Behind every woman, there’s another rooting for her season of success. Because the moment she gets to taste the fruits of her labour is the moment her zest for life inspires us all. In collaboration with ClemenGold, we are celebrating bright, bold and unforgettable women this Women’s Month. Those who weather storms with hope for brighter days, the dreamers who dare and move boldly despite the odds, and those who plant roots in their communities, leaving a lasting impact and a garden of knowledge for generations to come.
For over 20 years, ClemenGold has made life simpler, tastier and brighter. It’s more than just fruit – it’s a wholesome gesture that says, “I thought of you.” From farm to shelf, each ClemenGold is nurtured with the same passion and dedication that has made it a trusted favourite. Sun-ripened to perfection, handpicked and carefully packed, these virtually seedless mandarins are grown and treated with care.
ClemenGold growers are committed to sustainable farming practices that nurture the environment, conserve water and build healthy soil for the future. To honour their pledge for a better and brighter future, they are shining the spotlight on those women who have paved the way for countless others. Kristina Miller is one of many leading the way.
Bright, Bold & Unforgettable
Sometimes, all it takes is one person – someone to see your vision, invest in your education, help expand your network and guide you towards greatness. For many young South Africans, that kind of support could be the key to finding gainful employment. But with the national youth unemployment rate rising from 50.3% to 62.4% over the past decade, securing a stable income remains one of the biggest challenges for jobseekers aged 15 to 24. According to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey by Statistics SA, young women – already facing gender-based inequalities – are at an even greater disadvantage. Thankfully, life-changing organisations like Great Girls remind us that hope is not lost.
Founded in 2014 by Kristina Miller, the non-profit organisation, which assists Grade 11 and 12 learners, “aims to bridge the gap between high-school education and full-time employment for disadvantaged girls.” Today, they have two locations and 10 participating schools. Alongside 69 dedicated mentors, they have witnessed 192 Great Girls graduate from the programme and enter the workforce or pursue a tertiary education – achievements that once seemed like a pipe dream for despondent youths.
“Our current school system doesn’t prepare kids for what comes after school. There isn’t any curriculum content that teaches interview skills, workplace etiquette, employment rights and legal obligations, and definitely nothing around financial planning and budgeting. When they enter life after school, there is no safety net, and very little guidance is provided to post-matriculants,” says Miller.
For many young South Africans, that kind of support could be the key to finding gainful employment.
With an impressive academic and professional background, from experience in organisational and clinical psychology to sustainable development and law, founder Kristina Miller has dedicated herself to making that journey less daunting for younger women.
Though she grew up in a privileged home, needing access to resources during her post-school job hunt made her realise that the scales were far from balanced for others. “I grew up quite privileged, but things went a bit pear-shaped towards the end of high school. My parents were getting divorced, and I had to put myself through university. I eventually managed to get a job, but I struggled with the entire process of putting together a CV, applying and going for interviews. I found it overwhelming. My mom hadn’t worked, so she wasn’t able to give me much advice. Years later, I met a young woman my age, about 26 or 27 years old. While she had a difficult upbringing, she fared well at school. I realised that we were in the same boat in terms of not knowing how to compile a CV, so I helped her and introduced her to some people at my place of work.”
“She aced the interview and got the role. She did such a great job that she got a permanent placement within a few months. Not only did she remove herself from an abusive situation, but she also helped raise her son as a single mom and broke the cycle of poverty and abuse prevalent in her family. All it took to change her circumstances was somebody holding her hand while creating a CV and arranging an introduction through someone in her network. It made me think that if one woman could do this for another, how many others could benefit from the same guidance?” And so, Great Girls was born.
“I believe that the cornerstone of most societies is run off the backs of women and at the hands of women.”
“I put together an email and sent it to my entire email list – anyone that I’d ever known up to that point. It went viral, and this was before the days of social media and virality. Within about five or six hours, we had a venue, donations and people offering to speak and mentor. Since then, the organisation has grown from strength to strength – largely through the power of social media and word of mouth. I think it’s because we have a message and a mandate that people are passionate about. We also have volunteers from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds, which is fantastic.”
Great Girls goes above and beyond the life orientation skills taught in basic education. To ensure the learners are primed for success, the programme covers essential topics every professional needs to thrive, regularly invites speakers from specialised fields to share insights, hosts workshops and provides mentorship for two years past completion. “We teach all the skills that you’d need to be successful in the adult world, like being able to advocate and communicate your needs, wants and information about yourself. It’s everything you’d need to be able to find meaningful, gainful employment or enter into a tertiary education institution.”
