Club Feature: Sungomukoshi Girls Club
- GSGC
- Jul 23
- 6 min read
Meet the Mentor
Sunga Mwila is a youth mentor, arts educator, curator and community development practitioner based in Livingstone, Zambia. Through Sungomukoshi Girls Club, which operates under Friends of Change Foundation, she combines mentorship and the arts to help teenage girls develop confidence, resilience and life skills.
A practising mixed-media artist and Fine Arts graduate, Sunga believes every young person deserves a safe place where they feel seen, valued and encouraged to discover their potential. Having experienced the transformative power of mentorship herself, she is passionate about creating spaces where girls discover not only what they are capable of, but also the value they can bring to others.
When asked what mentorship means to her, she doesn't talk first about the weekly activities or the lessons they teach.
Instead, she says:
"For me, the true measure of mentorship is not what happens during a Saturday session, but what girls choose to do when they leave the safe space."
That philosophy runs through everything at Sungomukoshi Girls Club.
The Ripple Effect of Mentorship
For Sunga, the success of the club isn't measured by attendance or activities. It's measured by what girls choose to do with what they've learned.
She immediately thinks of Martha Kestern Muchanga, who joined the club in 2020 as a Grade 8 learner. Through mentorship, Kestern developed confidence, emotional intelligence, leadership skills and a strong sense of self-awareness. Today, she tutors six children in reading and writing in her community, a programme she has expanded to include crafts, talent shows, team-building activities and educational outings. While preparing for tertiary education and studying computer skills, she continues to mentor younger girls at the club.
Martha's journey reflects the heart of mentorship, not simply changing one life, but inspiring young people to become leaders who invest in others. When Sunga sees Marth, she sees a young leader who has discovered that her greatest gift is investing in others.
For Sunga, Martha's story represents the true success of mentorship.
"It's not simply about changing one life. It's about inspiring young people to become leaders who invest in others."
Tell us about Sungomukoshi Girls Club.
Sunga:
"Sungomukoshi Girls Club is a safe space dedicated to empowering teenage girls through holistic mentorship, creative expression and life skills education.
The club is based in Livingstone, Zambia, and was established in 2013 by Agness Yombwe, originally under the name Wayi Wayi Girls Club for Enrichment. Today we mentor 17 girls aged between 13 and 19 from six different schools across Livingstone.
We're equally proud of our 15 alumni. Many are now studying, employed or running their own businesses, but they continue returning to encourage and mentor younger girls. For me, mentorship isn't only about preparing girls for the future. It's about helping them thrive today."
What inspired the name "Sungomukoshi"?
Sunga:
"The name comes from the Bemba proverb 'Sungomukoshi ubulungu tabwayafya,' which means, 'Protect your neck; beads (wealth) are easy to find.'
To us, it reminds girls that their character, dignity and wellbeing are far more valuable than material possessions.
Many girls in our community face challenges such as poverty, teenage pregnancy, bullying, school dropout and negative peer pressure. Through mentorship and positive role models, we encourage every girl to invest in herself first. Sungomukoshi has become a reminder that while opportunities and success may come later, protecting who you are today is your greatest investment."
What do the girls enjoy most about the club?
Sunga:
"Art lies at the heart of our mentorship approach. We use creativity as a tool for self-expression, healing, learning and personal growth.
The girls love drawing, painting, crafts, singing, dancing and role play. Educational trips are another highlight because they expose them to opportunities beyond their own communities, while activities with the boys' club teach mutual respect and collaboration.
We also have meaningful conversations about healthy relationships, leadership, communication, financial literacy, goal setting and decision-making. These discussions help the girls reflect on their lives while building practical skills for adulthood."
If someone visited the club for the first time, what would they notice?
Sunga:
"They would notice the warmth.
There is always music, dancing, laughter and conversation, but most of all there is a genuine sense of belonging. Every girl is welcomed, heard and respected.
