untapped pathway for creative and profitable entrepreneurship in Africa.

Our Partners

The Global Give Back Circle works with partners who are aligned with our mission to support a world of gender equity through the mentorship, education, leadership development and economic empowerment of at-risk adolescent girls.