By Reanne Olivier | CEO & Co-founder
How can we bring the spirit of ShE is Empowered to more girls, beyond the fellowship experience?
This question has been guiding our thinking as we explore ways to expand access to leadership development, encouragement, and networks for girls and young women.
On 10 October 2026, we brought this thinking into practice through She Leads, She Rises in Johannesburg, co-convened by Africa Matters Initiative and the African Women’s Empowerment Programme (AWEP) at AUDA-NEPAD.
The day brought over 80 girls together with women leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals across generations and walks of life. Our intention was to help girls imagine what their futures could look like by connecting them with women who have navigated the very paths they may one day want to pursue. Women who could share not only their successes, but also their challenges, lessons, and the things they wish they had known earlier.
Because sometimes, seeing what’s possible can change how you imagine your own future.
Highlights included “The Girl Who Didn’t Wait for Permission,” a keynote delivered by Gugulethu “Gugu” Ndebele, former Executive Director of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls. We were also joined by Qhawekazi Mazaleni, Miss South Africa 2025.
But we didn’t want the day to stop at inspiration.
Through honest conversations and practical skills labs, girls had opportunities to ask questions, explore career pathways, challenge how they see themselves and their futures, and gain skills to begin turning their ideas into action. From entrepreneurship and financial literacy to leadership, resilience, and career exploration, the day was about helping girls see what is possible while recognising the potential they already carry.
Perhaps most importantly, it was a reminder that their voices, ideas, and leadership matter today, not just when they are older.
For us, this is an extension of what ShE stands for: supporting girls and young women to recognise their potential and develop the confidence to lead.
As we approach Giving Tuesday, we are asking for your support to take this work further. We aim to expand She Leads, She Rises to more girls across the continent and welcome a new ShE is Empowered cohort in 2027.
Your donation can help us bring these opportunities to more girls while supporting the sustained learning, mentorship, and community that the ShE fellowship offers.
Please give through this page to help more girls access the tools, relationships, and opportunities to shape their own paths.
We also welcome in-kind support, including venues, transport, learning materials, and facilitators willing to share their expertise. If you would like to contribute or explore bringing She Leads, She Rises to your city or country, please reach out to us at partnerships@africamattersinitiative.com.
Thank you for continuing to believe in this work and the girls at its heart.
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