Mentorship and Mental Wellness
“We saw other students let their tears flow and we realized we are not alone. Now we know how important it is to allow our feelings. We know it is OK not to be OK. It’s OK to cry, to laugh, to be quiet. I wish everyone in the world could do these exercises!” - a S.H.E. student
From the beginning, the S.H.E. College Fund has recognized that success in college requires more than financial aid; it demands emotional support, community, and mentorship.
Most students are the first in their families or communities to attend college, and their parents are unable to support them emotionally or academically. Because of this, mentorship becomes a lifeline.
As one student said, “S.H.E. is the family I never had from my own blood.”
Students attend regular mental wellness seminars led by trained facilitators, creating space for shared healing, growth, and resilience through sisterhood. Students are also matched with a S.H.E. alumna who is trained to be a mentor to current students.
Through this holistic support - emotional, social, and spiritual - the S.H.E. College Fund ensures no young woman walks her path alone. With mentorship and mental wellness at the core of our mission, we are nurturing not just graduates, but changemakers: grounded, resilient, and ready to rise.
Mental Wellness Seminars
"The students left feeling empowered. They now know it’s OK to speak out - whatever is inside them, however painful. This is the beginning of healing. I’ve seen lives change, and even families change, because of these moments." – a member of the S.H.E. staff
"I feel refreshed. Restored. I used to hide so much, but the seminar became a place to laugh together, to cry together. One sister’s tears became our tears. It brought so much trust, so much love." - a S.H.E. student
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All except one of the S.H.E. staff are Maasai, and were fostered in safe houses as girls to escape the dual threat of FGM/C and forced marriage.
Two of the S.H.E. staff were recipients of S.H.E. college scholarships.
S.H.E. staff supports students by:
Helping them navigate ethnic- and gender-specific challenges
Advising on academic programs and career options.
Building students’ confidence and self-efficacy
Developing students’ leadership skills
S.H.E. Mentors
In 2024, we launched a powerful Mentorship program.
Each student is paired with a trained alumna who has walked the same path, having lived in safe houses and courageously challenged harmful cultural traditions.
These mentors offer empathy, guidance, and a steady, nonjudgmental presence.
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In 2024, six S.H.E. graduates were trained to become the first S.H.E. mentors.
They each support a group of current S.H.E. students with bi-monthly one-to-one check-ins as well as regular group discussions.
Mentors foster open conversations about mental well-being with their students.
Their role is to listen, support and encourage students to seek help when needed.
