Mentors Connect, Empower and Transform at 2024 Meet Up

“This meet up gave me an opportunity to be revitalized and energized to continue. It always gives me a platform to learn more and become better as l empower girls in my community. It helps me have a wider view of the impact of our programs, challenges varying from community to community and an opportunity to share and learn what has worked well and not. It was a beautiful time with a family that cares so much about what l care deeply about and it’s always refreshing.” ~ Mentor Procedure, Girls Time Club, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Re-evaluation, personal learning, forward planning and data gathering were front and centre this year.

Clubs came prepared for each Agenda topic. For the curriculum discussion, each shared its outline for the year, including a list of topics, activities and measurement tools. The goal was to find topics and activities common to everyone. Included in these exercises were presentations by

Mentors with expertise and experience in common themes:

• Gloria and Racheal from Believe Club spoke about Education;

• Prisca and Sarah from Mugurameno Girls Club about English Literacy;

• Fwilane from Project Luangwa about Menstrual Hygiene;

• Procedure and Mercy from Girls Time about SRHC (sexual and reproductive health care);

• Prosper and Nyika from Sisonke about Boys for Girls, and

• Ndlelende from Tikobane about Conservation and Environmental Awareness

Mentor Nyika leading a session

Mentor Gloria in a session with other mentors

Mentor Fwilane

Mentor Prosper discussing with another mentor

Mentors Racheal and Gloria from Believe Girls Club presenting

Mentors Fwilane, Nyika and Gloria in a group

Mentor Kangwa smiling with Fwilane behind him

MEL co-ordinator Kalinda presenting

A mentor writing notes

One key area of focus was M&E (meaningful evaluation and learning). Setting goals and then measuring progress towards these requires monitoring. Mastering the skills associated with this takes time. GSGC Mentors have had expert input and training from US-based volunteer Kate Wilson and from Kalinda Zimba Muyembe. GSGC now employs Kalinda in part to continue M&E training and manage data collection. She presented at the meet up, and also conducted one-on-one sessions with each club. These helped Mentors understand the links connecting their curriculum and daily activities to impact measurement. Each GSGC club is required to complete detailed quarterly reports, a challenging exercise. In her tutoring sessions, Kalinda also helped Mentors understand what information to include in their reports.

Mentors Thandi and Talent with MEL co-ordinator Kalinda in a group

Mentors Patrick, Sara and Prisca

Mentors Mercy and Racheal

Mentors playing and game at Furusa's

Mentor Prosper presenting

Mentor Thembi presenting

Monitoring and Evaluation Kalinda writing notes

But the time together was not just about learning. Equally important was looking back as a community and congratulating each other on the journey walked together, the impact made on youth and communities and the growth of the GSGC Mentor Network. This included reflection on whether the current vision, mission and values were still in keeping with GSGC goals. It also included reviewing the key Fundamentals of the GSGC Network. As well, the group tackled the topic of its alumni. Central to their deliberations were the programming and curriculum best suited to supporting alumni. Young women and men need to plan their next educational steps, apply for financial support and enroll in desired college, university or trade programs. GSGC’s new Alumni Mentorship Centre will play a major role in working with alumni in these areas.