Fund PostSecondary Education for Girls in Tanzania

Dear Girls Education International Supporter,

It is the start of the rainy season (masika) in Tanzania and the girls that are in secondary school with your generous support are halfway through their second term. We’re proud this month to share this story from one of the girls we support through your generosity. Meet Sarafina.  

SARAFINA, University of Dodoma

Sarafina is studying for a Bachelor of Science in Education, where she focuses on biology in order to teach biology when she graduates.  During a recent interview Sarafina reported, “I am enrolled in biostatistics, vertebrate anatomy, and physiology, educational media, and curriculum development. My favorite course is biostatistics simply because I am learning to design experiments about health problems biologically and to present and interpret the research.” 

Sarafina is proud that this year she has also studied psychology, a skill that will aid her in helping her future students across Tanzania. She said, “This will help me to help students identify their problems and on how to solve them- for example, students with stresses about family problems or poor academic performance.”

Through her education, Sarafina has been able to help current students in Tanzania, and this teaching experience while she studies has also contributed to her development personally. “I was teaching biology at Buronge Secondary School and this helped me gain experience and confidence standing in front of students and teaching…. This has increased my knowledge of the subject and I have also overcome new challenges.” 

Attending school has improved not only her prospects for a future career, but she is benefitting socially and physically. “I use my extra time doing some physical exercises to maintain body health and just to prevent unnecessary disease.” The opportunity to attend university has meant many new experiences as well. “Studying at university has impacted me because I am making new friends and gaining exposure to different people. It has expanded my level of thinking and knowledge of current issues globally.” Sarafina is also sharing what she has learned with her family. 

While thinking about her future now, Sarafina has plans for her career and wants to help others the way she was helped. “After five years, I will have my own job, and some of my money will help some people in need just as our donors are supporting us. I have to fulfill my dream of helping people in need.” 

This month, you can help Girls Education International reach even more girls. With the support of GlobalGiving, Girls Education International is participating in the Little by Little campaign. Any donations up to $50 from our donors will be matched at 50% if you donate between April 3 – 7. 

If you were inspired by Sarafina’s story, we hope you will support our campaign to support girls’ education in Tanzania. 

With warmest regards,

Paula Kenworthy

Tanzania Project Manager

There’s a lake near my house that I often hike to with my dog. As she chews on sticks near the water’s edge, I toss small rocks into the middle of the clear mountain water and watch ripples radiate out. So it is with girls’ education. Research shows that investing in girls’ education causes a ripple effect that transforms the individual, as well as her family and her community (UNICEF). We generally focus on the epicenter, the positive impact education has on the individual young woman, but it is easy to imagine the ripple effect of each of our students. 

When Mareslina was a young girl, a wealthy individual took land away from her friend who was an orphan. This has fueled her drive to become a lawyer. Marselina now studies law at Mwenge Catholic University. She wants to advocate for human rights. Not only will her education increase her lifetime earnings, but her chosen career path will benefit others. Imagine that ripple effect! 

Sania is pursuing a bachelors in Social Work at Mwenge Catholic University. As part of her practicum she works in a healthcare office where women and children receive free care. Can you feel the impact of the waves she is making? 

Sarafina’s field placement is at Buronge Secondary School in the Kigoma region where she teaches Form I, II, and III biology. The field placement is part of her coursework for a Bachelor's of Education at the University of Dodoma. In her field placement alone, Sarafina has over 100 students. That’s over 100 lives she has already touched, over 100 drops in the bucket of education! 

I met Hekima in 2017, her love for education was evident. As one of three females in her class, she demonstrated confidence and leadership skills. In 2020, she passed the national exams and enrolled in high school to study history, geography, and English. Now in 2022, Hekima is balancing the demands of being a student while completing her practicum as a student teacher. As Dr. Jeff Goldstein, an internationally recognized science educator and planetary scientist, states, “A teacher today creates ripples in time that extend to generations yet unborn. Not just impact in the here & now but in the here & forever.” I can’t wait to see the reach of Hekima’s ripples. 

As a donor, your ripple effect is extensive. You directly impact these young women’s lives. In turn, they impact the lives of their families, as well as their students and clients. Thank you for making this high-yield investment. 

Warmly,

Kate Schelbe

Executive Director

Girls Education International

As a young girl, I loved reading choose your own adventure books. The children’s books are written in second-person and allow the reader to assume the role of the protagonist. Thus the reader makes choices that determine the outcome of the story. I relished the freedom to make decisions and see their impact. It made me feel empowered. 

The young women of Girls Education International have autonomy over their choices, as a result they pursue a variety of academic and professional paths. We’re excited to highlight their progress on the adventures they’ve chosen. 

Rebeka and Mwamini are finishing their VETA program this year. Both will earn a certificate in Secretarial and Computer Application. This positions them to apply for well respected and prosperous jobs. 

Hawa earned As and Bs in the most recent marking period at Tanzania Public Service College in Tabora, where she studies record management. Here are some examples of her coursework:  Introduction to Statistics, Records Management Policies, Legislation and Standards, and Conservation and Preservation of Records Archives.  When asked about her plans upon graduating, Hawa stated, “I believe I will get a job. If I get a job with a salary, I will help my parents,  I will donate to Girls Education International so they can help the others, the remaining I will use for myself.”  

Bertha completed a two year program in Electric Installation at Nyamidaho VETA. She now works in Mwandiga where she installs wiring in houses. Bertha is both literally and figuratively bringing light to her community. 

Saidati recently completed a Field Study in Tanga, in the north east part of Tanzania. She studies environmental conservation and climate as it pertains to building design and planning. During the Field Study, she collected information about soil type, regional climatic conditions, topography, existing infrastructures, and local economic activities. With this information, she and her cohort created maps to analyze the potential building sites.  

