Gretchen committed to transforming lives

Passionate and driven entrepreneur Gretchen Nicodemus is making an impact on the lives of young girls through her Empower a Girl Child Mentorship programme.

Born and raised in the capital but now based in Okahandja, Nicodemus has dedicated her life to giving back to the community by providing support and guidance to girls from vulnerable backgrounds.

Throughout her life, she experienced the kindness of strangers who invested in her both mentally and financially. These acts of generosity left a profound impact on her, motivating her to create the Empower a Girl Child mentorship programme.

“I want to do the same for others,” Nicodemus, said. “The ten mentees participating in the programme are carefully selected by their life skills teacher at Nau-Aib Primary School, chosen from vulnerable homes, just like the situation I was in growing up.”

The mentorship programme is designed to empower young girls in the areas of education, personal development and home improvement. The goal is to foster independence, capability, success, responsibility and respectfulness, helping them become empowered and liberated women.

By intervening at a young age, the programme aims to positively influence their lives and set them on a path to success, she said.



Selection

The mentees were selected based on specific criteria, including good academic performance and challenging home situations. These girls are in various grades in primary school and receive mentorship from experts in different areas, including mental health, education, personal development and career guidance, Nicodemus said.

This tailored approach ensures that each child's unique needs are addressed as they progress on their journey.

Currently, all the resources for the programme are provided by the social responsibility branch of Nicodemus' business, Classy Group. However, her aim is to expand the programme and involve more sponsors and donors in supporting these children.

As a successful entrepreneur and mentor, Nicodemus' message for young girls who may be offered life-changing opportunities is “go for it”.

“Take advantage of having people taking time out of their schedules to invest in you. Appreciate it and be grateful. Make the best of it. Put effort into developing yourself in all areas of your life. You can never stop learning. The more you know, the better you can navigate in life. When you know better, you do better.”