Africa: An Enduring Commitment

In 2005, Linda Lockhart watched a webcast of a speech President Clinton gave at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting in which he emphasized the need to embrace a new model of global citizenship. Inspired by his call to action and motivated to help disadvantaged girls in Africa, Lockhart founded a mentoring program, the Global Give Back Circle (GGBC), between Kenyan girls from marginalized communities and business women from around the globe. The program centered on supporting the successful transition of girls from high school to university.

To expand her program further, Linda attended the CGI Annual Meeting three years later and met the president of Equity Bank, James Mwangi, and representatives from Microsoft, who wanted to help her expand her program. Together, they launched a CGI Commitment to Action to support more girls, provide them with basic needs of food, clothing, and educational supplies, and develop computer labs at high schools to equip girls with essential computer skills.

A vital part of the GGBC model is to pass on the concept of giving. Each girl in the mentorship program must also give back to her own community. This reciprocity not only helps those around her, but also helps each girl to feel empowered by knowing that she has something to offer. As Khadija Abdallah Said, a young student supported by GGBC, stated, "Now there is nothing impossible. I can see a bright future for me. I don’t think anything can stop me."

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