One of the pictures below shows two young girls in front of their house in Mgarganza Village in the Kigoma Region.  With the help of the maps that Saidati created, community members will be able to have housing that is safer and more stable.  

Each of these young women, along with the rest of our participants, has had the opportunity to choose their own adventure because of you. In addition to the impact your donation has made on these individuals, we also know there are countless benefits of investing in girls’ education, including strengthening economies, creating healthier communities, and combating climate change.  

To learn more about the barriers girls face when pursuing education and the outcomes that occur when they receiving education, check out our podcast and curriculum. 

Stay tuned to hear more about the adventures these young women choose.

Warmly,

Kate Schelbe

Executive Director

Girls Education International

Dear Girls Ed Supporters, 

Greetings from Colorado where Spring has officially launched, and the birth of new life is on the horizon! We hope this update finds you healthy and living in relative peace, which in the world today cannot be assumed as given for anyone!

In Tanzania, the young women in our program are well into their first semester of studies. Through frequent updates, we are hearing about how much they are enjoying the environment of their universities, the support of their professors, the opportunity to learn new and interesting subjects, and the new relationships they are forging with students from all over the country. 

A few of the young women recently visited the Project Wezesha office in Kigoma to meet with Lucas and share highlights from their time at university. There was much laughter and storytelling. Lucas also noted how much they have all grown up. Some of these students have been with us since they were girls starting secondary school, and now they are mature, motivated young women with clear ambitions and hopes for their future!

NASRA

One of them, Nasra, is a young woman from Simbo village. She is studying Human Resource (HR) Management at the Tanzania Institute of Accountancy in Singida. She told Lucas how much she enjoyed the courses she has taken this academic year, which included Business Communication, Organizational Psychology, HR Management, and Industrial Relations, among others.  She hopes to work in Human Resources after graduation. She aims to have a position as a manager in an organization or company where she can contribute to planning and implementation of institutional policies. Nasra is very grateful for the support you've provided and is committed to reaching her goals to make her family and Girls Ed donors proud.

SERAFINA

Serafina is a student from Mwandiga village. She is pursuing a Bachelors degree in Education at the University of Dodoma (UDOM). Her content area focus is Science. She currently takes seven courses including, Information Technology, Principles of Education, Communication Skills, Biology, and Geography. She looks forward to being a teacher of STEM courses at the secondary level. She recounted to Lucas some pedagogical approaches she is learning in her program, including various strategies to promote learner-learner interactions through group discussions and collaborative assignments. 

Lucas asked her how it feels to be the first from her family to attend university and she said, “I am so happy. And I think that for me to be the first one to attend the university is a way for another child [in my family] to pass to the university.” She explained that she has a sibling in the first year of secondary school who is inspired by their big sister to work hard and aim high! Serafina extends gratitude, blessings, and a commitment to reach her dreams and impact society through education.

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The opportunity these young women have will have far reaching and lasting effects in their society! We look forward to sharing more updates in the months to come as all the women in our program gain a deeper understanding of their respective academic fields and their future career potential. 

Mark Your Calendars! The GlobalGiving Little by Little Campaign will take place next week between April 4th - 8th. Each donation up to $50 per unique donor will be matched at 50% and funds will not run out! This is a great time to make another contribution toward the university fees of the girls we currently support and the new group that will start next fall. Please come back to donate between April 4-8. Share this update with friends and family and let them know why investing in girls' education matters to you and the world! 

Asante sana!

Rai Farrelly &
The Girls Ed Team

Dear Girls Ed Supporters, 

We are delighted to share some joy this holiday season. This fall, many young women from our program began their first semesters at university. They are attending universities all over the country from Arusha and Dodoma to Mbeya and Dar es Salaam. In early November, they reported to their respective institutions, settled into the dorms, and began taking classes with a cohort of their peers. They made new friends from all over the country and began the process of adapting to a new academic culture. For many of these young women, this is the first time they have traveled away from home. They are also the first in their families to attend university, which makes them and their families very proud. 

From afar, they send regular updates to our in-country partner, Lucas of Project Wezesha via What's App and SMS. Some of those updates are simply collections of photos capturing their campus experiences. (Lots of smiles!) Check out the photos attached with this report - Serafina sent photos of herself with a classmate during a laboratory section at the University of Dodoma, the country's capital. Saidati sent photos of herself in front of her university and in one of her classes. Hadija shared a photo of herself with classmates in the hall of Mbeya University. The photos we've shared are only a few of the many images they have been excited to pass along to Lucas, who they view as a brother, mentor, and advocate for their education. 

Mariselina, pictured with some of her new friends, is pursuing a degree in Law at Mwenge Catholic University. She was also thrilled to share photos from her time at university, as well as the following message which she asked us to share with you. This message (edited slightly) emphasizes her excitement and her gratitude to donors who made this opportunity possible for her. 

"Hello. My name is Mariselina. I'm studying Bachelor of Arts for Law in Mwenge Catholic University. I appreciate the life of this university and Kilimanjaro at large. My special thanks to our donners for their support from the first step up to now.  Big up to them.  May the Lord have mercy upon them. I am doing well with my courses.  The lectures are good and the environment is conducive for all learners. I am  enjoying so much with my life since I arrived here. I got a lot of friends paying much attention to me like Vanesa from Arusha, Selina from Iringa, Janet from Tanga and Aisha from Dar es Salaam. We share different ideas when studying. Special thanks once again to our donors."

As we enter the holiday season, the Girls Ed team wishes to extend our deepest gratitude for all that you do to ensure that these young women are supported. Whether you spread the word or make a donation, you do make a difference. 

In the new year, we look forward to sharing more updates and stories from these and other university students about their academic experiences and aspirations! 

Happy Holidays, 

The Girls Ed Team