When Students Become Mentors at Cameras For Girls
At Cameras For Girls, success isn’t just measured by how many young women we train in photography and journalism—it’s also about who comes back.
When former students return to mentor new cohorts, it reveals something powerful: our program is not just teaching skills, it’s creating lasting change. These women return not out of obligation, but from a deep desire to uplift others, to share what they’ve learned, and to continue the cycle of INpowerment.
This full-circle moment, where mentees become mentors, is one of the clearest signs that our impact is both real and sustainable.
Sandra leading a group discussion
Why It Matters When Former Students Come Back
In the male-dominated world of media, especially across many parts of Africa, young women are often isolated, unsupported, and underestimated. Too often, they lack role models who look like them or who understand the cultural and economic challenges they face.
When a graduate of Cameras For Girls returns to mentor a new student, she becomes a living, breathing example of what's possible. Her presence in the room speaks louder than any lecture. She shows new students that success is not only attainable, it's sitting right beside them, if they work hard for it.
These women know exactly what it feels like to be in the shoes of our newest cohort, anxious, hopeful, maybe even skeptical about what the future holds. As mentors, they offer more than just technical advice. They offer relatable lived experience, emotional support, and a deep understanding of the road ahead.
Meet Sandra Atti Ayikoru
One of those remarkable returning fellows is Sandra Atti Ayikoru, a dynamic media professional who wears many hats: PR communications strategist, moderator, digital storyteller, writer, and Cameras For Girls mentor.
"As a Cameras For Girls fellow, I have honed my storytelling skills through visual content, empowering young women in media to break barriers and make an impact."
Sandra's journey is a testament to what happens when women are INpowered, not only to tell stories, but to lead, innovate, and uplift others. After completing her fellowship in 2023, Sandra didn't just walk away with skills; she walked away with a mission to get a job in male-dominated media, and she succeeded by becoming a communications associate with the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group in Uganda.
She also does the following:
Runs "Atti's Rumblings", a thought-provoking WordPress blog.
Moderates conversations on societal issues through her YouTube channel (@Ayikoru Sandra).
Crafts powerful digital content for community-led Twitter accounts.
Shares knowledge with the next generation of storytellers.
Her work has earned her several recognitions, including:
🏆 Great Storyteller Award (2021) – Writing Category
🏆 Best TV Presenter (2022) – MCI Challenge Expo
🏆 Cameras For Girls Fellow (2023)
Sandra is part of a growing network of Cameras For Girls alums who are not only building careers, they're building others up along the way.
What This Says About Our Program
When alumni like Sandra come back to mentor, it tells us three critical things:
They value the community we've built, and want to stay part of it.
They see themselves as leaders, not just women who have been supported.
They believe in the mission of shifting the narrative for African girls and women in media.
Our program is designed not just to train women, but to equip them with the tools and confidence to lead, to speak out, and to create a ripple effect wherever they go.
Returning mentors provide a deep well of inspiration and real-world wisdom. They:
Guide students through industry challenges, including gender bias.
Offer peer-level mentorship, which often feels more accessible than instructor-led teaching.
Build a sustainable ecosystem where knowledge, opportunity, and solidarity are shared.
This peer-to-peer model ensures that Cameras For Girls is not just a one-time intervention; it becomes a lifelong journey of growth and contribution.
Looking Forward
As we continue to grow across Africa, we are proud to celebrate mentors like Sandra Atti Ayikoru, women who exemplify what happens when opportunity meets readiness, and readiness meets community.
Sandra and others remind us that Cameras For Girls is not simply about teaching photography. It's about lighting the way for others, building networks of solidarity, and reimagining who gets to lead the narrative in African media.
They are living proof that when women are given space, support, and the skills to tell their stories, they not only rise, but also thrive. They reach back and lift others with them.