A POWERFUL MENTOR SUMMIT

Last month, 16 mentors from 24 girls and boys clubs in three countries converged on Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe for the largest ever GSGC Mentor Summit.

For two action-packed days, they shared their most effective approaches and activities for educating and empowering the girls and boys they work with. All departed full of new ideas and an even stronger sense of being part of one big family.

The summit was not all work. Attendees visited local GSGC clubs. They also enjoyed dancing, singing, a late-night swim and trips to Victoria Falls and the big Banyan tree.

After the summit, GSGC Founder Priscilla Plummer observed, “The ground has shifted.”

“It’s not us to them any more,” she said. “We are all at the table. We shaped this model together and they own the vision. Together we are creating a network that is expanding.”

Kalinda Zimba, Yosefe Girls Club, Mfuwe, Zambia

The mentors — from Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa — exchanged tips on record keeping, monitoring and evaluation, accounting, paperwork for parents and guardians and how to handle emergencies. They talked about GSGC values and expectations and the importance of good community relations. And they offered feedback on a new toolkit each will eventually receive as a reference and guidance resource.

GSGC will remain a close, trusted partner of each club, Priscilla said. But now, the mentors are leading the way.

“They have a hunger to share and learn from one another,” she said. “They have so much talent. Sure, they could still use ideas and trainings. But they have so much knowledge, and they’re taking the reins.”