Communications | Mentorship | 15th July 2024

Have you ever been inspired by someone whose mentorship created a ripple effect, empowering not just you but others through you? At GLAMI it’s inspiring to see young women, who are GLAMI alumni, making a significant impact in our communities while empowering the next generation of leaders through our programs.

At GLAMI, through the Kisa Program, we mentor secondary school girls to realize their full potential and become socially responsible leaders who transform their lives and those of their communities. The success of the Kisa Program is evident through our alumni, who represent the change we strive to see in our communities. Many of these alumni return to GLAMI, transitioning from mentees to mentors, eager to positively transform the lives of other girls, just as their own lives were transformed.

Incredibly, 70% of GLAMI mentors are alumni of our Kisa Program, and 62% of the entire GLAMI staff are Kisa alumni who work tirelessly to cultivate socially responsible leadership in young women in our programs. This statistic highlights the profound and lasting impact of our mentorship program, but most of all the ripple effect of Mentorship as most of our Kisa Program Alumni transit from becoming Mentees to becoming Mentors. 

Idda Joseph, a Kisa Program alumna from Arusha Secondary School (Class of 2014-2016), exemplifies this transformation. Mentored by Chausiku Mkuya, now a Program Associate at GLAMI, Idda found inspiration and comfort in mentorship. Today, she mentors girls in both the Kisa and Binti Shupavu Programs, helping them believe in their potential and reach for their dreams. 

Reflecting on her journey, Idda shares, “I feel proud of myself for transitioning from a Kisa Mentee to a Program Mentor at GLAMI. I have a passion for seeing young girls achieve their dreams, and my mentor’s confidence and support inspired me to be the same for others.” She emphasizes that lessons in team building and proactiveness have been invaluable in both her professional and personal life. 

Through continuous staff training in facilitation, mentorship, guidance, and counseling, Idda has honed her skills to better support her mentees. She now mentors over 500 program scholars, inspiring them to become leaders in their communities; she even now has many scholars who wish to become like her one day. 

Chausiku Ramadhani Mkuya, a Kisa alumna from Arusha Secondary School (Class of 2010-2012),who was Idda’s Mentor, was among the first graduates of the Kisa Program. Mentored by Anande Nnko, GLAMI’s Executive Director, Chausiku became a mentor herself in 2015 and later served as the Binti Program Manager from 2018 to 2021. Chausiku has worked for GLAMI for eight years and currently, she is a Program Associate overseeing GLAMI’s activities.

Chausiku’s motivation to become a mentor came from a desire to give back. “I wanted to be a mentor so that I could give back to other girls in my community.” she says. Seeing her former mentees now working as GLAMI staff fills her with pride, knowing she played a part in their journey. “They grow to be proactive and great problem solvers, applying for higher positions and making significant contributions to GLAMI and even in other organizations.”She even added up by saying that her Mentor (Anande Nnko) has always been supportive to her whenever she needed her assistance.

Adina William, a Kisa Program alumna from Langasani School (Class of 2017-2018), joined the GLAMI team in 2023 as a Program Mentor. Mentoring  Binti and Kisa scholars, Adina draws on her background in psychology to understand and support her mentees effectively. Inspired by her mentors, Madam Lightness and Aikande Nkya, Adina recalls, “When I was a Kisa scholar, I was inspired by how my mentors could stand in front of many students, speak fluent English, and manage the classes. They looked young but very confident and inspiring. I wished to be one of them, and here I am now.”

Adina’s favorite memory from the Kisa Program is Career Day, which she describes as a life-changing experience that helped her find her passion for psychology.

At GLAMI, the ripple effect of mentorship is evident in every mentor and mentee relationship. With 70% of our mentors being Kisa Program alumni and many stepping into leadership roles within our organization, the legacy of empowerment continues. These stories of transformation inspire us all to support the next generation of young women leaders.