As a diplomat and Army officer, I served in 12 countries and witnessed firsthand how education can change the trajectory of an adolescent girl’s life — and, by extension, entire communities.
This was especially true in Burkina Faso and Malawi where I served as the U.S. Ambassador. Upon retirement, I joined the Board of Advancing Girls Education in Africa (AGE Africa). My journey with AGE Africa deepened in April of this year when I visited our programs in Malawi.
I met extraordinary young women whose determination and resilience embody the mission of AGE Africa. Through scholarships and CHATS — our peer-led life skills program — these girls are breaking barriers, building confidence and carving out futures that once seemed unimaginable. Sitting with them, hearing their stories, I realized that AGE Africa is not simply providing education. We are nurturing agency, courage and leadership in a new generation of Malawian women.
What struck me most was the multiplier effect of our work. CHATS does not end when the session closes; it spills over into families, schools and communities. Younger children watch and learn. Parents take notice of their daughters’ newfound confidence. Villages begin to shift their expectations.
AGE Africa is not just educating individuals — it is reshaping cultural landscapes and creating generational change.
Serving on the AGE Africa Board is more than governance or oversight. It is a commitment to walk alongside these girls as they pursue dreams once denied to so many before them. It is an opportunity to amplify their voices and to invest in their potential.
My visit to Malawi reaffirmed what I already believed: that empowering girls through education is the best way to build a more equitable, prosperous world. AGE Africa is doing exactly that—and I am honored to be part of it.
A sign in my office says: “May many futures flourish because of you.”
Thanks to Hastings College for the education that allowed me to flourish and in turn, help others flourish.
By Jeanine Jackson ‘71
This article originally appeared in the fall 2026 edition of HC Today.