I am not just their mentor. Depending on what they need, I'm their mother, sister, teacher, role model, counsellor or confidant. We intentionally create a space where girls feel safe to ask questions, make mistakes and grow without fear of judgement.
Many of our sessions end with me pleading with the girls to go home because they simply enjoy being together. Over the years, the club has truly become a home away from home."
What challenges do girls in your community face, and how does the club help?
Sunga:
"Poverty remains one of the greatest challenges affecting many of our girls. It can lead to school dropout, early pregnancy, transactional relationships and limited opportunities. Many also struggle with low self-esteem, bullying and peer pressure.
At our safe space, we believe lasting change begins with self-awareness. Before girls can decide where they want to go, they first need to understand who they are.
Through mentorship, counselling, life skills and creative expression, they gain the confidence and practical tools to navigate life's challenges. We also expose them to new careers, professionals and opportunities so they begin to realise that their circumstances do not define their future."
Can you share a moment when you realised the club was making a difference?
Sunga:
"I immediately think of Chipo Moyo.
Chipo grew up in a single-parent household and wasn't able to pursue tertiary education immediately after school because of financial challenges. Although she applied unsuccessfully for a GSGC scholarship, she refused to give up.
Today she is in her third year at David Livingstone College of Education. Along the way she was crowned Miss DALICE before winning the Miss Personality title at national level.
One of my proudest moments came when Chipo returned to her former secondary school for teaching practice. We shared the same staffroom alongside teachers who had once taught her.
Recently, one of our mentees asked Chipo to help prepare her for a pageant. She gladly mentored her and that young girl went on to win Second Princess at the National Arts Secondary Schools Competition.
Watching Chipo return to lift others is one of the greatest rewards of mentorship."
How do the girls support one another beyond club meetings?
Sunga:
"One of the most beautiful outcomes of the club has been the sisterhood the girls have built.
They study together, help each other with schoolwork, celebrate achievements, comfort one another during difficult times and check in whenever someone is struggling.
Perhaps our greatest success is that they no longer rely only on the mentors. They have become one another's support system."
What achievement makes you most proud?
Sunga:
"Our greatest achievement is seeing our girls become leaders and role models.
Several alumni are now studying, building careers, running businesses and returning to mentor younger girls.
When yesterday's mentees become today's mentors, we know the impact is lasting."
What are your hopes for Sungomukoshi Girls Club?
Sunga:
"My dream is for the club to become a recognised centre of excellence for girls' mentorship.
I hope we can reach many more girls, strengthen our alumni network and create even more opportunities in education, leadership, entrepreneurship and the arts.
Above all, I hope every girl leaves believing that her circumstances do not determine her future, and that she has the confidence, skills and support to pursue her dreams."
How has GSGC supported your journey?
Sunga:
"The support from the Global Sojourns Giving Circle has been transformative.
Their financial support has enabled us to provide structured mentorship, creative learning materials, educational visits and life-skills programmes that many of our girls would otherwise never experience.
Beyond funding, GSGC has connected us to a global network of mentors and organisations, encouraging innovation, collaboration and continuous learning.
Most importantly, GSGC has helped ignite hope in the hearts of our girls. They have shown them that someone believes in their potential, and that belief has encouraged them to dream bigger, aim higher and become trailblazers within their families and communities."
The Ripple Effect
Listening to Sunga, one theme emerges again and again: mentorship is measured not by the conversations that happen during a Saturday club meeting, but by the choices young people make long afterwards.
Whether it's Martha teaching children in her community, Chipo returning to mentor the next generation, or alumni continuing to support one another years after leaving school, Sungomukoshi Girls Club demonstrates what happens when young people are given a place where they feel seen, valued and believed in.
The ripple effect extends far beyond the walls of the club. Each girl carries that confidence into her family, her school and her community, creating new opportunities not only for herself, but for others too.
For Sunga, that is the true measure of mentorship. It isn't simply about changing one life. It's about inspiring young women to become leaders who invest in others
