Girl Pro Africa: On the mission to transform the lives of African female undergraduates
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Lola Ayanda, Founder Girl Pro Africa. |
Ignorance is no longer an excuse because Girl Pro Africa(GPA), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) is championing female empowerment offering top-notch learning and development opportunities. Female undergraduates can avail themselves of opportunities to grow presented to them by Girl Pro Africa. With a vision to ensure female undergraduates reach their full potential and think critically and innovatively, Girl Pro Africa serves as a haven to access experienced mentors, counsellors, mental health specialists and other resources.
Founded by Lola Ayanda, Girl Pro Africa is committed to seeing African women actualise the future they envision. This NGO partners with stakeholders in the education sector to formulate policies that favour African female undergraduates. At Girl Pro Africa, the goal is to help females rise above their challenges and barriers to attain leadership positions in their different spheres of influence.
Sharing similar values on women empowerment, Omote Ro Dhe was drawn to Girl Pro Africa, and we had a chat about her mission and vision, projects, accomplishments, success stories, future goals and more. Read excerpts from this interesting conversation below:
1. Can
you tell us more about Girl Pro Africa's mission and vision? What inspired the
creation of this organisation?
As
a woman born and raised in Nigeria, my personal and professional experiences
inspired me to found Girl-Pro Africa (GPA). Working with multinational
charities and grassroots organisations, I encountered many young girls who
could have achieved better life outcomes if they had access to mentors and
confidantes to guide them through the challenges of growing up. What started as
an online safe space has become a full-fledged non-profit organisation. GPA's
mission is to empower and mentor the next generation of African female leaders
and professionals. We connect young women to career and personal development
opportunities through a unique mentor-mentee program.
By
pairing mentees with experienced female goal models, we aim to give young
African women a great head start, personally and professionally. Our mentors
provide invaluable advice, support, and encouragement to help mentees make wise
decisions and reach their full potential. By investing in young women today, we
believe we can create a brighter future for them, their communities, and the
continent.
I
am most fulfilled when I see a girl make informed life choices and maximise her
potential. As girls navigate adolescence to womanhood, they face the challenge
of moving through physical, psychological, sexual, and emotional development
with a healthy sense of self intact. Girl-pro provides a protected
mentor-mentee safe space for the adult woman and the girl/young woman to
connect through shared experiences.
GPA's
mission is to empower African female undergraduates through transformative
learning experiences to cultivate their full potential and drive positive
change in society. Our vision is a world where there is a supportive
environment for African female undergraduates to thrive academically,
emotionally, and professionally, becoming leaders who shape a more equitable
and inclusive world.
We believe every woman should have access to experienced mentors, counselling, mental health support, and other valuable resources to help them achieve their full potential and become critical thinkers and innovators.
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Coach Eghosa Gbadegesin, Certified Accountant speaking with the girls on Money Management |
2. Could
you share some insights into the e-Mentorship program? How does it benefit
female African undergraduates, and what support do mentors provide?
The
principles of transformative learning guide the GPA e-mentorship programme.
This approach focuses on helping individuals undergo a profound shift in their
understanding of themselves and the world around them. In a world of ‘black
otherness’, we believe that true learning must start from a place of
self-discovery.
Some
topics discussed include decolonising the mind, self-esteem, work ethics, money
management, goal setting, personal branding, a High-performance mindset, the
art of public speaking, emotional intelligence, and more. The girls have
reported improved self-confidence and esteem, rediscovery of self, resilience,
networking, and communication and interpersonal skills.
The
essence of this programme is to empower learners to develop critical thinking
skills and the ability to solve real-world problems. To achieve this, we have
curated a multi-faceted learning experience:
§ 2-Day Boot Camp
Participants
immerse themselves in an intensive 2-day boot camp, packed with interactive
sessions designed to challenge their perspectives and ignite new ways of
thinking.
§ Weekly Reading &
Reflection
Throughout
the programme, learners engage in weekly reading assignments and reflection
activities. This encourages them to deeply internalise the lessons and apply
them to their own lives.
§ 3-Month Intensive
Learning
The
programme's core is a 3-month period of intensive, hands-on learning during
which learners receive personalised guidance from an experienced mentor in
their field.
§ Continuous Development
Support
Even
after the structured learning phases, participants will continue to receive support
and resources to sustain their growth and development. This ensures that the
programme's impact extends well beyond the initial experience.
By combining transformative learning principles, practical skill-building, and long-term support, the GPA e-mentorship programme aims to empower the women we serve to become agents of positive change in their communities and the world around them.
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Mental Health conversation by certified therapist- Coach Rhoda Olarewaju |
3. Psychosocial
support is a crucial aspect of your organisation. How does Girl Pro Africa(GPA) help
students navigate the challenges and stresses of university life?
University
life can present unique challenges that can impact the academic performance of female
students, especially in the African context. Aside from personal issues like
domestic and family responsibilities, many young African women face additional
obstacles during their higher education journey.
