Girls Gearing Up
Global Presence
Learn more about our International Leadership Academies by clicking on one of the Hub locations:
Meet
the
Team
Our international team members use expertise gleaned from their professional lives to support our aspiring female leaders at our Leadership Academies and year-round programming.
“I am convinced that by equipping and inspiring a generation of girls who are confident in their abilities and motivated to make a difference, we can change the world. Watching teen girls recognize their potential and step into their power while lifting others up is incredibly inspiring and I’m honored to be a part of it.”
USA | France
Co-founder and Director
Courtney Adams
"GGU offers incredible opportunities to make deep and lasting friendships with like-minded leaders from around the world. I have witnessed girls transform and step outside their comfort zones. GGU brings out the best in us, and I get excited thinking about all the potential each girl has yet to discover within themselves."
Nigeria | Austria
Co-founder, Advisory
Co-founder & Director,
Linden Global Learning
Chineme Ugbor
"The amount you can learn, experience, and bond at the Summer Academy feels like 10 times more than what you’d get from a whole school year. Many girls look back on this week as a defining moment in discovering themselves and their role in the world."
USA | Germany
Co-founder, Advisory
Christina Limbird
Co-founder & Director,
Linden Global Learning
“I truly believe that GGU’s mission of empowering girls has a vital impact on upcoming generations and the overall future of our planet. I am honored to be part of such an inspiring team and surrounded by such selfless people working towards equality for everyone. The world needs more female leaders and GGU is one step closer to creating an equitable world where we see that.”
USA | Austria
Community Outreach Coordinator
Sophie Lang
"By exploring, discovering, and stepping out of our comfort zones, we can encounter experiences where our insight and confidence can grow. Meeting people from around the world is a great way to learn and share all our talents.”
Finland | Scotland
Senior Academy Facilitator
in Germany
Kim Kermath
"Girls Gearing Up is an amazing program that bridges girls towards tertiary education and motivates them, prepares them, and encourages them to finish secondary education and gives them confidence to go further. They say when you educate a girl, you educate a village. These girls will share new skills with their friends and it will in the end change their community."
Malawi
Site Director in Malawi
Golda Kavinya
Head of Junior Science & House Mistress, Kamuzu Academy
"I believe it is my duty to do my part in contributing to bettering the lives of other women. GGU`s aim to equip and foster the next generation of globally minded female leaders is the perfect setting to do my part in making sure that I push more women forward to take their seat at the table and be part of the much needed change and help that the world needs.”
Malawi
Academy Facilitator in Malawi
Thokozani Fortunata
Events coordinator, Fortune Events
“The reason I am working with GGU is that it inculcates girls, regardless of any situation/conditions they have, the right to take decisions for their own lives and that is called real empowerment.”
India
Academy Facilitator in India
Angela Aram
Program and Corporate Engagement Coordinator, Deep Griha Academy
“GGU has helped me in grooming myself in a certain way where I will be able to adjust myself in different situations and explore the beauties of different people. GGU has given the opportunity to explore different cultures, food and dance forms and to facilitate the different kinds of learning to the girls. It also taught us the real meaning of inclusion.”
India
Academy Facilitator in India
Rutuja Suryawanshi
Grade and Subject Teacher, Deep Griha Academy
"I chose to work with GGU with the hope that in future I will get more opportunities to contribute to empower the teenage girls of India and across the world. Also, it gives me hope to bring positive change around the world only if we provide the opportunity to our teenage girls to raise their voices and make them believe that they are the people who are going to bring change in society through their leadership.”
India
Academy Facilitator in India
Vandana Srivastava
Academic and Teacher's Coordinator, Deep Griha Academy
Quote
Coming
Soon!
Ghana
Site Director in Ghana
Isobel Acquah
Counsel at AB & David Law
Co-founder and Executive Director, The Pearl Safe Haven
Audrey Ankah
Quote
Coming
Soon!
Ghana
Academy Facilitator in Ghana
Project Manager, The Pearl Safe Haven
“I truly believe that only an equitable world will find peace, freedom and stability - which we need more than ever. I want more women in power to make the decisions this world needs. And GGU is a step in that direction - which is why I am passionate about GGU's mission.”
Germany
Operations Volunteer
Lena Sönnichsen
Communications Consultant, Quick & Dirty Consulting
“I started investing in my personal development in my early thirties and realized how valuable and life changing these lessons and experiences would have been in my youth. GGU is changing girls' lives and setting them up for a fulfilled and successful life and I am excited to support and be part of their journey.”
Greece | Germany
Social Media Strategy Volunteer
Corinna Orietta
Head of Business Development, Holyo
"As a female business owner and mom of a daughter, I love helping girls find their voice, meet powerful role models who can mentor them, and get inspired about their own futures!"
Mentoring Program Volunteer
Tia Robinson
Co-Founder & CEO, Expath
USA | Germany
Quote
Coming
Soon!
Activism Coach
Mimi Khammas
Deputy Chairwoman,Wir Packen's An
Syria | Germany
Youth Advisory Board
Quote
Coming
Soon!
India
GGU alumna 2019,20 &21
Speaks English, Marathi, Hindi
Vaishnavi
"There's something special about the GGU spirit that you can feel the moment you arrive at camp, it's a feeling where you know you're in good hands but can also thrive and step out of your comfort zone!"
Germany | Neatherlands
GGU alumna 2015, 16, 17 & 19
Speaks English, Marathi, German, French
Sachi
Leandra
"My goal for the future is to have a career related to politics and ideally make activism a job. I’d like to inspire women to reach for their potential and promote more equality in the world."
Germany
GGU alumna 2015, 16, 17 & 19
Speaks German, English, Spanish
"[GGU] encourages me to implement change on things that I am passionate about."
Malawi
GGU alumna 2020 & 21
Speaks English, Chichewa, Chitumbuka
Chindikani
"GGU has a very special place in my heart, it's where I first gained my confidence and the ability to put my feelings about the inequalities in the world into action."
Germany /Serbia
GGU alumna 2019 & 20
Speaks German, English,
Serbian, Spanish
Lena
"GGU taught me to always get out of my comfort zone to take opportunities and become the confident, strong and independent woman I am today."
Syria / Germany / Czech Republic
GGU alumna 2016 & 17
Speaks Arabic, English,
German, French
Naya
Quote
Coming
Soon!
Israel
GGU alumna 2020
Speaks English, Hebrew
Bar
Quote
coming
soon!
Malawi
GGU alumna 2021
Speaks English, Chichewa
Mariam
“GGU has offered me a chance to expand on what I want in a work space later on in life. Community, passion, support and understanding are the essentials of a successful leader, worker and person."
Syria / Germany / Czech Republic
GGU alumna 2021
Speaks English, German, Arabic
