29 October 2025
Behind the statistic—56% of our target reached across 11 schools—lives a collection of moments that numbers can’t fully capture. There’s the girl in Lilongwe Urban who stood before her classmates and spoke her truth for the first time, voice trembling but determined. There’s the group in Rural East who formed their own leadership circle, meeting after school to practice the mentorship they’re receiving. There’s the young woman in Rural West who told her facilitator, “I used to think leadership was for other people. Now I know it’s for me.”
The Lean In Girls program has become more than an initiative. It’s a movement gathering momentum across Lilongwe’s urban and rural landscapes. For girls aged 11 to 15, it represents a radical idea: that their voices matter, that their dreams are valid, that leadership isn’t something to wait for but something to step into right now.
“Every session, I watch transformations unfold,” shared one program facilitator, her eyes lighting up with the memory. “Girls who arrived with eyes downcast now lead discussions. Those who sat in the back now stand at the front. This isn’t just about numbers, it’s about watching change happen in real time, one brave girl at a time.”
As we celebrate reaching 56% of our goal with only 11 schools, we’re energized by what lies ahead. There are more voices waiting to be amplified, more leaders waiting to be awakened, more girls who need to hear this message: You are capable. You are worthy. You are ready to rise.
The journey continues, and with every school we reach, we’re not just changing statistics! We’re changing stories, futures, and the very fabric of what’s possible for girls across Malawi.
