Being relatively new to Rites for Girls I have been intrigued to find out more about our Ambassador, Golda Rosheuvel and what brought her to support our work. I was lucky enough to have a conversation with her last week and came away feeling so inspired by her passion and commitment to the well-being of girls and our training programme for women.
Golda is a beloved UK television and film actor and known for her powerful roles. I was keen to find out how she had heard about our work at Rites for Girls. Had she been looking for a cause to support alongside her acting work? To my surprise, it was through an informal chat that Golda came to hear about us. Sitting next to the Chair of Rites for Girl’s Non-Exec Board, Karen, at Wimbledon just 18 months ago they got talking and Karen mentioned our work which made Golda want to know more.
“It just sparked a real interest, a real memory of being adolescent, of being young and of needing something like that and I thought I want to be involved with that, I want to support that.”
Golda told me it was the impact of Karen’s words that really stayed with her that day (although she reassured me that they both enjoyed the tennis as well).
“I think it was that connection to my younger self, my younger self literally leant forward and went Gold, you need to hear more about this. That’s the thing that really resonates for me with Rites for Girls, is that I needed something like that when I was that age, and it would have so helped me to have that support.”
Golda went on to talk about the landmark programme we run, Girls Journeying Together and how wonderful it is for the girls participating to, “have those hands to hold, having that kindred spirit and that understanding that: life is difficult at the moment and I’m not quite sure why.”
Golda really understands that growing up can be challenging and that as a preteen herself she could have benefited from this sort of support.
Golda had the opportunity to meet a group of our girls who were brought together from different groups, some at the beginning of the year-long journey whilst others having completed the programme.
“I met the girls shortly after we discussed it at Wimbledon and what I really got from them was sisterhood, which I’m really strong on. I have amazing female friends, and I like to have that connection and that power and that understanding, that energy.”
“In the older girls you saw that confidence and that power that they have for themselves and for each other. It was a real gentle, serene confidence.
They are already a group, it doesn’t matter that they are from different circles, they all had this core understanding and belief in themselves and each other.”
“That we understand each other, there’s a kinship there. What struck me when I met the girls is that they’re going to have that for the rest of their lives. That’s incredible. Wherever they are in the world. There will be that connection for them.”
“If we can have more of that and support Rites for Girls to create more of this connection then the world will be a better place as far as I’m concerned.”
“I think the safety of Rites for Girls, to be able to express the struggles of adolescence, that change that happens. To be able to express that with other girls is fantastic, it’s so needed in the world. We need more of it. The more we can really share and communicate their story to other people. To have a wider understanding of the world and their part in it.”
It was incredible to see what an impact meeting the girls has had on Golda and how important she sees the roles of the facilitators in this. She likened it to two teachers she had when she was growing up and how they influenced her.
“They were really instrumental in me having a place at school, me knowing that I had this place I could go to, I was really good at.”
She talked about how the guidance of role models for girls can support an individual by just being themselves, “These two women really were – they did sports and drama, they were there prominently in my life. I was always fascinated by their strong personalities and the way they empowered those around them.”
Golda also talked about the influence they still have on her as an adult and as a successful actor working on the set of a film. She told me, “The environment has to be really positive and really safe where every single person comes with their best foot forward and we support them and celebrate and everybody has a chance to do their best best work and I ran that 10 weeks (of filming) exactly like that and I think that’s what I got from those women.”
It’s inspirational speaking with her and it’s wonderful to hear that she has found her own power and a drive to support others through these early mentors,
“I believe that now I have a calling to create space for people to do their best work, for people to shine. That’s what I want to do in my work.”
What about other women though, those who want to support girls but feel unsure, how can we help them shine? Golda didn’t even have to pause to answer this,
“There’s nothing, what you come is with yourself, you come with yourself and that is the truest form.”
“That’s what you are teaching the girls to find their truest form to understand their true selves and empower them. You encourage the facilitators to come with their true selves, not putting on something else. I think it’s really honest and really beautiful that everyone is different, and they bring different things. From their community, from their past, from their religion, from their race, from their sex. Everything is there to be gifted – so it’s not difficult when you have that mindset it’s really natural. You are bringing yourself.”
“I came out of that session with the girls, and I was so full of energy and empowerment and questions and inquisitiveness. I felt really energised and I smiled for about two hours. I think it was my preteen going ‘mate yes’ and adult me going ‘yes, we did that’. The whole thing is respectful, and you come out respecting yourself – your 12-year-old and your 54 year old.”
It was amazing to hear how Golda understood the ethos of Rites for Girls straight away. The power of our girls’ groups and the instrumental role of our trained women who just bring themselves, as they are to the training and in that way can learn to support, empower and connect girls to grow up in a safe space. I am so looking forward to hearing more from Golda and seeing her develop this Ambassadorial role over the course of 2025 – watch this space and shine.
Details about training to be a facilitator can be found on this website at:
https://www.ritesforgirls.com/facilitator-training/
and if you are looking for a girls’ group for your daughter visit:
https://www.ritesforgirls.com/girls-journeying-together/
All images by Jeff Moore