Empowering Girls Through Leadership & Care: The GLOW Club Experience

By Darly, from Colombia

In the eastern neighborhoods of Cali, Colombia, girls’ leadership is blooming as a powerful driver of social change. Far from traditional stereotypes, these young leaders are redefining what it means to take charge, showing courage and a deep awareness of their communities’ needs.

This leadership shines in schools and community spaces, where girls take active roles organizing cultural activities, neighborhood cleanups, and projects that promote peaceful coexistence. In neighborhoods like Comuna 15 and Comuna 21, girls are stepping up as spokespersons for their peers, advocating for safe play areas and ensuring that every voice is heard in local decision-making.

The realities of eastern Cali, with its unique challenges in infrastructure and access to opportunities, push these young leaders to develop practical skills in management and conflict resolution early on. They do not wait until they are older to make a difference. They are immediate agents of change, using creativity as their most powerful tool.

Through the GLOW Club, girls learn to lead and to understand their rights, including those related to their bodies and well-being. In safe and supportive spaces, they talk openly about topics such as consent, menstruation, and self-care, subjects that are often silenced in their communities. By building trust and knowledge, they strengthen their confidence to make informed decisions about their health, relationships, and futures.

In GLOW Club, Girl Talk gives girls a safe space to submit questions or topics anonymously, sharing what matters most to them.

Their leadership is grounded in solidarity. They understand that collective well-being depends on everyone’s participation. Many serve as informal mentors to younger girls, sharing what they learn and ensuring that the voices of the next generation are heard in neighborhood councils and community projects.

Safe spaces like the GLOW Club are essential for advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights. They allow girls to ask questions freely, to understand their bodies without shame, and to support each other through learning and shared experiences. In these spaces, knowledge becomes protection, and conversation becomes empowerment.

The leadership we see in GLOW Club is resilient, rooted in culture, and essential for building a more equitable and participatory city from the ground up. The girls of the GLOW Club remind us that when we create safe spaces for learning and care, we open doors for a generation of girls who know their worth, defend their rights, and lead their communities toward lasting change.