LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. — A Lancaster nonprofit is seeking solutions, helping young girls realize their true potential and see their inner beauty through mentorship.
Charquisha McGriff started the Call Me Beauty mentoring program back in 2015. Back then, she was a peer mediation coordinator for A.R. Rucker Middle School in Lancaster.
“I had a classroom, and it seemed like all the girls would migrate to my classroom and pour all of their problems on me," McGriff shared. "They were struggling with self-esteem, self-love."
Call Me Beauty mentors girls ages 5 to 18.
“Growing up in Lancaster there were always opportunities for boys," McGriff said. "Boy mentor groups. I never fell into a group."
It focuses on activities and even having discussions surrounding topics like life choices, body image, self-esteem and communication.
Since 2015, over 400 girls have participated, from Lancaster and surrounding counties. Katreka Durham has been a mentor in the program since the beginning.
“We give the girls the opportunity to see more than what they are seeing on social media," Durham explained. "We are giving them an opportunity to experience themselves, who they are on the inside, and how they view themselves on the outside."
She said, while the girls learn from them, she said she has learned just as much about herself.
“How to always be your authentic self," Durham said. "The girls respect that so much more, especially our older teen girls. One of the biggest things is to remain who you are and that you can occupy any space."
McGriff said the beauty of this program is watching past mentees thrive and give back.
“Last year, I had two girls that started in 2015 graduate," McGriff mentioned. "They continued to volunteer and continued to pour into the incoming girls. They became teachers."
Recently, Call Me Beauty received its 501(c)(3) status. They are working to expand to more counties.
Contact Nick Sturdivant at nsturdiva1@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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