My Girls friendship became my journey to SUSTAINABILITY.

As I navigated through life and its challenges, one truth remained constant: I wanted to be an empowered woman, not just for myself, but for my community.

I have always been blessed with a great circle of friends. We were close, but in an individual way. We had our little chats, our one-on-one check-ins. We showed up for each other in joyful moments and in painful ones, hanging out, sharing drinks, laughing, and holding space. But we had never really been in one room together as a collective.

One December, I decided to change that. I invited all my friends over for a Christmas party at my house. We were about fifteen women. My living room was full — full of laughter, full of different perfumes, full of stories. Some of my friends were meeting each other for the first time, and I watched with joy as strangers became acquaintances in minutes.What started as light banter about music and clothes slowly deepened. And during that conversation, I had a realization that would change my life. These friends of mine had incredible strengths from different walks of life. One was conversant in cybersecurity, another was deeply knowledgeable in Gender-Based Violence advocacy, another was in politics, another in finance, another in education, another in health.It was a beautiful day of discovery. I shared information about my own passion, my challenges, and my plans. I spoke about my quiet love for the environment, my worry about food waste in our community, and my desire to do something more meaningful. In return, they broadened my perspective on topics I had never truly considered. Because these women had known me for a long time, I felt safe to be vulnerable and to discuss without fear of judgment.

Following everyone’s departure, after the plates were washed and the music was off, I sat alone and reflected. I realized we all had immense potential, but we just needed each other to thrive better. We were like scattered seeds — each viable on her own, but together we could become a forest.For the first time, I looked at my friends beyond friendship. I looked deeper, and I found potential. I found a network, a think-tank, a support system waiting to be activated. That night, I created a WhatsApp group and added all of them. I announced my idea: that we begin a monthly in-person meeting to learn and empower each other intentionally.

When we came together for our first official meeting, the energy was different. It was intentional. We agreed on a plan of action to work on ourselves. First, our character. We would hold each other accountable to become more patient, more disciplined, more empathetic. Second, we would each find a purpose and help each other find a niche. We challenged each other to answer one question: What problem do you want to solve in this world?It was during these sessions that I realized I was passionate about environmental protection and food security. I had always loved nature and been disturbed by how much food we wasted while others went hungry, but I had never given it a name. I had never thought it could be a calling. My friends helped me name it.

In addition to finding a niche, the group saw leadership qualities in me that I had never seen in myself. They assigned me as coordinator. For the first time, I had to exercise leadership skills. I had to plan agendas, mediate disagreements, motivate tired members, and keep the vision alive. It was challenging. It forced me to learn and do research on leadership, on active listening, on servant leadership. I read, I watched, I practiced every month.

And then came the game changer.

We decided that to build our confidence and knowledge, we would each be assigned topics to present to the group. Topics ranged from public speaking, female hygiene, home management, Gender-Based Violence, anger management, to meeting up with positive trends.I was tasked to present on “meeting up with positive trends.” While researching, I began to search for what positive global trends were shaping the future. I read about green economies, circular economies, renewable energy, and sustainable cities. That was when I stumbled on sustainability as a professional course, as a career path.It was a light-bulb moment. This was what I needed to turn my niche into a profession. This was the bridge between my passion for environmental protection and a real, impactful career. I was no longer just a woman who cared; I could become a woman who is qualified to create change. And now I am on a journey to pursue an MSc. in Sustainability. A journey I never would have imagined without that assignment from my friends.In addition to discovering a career, I now have a truly sustainable personal life. My group is my backbone. They are always present through grief — when I lost my mother and brother, they were there — through work-related issues, relationship issues, and health scares. Through our local savings scheme, a njangi we started, I have gained financial stability I never had before. I can now plan, save, and invest with confidence.

Maybe all I needed was an empowered community of friends to ignite the knowledge that was dormant in me. I had the spark all along, but I needed other women to fan it into flame.I will hence be contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 11, SDG 11, which aims to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable by 2030. I want to work on making my own city more sustainable — from how we manage waste, to how we grow and share food, to how we create safe spaces for women and girls.

As a coordinator, I have watched each member grow positively, and I feel deeply fulfilled. The girl who was shy about public speaking now leads workshops. The one who struggled with financial management now teaches others to save.After observing this transformation, I proposed that we create a Non-Governmental Association to impact our community beyond ourselves. We are now making impact in the domains of peace and security, Gender-Based Violence awareness, and reducing the impact of harmful drugs on youth.

As much as we need governments, NGOs, and international organizations to promote women’s empowerment, sometimes the route is much closer to home. Sometimes you just need a community of acquaintances to help you strive.Look deeply at the women around you. They might be your friends, your sister, your cousin, your mother, your neighbors. Look beyond the casual relationship. You might find that spark to turn you into an empowered woman, because at this point in time, we all need a community to help us stand firm amidst all the negativity thrown at women. We cannot do it alone. But together, we are unstoppable.