ABURY Girls Gearing Up Academy
Unleash your leadership potential this summer!
Girls, get ready for an unforgettable week.
Take your leadership, communication, and presentation skills to the next level while connecting with inspiring female role models from around the world.
About the Program
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Skill-Building Workshops
Through hands-on activities and expert-led sessions, participants build confidence, leadership skills, and practical tools for creating change. They develop key skills like project management, communication, and financial literacy, while exploring creativity and problem-solving.
Program Highlights
Build Confidence
At the Academy, you'll learn to see challenges as opportunities, step out of your comfort zone, bounce back from setbacks, develop a growth mindset, and build the resilience and self-belief to know you can be a changemaker and a leader.
Get Equipped
Through hands-on workshops, team-building challenges, and guided problem-solving, you'll develop practical leadership skills — from public speaking and moderating discussions to project management and collaboration — that you'll use long after the Academy ends.
Be Inspired
Every day, you'll hear from inspiring women from around the world and build lasting friendships with girls from every corner of the globe. You'll learn from role models and from each other.
Take Action
By the end of the week, you'll know how to take your new leadership skills and put them into action, leaving with a plan to make a real difference in the community you return to.
Join us this summer for a transformative international experience that will empower and inspire you. Apply now to begin your journey of growth and leadership!
July 2027 in Germany & Malawi
September 2027 in India
Daily schedule
Want a sneak peek into your week at the Leadership Academy?
Every day is packed with fun, learning, and growth. You'll participate in dynamic workshops, engage in team-building activities, meet powerful women in leadership, share meals together as a community, and connect with global peers through fun and meaningful group activities.
Outdoor Adventure
We start every day outside, stepping into nature, exploring new environments, and getting moving with team-building challenges. It’s a fun way to build communication, connection, and teamwork before the day really begins.
Workshops & Curriculum
From late morning through the afternoon, you’ll dive into the heart of the Academy through hands-on workshops that build leadership, confidence, and communication skills while exploring how you can use those skills to become a changemaker - from understanding the Sustainable Development Goals to developing ideas for creating positive change.
Power Mentor Sessions
“You have to see it to be it.” Throughout the week, you’ll meet inspiring women from around the world working across a wide range of fields. You'll have the chance to ask questions, hear the lessons they’ve learned, and discover new possibilities for your own future.
Evening Activities
Evenings are filled with activities that bring us together, from scavenger hunts and games to learning dances from other GGU countries. Two highlights are Cultural Exchange Night, where participants share their cultures, traditions, food, music, and stories, and the Anything Goes Show - where everyone shares something!
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Excursion Days
For a couple of days during the week, we step outside the Academy for a full day of exploration. From visiting companies and meeting the women leading them, to taking part in hands-on activities and team-building challenges, these excursions are a chance to explore new environments, try something new, and see leadership and changemaking in action.
Testimonials & Impact
"The most important thing I gained is the power of sisterhood. I had never been in an environment where girls are so relentlessly supportive of each other."
“Through GGU I learned that gaining confidence makes such a huge difference in everyday life. It opens doors you never were able to reach or even knew existed. It’s a powerful tool that pushes you forward. You won’t realize the true power of believing in yourself until you experience what it can do for you.”
"We may all be coming from different places, different countries with different problems that bother us, but GGU assured us that we all can be changemakers and leaders in our communities."
"These women who have achieved so much in their respective fields were so empowering. Hearing from them not only broadened our horizons, but it also reinforced the belief that we all have the potential to rise above any obstacle and reach for our dreams."
"GGU not only helped me to learn more about myself but also about other people, their cultures and their perspectives. I will be forever grateful for meeting those amazing people and gaining new friendships from all over the world."
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"I hope to never forget the friendships I made, the confidence I built, and how empowered I felt being surrounded by strong, intelligent girls and inspiring mentors."
After one week at GGU , the percentage of participants who agree with the statement:
"I have the skills to be a good leader" increased from
67% to 94%
The statement:"I know how I can make a difference in the world" resonates with
93% of participants
Leadership Academy FAQ
Girls aged 13–17 from all countries and backgrounds are welcome to apply! You don’t need any previous leadership experience — just a curious mind, an open heart, and a desire to grow, learn, and lead.
The program is held in English, but your English does not have to be perfect! If you can understand and participate in conversations, you're ready. Many participants come to improve their English and leave speaking with more confidence.
We maintain clear safety procedures throughout the Academy, and every cohort is supported by a trained team of experienced educators, youth workers, and facilitators. Our team is prepared to support participants' physical and emotional wellbeing every step of the way. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at info@girlsgearingup.org
The fee for each Academy is listed directly in the application form. GGU is a non-profit organization; the participation fee covers the full cost of hosting your daughter for the week, including room and board, workshop materials, transportation to and from excursions, and experienced facilitators providing round-the-clock supervision, support, and education. There's no organizational overhead or profit built into this fee.
Yes, GGU offers scholarships to support participants who need financial assistance. To apply, visit our website and fill out the scholarship application form. We believe in providing opportunities for all girls to become empowered leaders, regardless of their financial situation.
Just click Join the Academy and fill out the application form. Once we receive it, our team will review your information and get in touch. If you need help with your application or have questions, we’re here to support you!
Explore the Academies
Girls Gearing Up runs Leadership Academies in three countries: Germany, Malawi, and India. Each brings together a diverse group of teen girls for a week of leadership, connection, and unforgettable experiences.
