Girls I Save Africa is the vision of Kenyan social entrepreneur Gheida Abdalah, a response to the gaps that still deny many girls the chance to thrive.
In many underserved communities across Kenya, brilliant girls are still dropping out of school not because they lack ability, but because they lack support. Their potential is lost not to failure, but to silence, exclusion, and systems that fail to protect and empower them.
For Gheida Abdalah, a young Kenyan social entrepreneur and technologist, this reality was not just something she observed it was something she lived and witnessed growing up. It is this lived experience that led to the creation of Girls I Save Africa (GISAVE), an initiative focused on equipping girls with the tools, confidence, and support systems they need to shape their own futures.
Rooted in Lived Experience
Gheida Abdalah is a social entrepreneur, technologist, and advocate for girls’ empowerment from Kenya. Currently studying Information Technology, she has chosen to look beyond academics and focus on how technology and community-driven solutions can create meaningful social change.
Growing up, she watched intelligent and ambitious girls drop out of school due to early marriage, gender-based violence, lack of mentorship, and limited access to opportunities particularly in STEM fields.
“I kept asking myself what happens to all that potential,” Gheida says. “Instead of waiting for someone else to fix the problem, I decided to start where I was and do what I could.”
That decision marked the beginning of Girls I Save Africa.
The Problem: More Than Poverty or Education
While poverty and access to education remain major challenges, Gheida identified a deeper issue the lack of safe spaces, accessible information, and support systems for girls.
Many girls face violence, fear, isolation, and silence. Even when help exists, it is often unknown, inaccessible, or not youth-friendly. This creates a gap between girls and the systems meant to protect and empower them, especially in underserved communities. Girls I Save Africa was founded to bridge that gap.
In simple terms, Girls I Save Africa helps girls believe in themselves and equips them with the tools to shape their own future.
The initiative combines education, technology, mentorship, and advocacy to help girls stay in school, explore STEM opportunities, speak up about challenges, and access help when they need it most. Rather than offering one-off interventions, GiSave focuses on long-term confidence, skills development, and sustainable support systems.
Programs Designed With Girls in Mind
Girls I Save Africa runs practical, community-based programs that respond directly to girls’ needs, including:
- STEM and digital skills training, such as coding and innovation workshops
- Mentorship programs, connecting girls with professionals and role models
- Awareness sessions on gender-based violence, mental health, leadership, and self-advocacy
- A tech-based reporting and support platform that connects girls to counselors and trusted support systems
The approach is participatory and hands-on. Girls do not just listen, they practice, ask questions, build projects, and grow.
Why This Model Works
Gheida believes empowerment must be holistic. “A girl may have academic skills but lack confidence or safety. Another may have ambition but no exposure. Technology gives access, mentorship builds confidence, and community creates belonging.”
By addressing both skills gaps and social-emotional barriers, Girls I Save Africa creates sustainable impact rather than temporary solutions.
Since its founding, the initiative has recorded significant milestones:
- Over 300 girls directly trained and 5,000+ reached indirectly through awareness and mentorship
- Successful testing of a girls-centered digital support platform
- National and regional recognition, including awards and media features
Girls pursuing STEM subjects, leadership roles, and speaking with confidence they previously lacked.
Beyond statistics, the most powerful impact lies in transformation.
Girls who once said “technology is not for me” are now confidently building projects and speaking publicly about their ideas. Some girls who were once silent have become mentors to others. This shift from doubt to confidence reflects the deeper success of the initiative.
Challenges and Limitations
Like many youth-led initiatives, Girls I Save Africa faces challenges, including limited funding, access to computers, and infrastructure. Balancing studies, sustainability, and scale remains a constant challenge.
The initiative’s reach is currently limited by geography and resources. To address this, the team is exploring digital expansion, partnerships, and scalable models that allow growth without losing the human-centered approach.
One key lesson Gheida emphasizes for youth-led organizations is that action does not require perfection.
“You don’t need to have everything figured out to start. Start small, listen to the community, and grow with purpose. Mentorship and partnerships matter you don’t have to do it alone.”
What sets Girls I Save Africa apart is its co-creation model. The initiative is built with girls, not just for them, grounding solutions in lived experience.
Looking Ahead: A Pan-African Vision
In the short term, Girls I Save Africa aims to expand its programs, strengthen its digital platform, and reach more underserved communities. Long-term, the vision is to build a scalable, pan-African solution supporting girls through technology, policy advocacy, and innovation.
Communities, partners, and policymakers can support this work by investing in youth-led solutions, creating enabling policies, providing resources, and partnering with grassroots initiatives.
Gheida’s message to young girls who want to lead change is simple:
“Be the change you want to see in the world. You are never too small to make a difference. Your voice matters. Start where you are, use what you have, and trust that even the smallest action can create powerful change.”
Gheida Abdalah
Girls I Save Africa shows what can happen when someone chooses to act instead of looking away. What began as Gheida Abdalah’s response to what she saw and experienced has grown into a space where girls are listened to, supported, and encouraged to speak for themselves. By doing so, it reminds girls that their voices matter, and that change can begin exactly where they are.
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