The programme is also designed to prepare young professionals to adapt to the demands of modern work life. “The curriculum is always evolving. When we first started twelve years ago, brands and organisations didn’t leverage networking platforms like Instagram, let alone LinkedIn, the way they do today. LinkedIn has since become a hub for employment in the corporate world, so we had to adapt our curriculum to changing times, keeping it modern and trend-forward. We’ve also had to respond to societal issues like COVID, mental health concerns, youth unemployment and violence against women. The curriculum and what we teach the girls are in response to the changing nature of work and the world we live in,” adds Miller.
For Kristina, empowering young women and girls means everything. “I believe that the cornerstone of most societies is run off the backs of women and at the hands of women. We do the hard work in keeping the fabric of society together.” Championing women, not just during August but year-round, is important. “It’s great that Women’s Day has evolved into a full month of recognition. It would be wonderful if we could do even more and have it as a sustainable outcome. I think it’s a sad reality in South Africa, with things like femicide and gender-based violence, that we even have to have a month to celebrate women. My hope is that every young woman and woman in the world, particularly in South Africa, has something in them that makes them great. It’s just about them being able to pursue that or find themselves in places where they can embody their greatness to the fullest extent.”
“There are many women, younger and older, who want to pay it forward by dedicating time, energy and commitment to projects they’re passionate about. Women supporting other women is the greatest form of female leadership; it shows younger generations how it can be done best, and that gives me hope for the future.”
Most learners participating in the programme come from areas like Lavender Hill, Belhar and parts of the Cape Flats affected by socio-economic conditions like gang-related violence, crime, poverty and other related factors. “Many of the girls who come to us are desperate to get out of their neighbourhoods and the environment that they’re in. We often have meaningful conversations around what that change would look like, being a positive force in the community and the space that you find yourself in. I understand the desperation to get out, but the reality is that nothing changes until we try to improve the places where we come from,” says Miller.
“In South Africa, we’re good at criticising our country and government, when the reality is that there are many grassroots organisations doing phenomenal work and creating benefits in this country.” All things considered, the education system and policymakers could help build a better foundation for the youth, especially with South Africa holding one of the highest unemployment rates in the world.
“When you leave school, there should be a clear path forward for what your next steps are, rather than having to figure it out on your own. Otherwise, we are producing matriculants who go out into the world and have no clue about how to get a job and what the next steps are, which is why programmes like Great Girls should be part of every school’s curriculum. Workplace readiness (not just for women but for men as well) and being able to ideate what your future looks like – the steps to get there, the tools and facilities available to you, whether those are from your own family, from society, from the government – should all be part of the curriculum.”
“When they enter life after school, there is no safety net, and very little guidance is provided to post-matriculants.”
Creating any movement or organisation usually comes with challenges – Kristina admits that they’ve been lucky in that regard. “Honestly, the doors have all just opened for us, because I think people know what we’re doing is important and meaningful, and they want to support the cause. What I have found interesting, though, is whenever I do press interviews on the radio or speak to people about Great Girls, the immediate response is, ‘What about Great Guys? Would you start something for men?’ My answer has always been the same: we are happy to share our model, and we are not protective or precious about our structure, intellectual property and content. But I don’t think a programme for men in this country should be run by women; it should be run by men.”
“You don’t see many organisations focused on empowerment for young men. There are some, but there are far more for young women. I think that is a huge disservice to the young men in our country and women as a whole. Because empowered, resilient men can only improve support for empowered, resilient young women and women in general.”
“What’s surprised me most about this work is the mentor network and witnessing young women in this country become more savvy and knowing exactly what they want and deserve, allowing them to be focused and driven. Twelve years ago, before female and youth empowerment became a global focus, we didn’t always see that confidence in our girls. We’ve seen a lot more self-advocacy from them over the years, which has been remarkably rewarding,” says Miller.
Feeling inspired? Donate or get involved with Great Girls. Learn more about the ClemenGold® golden values and make every moment better this Women’s Month. These virtually seedless mandarins are now available at Woolworths stores nationwide until October. Also, don’t miss the freshly squeezed ClemenGold® mandarin juice!
Visit the links below for delicious recipes and more zesty goodness.
