25 Empowerment Activities for Girls: Leadership, Kindness & Confidence

Fresh Ideas That Build Real-World Skills + Inner Strength

Empowerment isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some girls lead with their voices, others with their hearts. Some are bold and expressive; others are quietly powerful. The best activities don’t try to make girls fit a mold—they help them discover their own kind of brave.

If you’re looking for meaningful, fun, and inclusive ways to help girls grow into confident leaders and kind changemakers, you’re in the right place.

These 25 activities are broken into three themes—leadership, kindness, and confidence—so you can mix and match based on what your group needs most.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Empowerment activities should be creative, inclusive, and emotionally meaningful

• Leadership skills start with empathy, voice, and agency—not just public speaking

• Confidence is a practice, not a personality trait

• Kindness builds strong relationships, self-worth, and community

• These activities are flexible, fun, and low-prep—perfect for groups of all sizes

DO: Use Leadership Activities That Help Girls See Themselves as Change-Makers

Leadership isn’t about being the loudest or most outgoing—it’s about knowing your values, using your voice, and lifting others up along the way. These activities are designed to help girls lead in ways that feel authentic to them.

1. “If I Were a Leader…” Cards
Girls fill in prompts like “If I were a leader at school, I’d…” or “If I could change one thing in the world…” and then share in pairs or small groups.

2. Collaborative Problem Solving
Present a challenge (e.g., "Our school needs more kindness") and let small groups design a solution together. Then present to the larger group.

3. Leadership Superpowers
Girls choose and decorate 3 "superpowers" they already have as a leader (like listening, organizing, encouraging). Great for a visual display.

4. Social Issue Passion Boards
Girls create mini posters or slides highlighting a cause they care about and what they can do to support it.

5. The Empowerment Jar
Throughout the workshop or program, girls write down moments when they used their leadership or lifted someone else up. Read aloud at the end!

6. Role Model Reflection
Girls choose a role model (celebrity, community member, or peer) and reflect on what kind of leadership that person shows—and how they can show it too.

7. Take the Lead Challenge
Each girl takes a turn leading part of the group (welcoming, guiding an activity, closing reflection). Builds voice and ownership.

8. “What Would You Do?” Leadership Edition
Pose real-life dilemmas like “A friend is being excluded at lunch…” and have girls respond with what a kind, confident leader might do.

DON’T: Skip the Kindness Activities—They’re Foundational to Empowerment

Kindness isn't soft—it’s strong. Teaching girls to be kind to themselves and others builds empathy, leadership, and a sense of belonging. And let’s be honest, our world really needs that energy right now.

9. Kindness Chain Reaction
Start with one act of kindness in the group and challenge each girl to keep it going. Track how far the chain goes in a week!

10. Compliment Circles
Each girl takes a turn sitting in the “shine seat” while others offer kind, specific words about what makes her special.

11. Community Kindness Mission
Plan and complete a mini project—like writing uplifting chalk messages outside the school or making cards for a local shelter.

12. Gratitude Web
Girls sit in a circle with yarn. As they express gratitude for someone in the group, they pass the yarn to them—creating a visible web of appreciation.

13. Secret Kindness Notes
Girls write anonymous kind notes to each other (or staff, teachers, or family members) and hide them for surprise moments of joy.

14. Kindness Journaling Prompts
Use questions like: “What does kindness mean to me?” or “What’s a time someone’s kindness made a difference in my life?”

15. Values-Based Bingo
Create bingo cards with values like helpful, loyal, courageous, and challenge girls to notice and acknowledge these traits in others during your time together.

16. Kindness Ripple Reflection
At the end of a week or session, have girls share how a kind act they did made a difference—or how they were impacted by someone else's.

DO: Build Confidence from the Inside Out

Confidence isn't about being fearless—it’s about learning to move forward with the fear. These activities help girls develop self-awareness, compassion, and bravery in a safe, encouraging environment.

17. Brave Box
Each girl writes something brave she’s done (big or small!) and adds it to the Brave Box. Celebrate and read them aloud together.

18. “I Am” Mirror Activity
Girls look into a mirror and say three empowering “I am” statements. Then write them on a card to take home.

19. Confidence Playlist
Each girl shares one song that makes her feel strong, happy, or powerful. Create a group playlist and dance it out!

20. My Story of Strength
Girls journal or share a story of a time they got through something hard—and what it taught them about themselves.

21. Rewriting the Inner Critic
Have girls write down a negative thought they sometimes have, then practice rewriting it with kindness and truth.

22. “Try Something New” Day
Challenge girls to try something that stretches their comfort zone (speak first, ask a question, lead a game). Reflect afterward as a group.

23. Self-Love Shields
Girls create a paper “shield” filled with words and images that reflect who they are, what they’re proud of, and what makes them unique.

24. Growth Mindset Roleplay
Practice scenarios where girls fail or make mistakes—and then talk through how to reframe and bounce back with self-compassion.

25. Shine Circle Celebration
End your session with a Shine Circle. Each girl shares something she’s proud of or something she admire about another girl in the group.

Looking for a complete, ready-to-use program packed with confidence-building activities, journaling prompts, and heart-centered curriculum?

The FearlesslyGiRL Program Kits are designed to help you lead powerful, meaningful girl group sessions—without the overwhelm. From leadership and self-talk to kindness and body image, these kits give you everything you need to help girls grow.

You’re doing beautiful work. Keep leading with love—we’re here to support you every step of the way.

– Kate