Girls breaking barriers: How One Girl Can’s model is building a legacy of empowerment

In the rural villages of Kenya, a powerful, quiet revolution is unfolding—one that is systematically dismantling barriers and rewriting futures.

At its heart are thousands of girls, once marginalized, now becoming the architects of their own destinies and the catalysts for change in their communities. This transformation is driven by the self-sustaining ‘Cycle of Empowerment’ model created by One Girl Can.

The cycle begins by identifying brilliant, ambitious girls from impoverished backgrounds and removing the single biggest obstacle in their path: access to education.

The program provides comprehensive scholarships for secondary and university education. But One Girl Can understands that a scholarship alone is not enough.

To build true leaders, the model wraps each scholar in a robust support system of yearly mentorship, career training, and invaluable internships, ensuring they are not just educated, but empowered and prepared to claim leadership roles in society.

The true genius of the initiative, according to co-founder Lotte Davis, is its design for perpetual impact. "The model is built on reciprocity," she explains.

"When one girl succeeds, she doesn't just move on; she reaches back. Our beneficiaries become mentors, creating a powerful ripple effect of empowerment that multiplies our impact exponentially."

This ripple effect is already in motion. Maureen Uchi, a program graduate, now mentors girls in her home village.

"I never imagined my story could be a catalyst for change," she says. "But now I stand as living proof. I see the girls in my community looking at me, and I see them daring to dream bigger dreams for themselves."

For Celline Nthenya, another alumna, the program was more than an education. It was a transformation of what she believed was possible.

"In high school, university felt like a distant, impossible dream. One Girl Can didn't just open a door for me; it showed me a whole new world of opportunity and gave me a purpose to strive for," she explains.

The numbers tell a compelling story: to date, over 1,500 scholarships have been awarded, and 35,000 girls receive mentorship annually. But the true success is measured in the strengthened pillars of communities.

Through its foundational pillars—We Educate, We Train, We Mentor—One Girl Can proves a powerful truth: when you invest in one girl and give her the tools to rise, she doesn't rise alone. She lifts her family, her village, and her entire community with her.