Empowering Girls in Livingstone: The Heart of Believe Club
- GSGC
- Apr 30, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 16
Believe Girls Club Foundation in Livingstone, Zambia, originally launched as Girls Stand Up, was created to empower adolescent girls. The club was started by an inspiring community leader, Kareen Shawa, but Gloria Mubita stepped in as CEO when Kareen went to work for the United Nations Development Program in Kenya. The role initially felt daunting, Gloria said. But Priscilla Plummer, founder of Global Sojourns Giving Circle, said, That simple encouragement sparked a new path for Gloria and became the guiding message she now shares with every girl:
Today, Believe Girls Club is a vibrant, supportive club where more than 60 girls gather regularly. About 15 alumnae frequently return to share their experience and advice, and another 15 are currently in university or vocational school, living proof of the club’s long-term impact.
“We’ve seen real sisterhood here,” says Mentor Gloria. “The girls who are in universities come back and help the ones who are still in school. There’s just this unity, this love.”
From Experience to Mentorship
Gloria’s journey into mentorship was shaped by her own childhood. Growing up without her mother, she often had to navigate important milestones alone, including menstruation.
“I didn’t have anyone to talk to,” she says. “That experience inspired me to work with youth, especially adolescent girls.”
After completing school, Gloria volunteered with local organizations and studied psychosocial counselling. Her deep empathy and resiliency earned her the title of Today, along with Believe Mentors Racheal Musonda Ng’andu and Lunda Mwelwa, Gloria continues to champion a vision of mentorship grounded in listening, learning and believing in girls’ potential.
“Mentorship isn’t just about advice,” Gloria says. “It’s about walking alongside the girls and helping them see what’s possible.”
Real Talk, Real Lives
A core value at Believe Girls Club is girls openly sharing their challenges, fears and hopes confidentially and respectfully. Mentors Gloria, Racheal and Lunda all agree: honesty is the foundation of trust and healing. Feeling safe enough to share inner thoughts and feelings is especially important given the challenges so many girls face. Early marriages, teen pregnancies, gender based violence, and drug use are common among girls in economically distressed communities. “We talk about everything: periods, relationships, self-esteem. Nothing is off-limits,” says Gloria. Mentor Racheal emphasizes how powerful these conversations can be. “People might be surprised by the depth of emotional healing that takes place,” she says. “Our girls feel safe enough to share their struggles and triumphs.”
Lunda adds that applies to Mentors, too. “We help each other through our personal problems,” she says. “It’s like we’re sisters.” Being consistent, present and available are what mentorship means to this trio. “It’s about being someone who believes in the girls even when they don’t believe in themselves,” says Gloria. Racheal agrees. “Being a mentor means being a bridge between where a girl is and where she can go. It’s a privilege to walk alongside these incredible young women.”
Strength and Hope: Dedication That Inspires
The girls’ dedication to the club is a constant source of inspiration, Mentors says. Lunda mentions a girl with a heart condition who never misses a session, even when she is unwell.
“The club gave her hope and a place where she felt truly seen,” Mentor Lunda says.
Mentor Racheal tells the story of Namwila, a once-shy girl who now hosts a local radio show. “Hearing her on air, speaking boldly and passionately, reminded me of the power of mentorship,” says Racheal.
The club also has a rich network of alumnae who regularly visit to inspire other girls to pursue their dreams and finish their education. Evelyn, an alumna who found her passion at the club, studied teaching and now has a job as one of the few qualified teachers to be posted in a full-time position. Her story is featured on the GSGC Talk Radio Podcast, From Club Mentor to Qualified Teacher: Evelyn’s Inspiring Story.
And, Charity Chipolopa, who is now studying in Lusaka and working part-time as a Global Sojourns Giving Circle intern collecting and analyzing Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning data.
These Believe club vignettes are just some that illuminate the deep impact of a safe, nurturing environment, where girls not only grow but thrive.
A Legacy in the Making
Mentor Gloria and her team are committed to growing the club in a thoughtful, sustainable way that will ensure that each girl receives the personal attention she needs and deserves.
The club also aims to become a broader resource for the community. Gloria envisions a space where any child, not just club members, can come to reveal or discuss issues or seek guidance, comfort and relief. By partnering with local organizations, the club hopes to be a trusted hub for child protection.
“As Mentors, we help guide children through the reporting process and connect them with the right authorities to ensure their safety,” Gloria says. “We want all children to feel safe and supported.”
Conservation, a Core Value
Set in a region rich in wildlife and natural beauty, Believe Girls Club also incorporates conservation into its mission. Through visits to local conservation sites and talks by environmental experts, the girls gain a deeper understanding of biodiversity, human-animal conflict, climate change and the importance of protecting natural resources.
“We want our girls to be stewards of the earth!” says Mentor Racheal.
Changing Communities, One Girl at a Time
Believe Girls Club is far more than an afterschool program. It’s where girls learn, connect and imagine bigger futures. They leave not only with greater knowledge and confidence but with the belief that their voice matters.
“Believe Girls Club is changing communities, one girl at a time,” says Mentor Racheal. “When one girl finds her voice, she influences her family, her school and her future. We’re investing in generations.”