To
help navigate these challenges, Girl Pro Africa provides bespoke mental health
support through certified therapists. Over the years, we have assisted young
women in dealing with issues such as:
§ Domestic abuse
§ Academic stress
§ Difficult interactions
with lecturers
§ Depression, particularly
among unemployed young women or those whose studies are disrupted by frequent
university strikes.
By
offering this specialised mental health support, Girl Pro Africa aims to
empower African women to excel in their academic pursuits. We recognise that
addressing the unique needs and challenges faced by female students is crucial
for their success and personal growth during the university experience.
Through
professional counselling and guidance, Girl Pro Africa helps African women
develop the necessary coping mechanisms and resilience to overcome the various
obstacles they may encounter, ultimately enabling them to thrive in their
academic endeavours.
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4. What
are some success stories or notable achievements of Girl Pro Africa in helping
women achieve their full potential?
Below
are some testimonials, and here is a link to audio testimonials:
The
mentorship programme is life-transforming and impactful. When I started my
mentorship program with Dr Funmilayo, she offered me an HR assistant role in
her organisation. I improved my presentation and research skills. I also learnt
how to be diligent, committed, time conscious, and respond appropriately to
emails, amongst other things. My time with my mentor helped me improve my
interpersonal skills. All her encouraging words and commendations on my
deliverables have helped me in my day-to-day life as a student. I enjoyed every
Sunday night reflection session with the Girl Pro secretariat, where we
discussed each code in the book 'Success Code for Millennials'. The book opened
my eyes to so much helpful information now and in the future. The mentorship
program was the highlight of 2022 for me. Federal University of
Technology, Abeokuta.
Vita
Moltedo was assigned as my mentor, and she was more than that to me; she was a
mother, a teacher, a sister and a friend. She asked me deep questions. I
wouldn't ask myself these questions on a typical day; she taught me how to face
my fears, leave my comfort zone, and identify opportunities. My mentor said,
and I quote, "You do not have to feel bad if you have applied for
something before and you didn't get it; you can apply again". This
encouraged me to reapply for the She Code Africa Laptop Scholarship I won and
got a laptop.
I
also learned to optimise my LinkedIn profile and write a good CV. Girl Pro also
gave me beautiful sisters. Being in a safe space with women and hearing them
share their views is enriching. It has been an awesome journey, and I am so
glad I joined the community. I enjoyed every bit of the programme, from the
Sunday night reviews to the game and one-on-one sessions with my mentor. I have
become a better person and begun to share the things I have learnt with my
siblings, parents, and friends. – Olajumoke Dare, University of Lagos
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Snapshot from one of GPA's virtual sessions |
5. What
are your future goals and plans for Girl Pro Africa? How do you envision the organisation's
impact growing in the coming years?
By
2030, we aim to significantly expand our e-mentoring and psychosocial support
programs to reach more young women across Africa; currently, we are serving
women in Nigeria, Ghana and Liberia. We will collaborate closely with key
stakeholders in Africa's education ecosystem to co-create transformative
learning policies and spaces that unlock opportunities for young women.
We
are actively seeking partnerships with like-minded organisations who share our
mission of transforming education and empowering the next generation of female
leaders on the African continent. Together, we can make a lasting impact and
create a more equitable future.
6. What
advice do you have for young girls pursuing purpose but seem confused if they
are on the right path?
A purposeful woman is one who has come to the realisation that
she has not been created solely for herself. As a result, she will not be
overly consumed by her successes or unduly distressed by her failures. Purpose
is not a fixed or static concept; rather, it is constantly evolving in line
with God's desires for humanity.
Therefore, a woman who feels confused or uncertain about her
purpose should turn to the Creator to seek guidance and direction. Oftentimes,
we are tempted to rely on the advice of those around us, but the answers we
truly need lie within. We live in a world that is increasingly noisy and
distracting, so women on a mission to fulfil their purpose must learn to tune
out the noise. In the quietness, they can gain clarity and the strength to move
forward.
Crucially, it is important not to let others define success or
purpose for you. These are highly personal and subjective concepts, and until
we identify what they mean to us individually, we may struggle to live a life
that can be truly described as "well spent." I would advise
conducting a thorough self-audit, critically reflecting on what truly matters,
and performing a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis
using the Ikigai concept.
Ikigai is a Japanese concept that refers to a person's "reason
for being"—the things that give their life meaning, purpose, and
fulfilment.
The key aspects of ikigai are:
·
Finding what you love
(your passion)
·
Finding what you're
good at (your mission)
·
Finding what the
world needs (your vocation)
·
Finding what you can
be paid for (your profession)
The intersection of these frames one's purpose. As Edmond Mbiaka
eloquently stated, "Peace of mind always comes with knowing who you truly
are, where you currently stand, where you positively need to be, and strongly
believing in its possibility.”
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