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 lead with quiet strength and empathy. Some speak up easily, while others are still learning how to take up space.

The best empowerment activities don’t ask girls to become someone else. They help each girl discover her own kind of brave.

If you're looking for meaningful, creative, and inclusive ways to support girls as they grow into confident leaders and kind changemakers, you're in the right place.

These 25 activities are grouped into three key themes: leadership, kindness, and confidence. You can mix and match them based on the needs of your group.

💡 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

Leadership Activities to Help Girls See Themselves as Change-Makers

Leadership isn't about being the most outgoing. It’s about knowing your values, using your voice, and showing up with purpose. These activities give girls different ways to lead in ways that feel authentic to them.

1. “If I Were a Leader…” Cards

Girls complete prompts like “If I were a leader at school, I would…” or “If I could change one thing in the world, it would be…” Then they share in pairs or small groups.

This activity invites imagination and personal vision.

2. Collaborative Problem Solving

Pose a real challenge like “How can we create more kindness at school?” or “What would make new students feel welcome?” Girls work in teams to brainstorm and share their ideas.

This builds teamwork and shows that leadership is about solving problems together.

3. Leadership Superpowers

Girls choose three leadership traits they already have—like listening, organizing, or encouraging—and decorate each one as a “superpower.”

This helps girls see that they are already leaders in their own way.

4. Social Issue Passion Boards

Girls create small posters or digital slides about a cause they care about and share ideas for taking action.

This activity helps connect leadership with purpose.

5. The Empowerment Jar

Throughout the session or week, girls write down moments when they showed leadership or lifted someone up. At the end, read some aloud to celebrate the group’s growth.

This reinforces positive behavior and makes leadership visible.

6. Role Model Reflection

Invite girls to choose a female role model—someone famous, local, or personal—and reflect on what kind of leader she is.

This encourages girls to learn from others while shaping their own leadership style.

7. Take the Lead Challenge

Let each girl lead something small like a check-in, icebreaker, or reflection. Offer encouragement and celebrate effort.

Taking the lead in safe, supported ways builds real-world confidence.

8. “What Would You Do?” Leadership Edition

Present scenarios like “Your friend is being excluded” or “Someone says something unkind.” Girls discuss what a kind, confident leader might do in that situation.

This builds decision-making and empathy.

Kindness Activities That Build Connection and Community

Kindness is not a soft skill—it is a leadership skill. These activities help girls practice kindness toward themselves and others while creating a culture of care in your group.

9. Kindness Chain Reaction

Start with one small act of kindness in the group. Challenge each girl to pass it forward. Keep track of how many acts happen in a day or week.

This shows how kindness grows and inspires more of it.

10. Compliment Circles

One girl sits in the “shine seat” while others offer kind and specific words about what makes her special.

This helps girls feel seen and valued by their peers.

11. Community Kindness Mission

Work together on a small project that helps others. You could write positive chalk messages, create kindness cards, or collect items for a cause.

This reinforces the idea that girls have the power to create change.

12. Gratitude Web

Sit in a circle with a ball of yarn. Each time someone shares something they’re grateful for about another girl, they pass the yarn. Keep going until a web forms.

This activity shows the strength of the connections they are building.

13. Secret Kindness Notes

Have girls write anonymous kind notes to others in the group or to teachers, friends, or family. Hide them for others to find later.

These small acts often make the biggest impact.

14. Kindness Journaling Prompts

Invite reflection with questions like:

• What does kindness mean to me?

• When has someone’s kindness made a difference in my life?

• How can I be kind when it’s hard?

Writing helps girls process and internalize what they learn.

15. Values-Based Bingo

Create bingo cards with values like helpful, loyal, honest, or brave. Girls mark off each one as they observe those traits in others.

This encourages appreciation and awareness of positive behaviors.

16. Kindness Ripple Reflection

At the end of a session or week, ask girls to share how a kind act—whether given or received—made a difference in their day.

This reminds everyone that kindness matters and sticks with us.

Confidence Activities That Help Girls Grow From the Inside Out

Confidence isn’t about having no fear. It’s about moving forward even when something feels hard. These activities help girls build inner strength, self-awareness, and courage in a safe and supportive environment.

17. Brave Box

Each time a girl does something brave, she writes it down and adds it to the Brave Box. Celebrate them together by reading a few at the end of each session.

This highlights that bravery can be small and everyday.

18. “I Am” Mirror Activity

Give each girl a mirror and have her say three positive “I am” statements out loud. Then she writes them on a card to keep.

This builds confidence through repetition and self-talk.

19. Confidence Playlist

Have each girl choose a song that makes her feel strong or happy. Create a group playlist and use it during breaks, journaling, or dance time.

Music creates a powerful connection to emotion and confidence.

20. My Story of Strength

Girls share or journal about a time they overcame a challenge. Reflect on what they learned about themselves.

Telling their own story helps girls recognize how far they’ve come.

21. Rewriting the Inner Critic

Have girls write down a self-critical thought they sometimes hear. Then practice rewriting it with kindness and truth.

This helps them build a more supportive inner voice.

22. “Try Something New” Day

Challenge girls to step out of their comfort zone in a small way—like leading a game, asking a question, or starting a conversation. Reflect as a group afterward.

This builds courage through action.

23. Self-Love Shields

Girls design paper shields with symbols, words, and images that reflect what makes them proud and unique.

This activity blends art, self-reflection, and celebration.

24. Growth Mindset Roleplay

Act out common challenges like making a mistake or receiving feedback. Then walk through what a growth mindset response might sound like.

This makes learning resilience more concrete and real.

25. Shine Circle Celebration

Close your session with a Shine Circle. Each girl shares something she is proud of or offers a kind word to someone else in the group.

This creates a strong, positive ending full of encouragement and connection.

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